Foncillon Beach

You’re standing on the edge of Foncillon Beach, the first in Royan to welcome bathers. Back in 1819, Mayor Labarthe reserved access here exclusively for women, while men headed to the Grande Conche. Picture the ladies of Bordeaux’s bourgeoisie arriving by carriage to enjoy the first bathing cabins, built on stilts as early as 1825. In 1843, the first Foncillon casino rose facing the beach, a lavish establishment offering hot seawater baths, dance halls, and gaming rooms. It was the dawn of Royan’s golden age as a seaside resort, already competing with Europe’s most fashionable destinations. Foncillon also tells one of the most remarkable chapters in French architecture. Completely destroyed in 1945, the district rose from the ashes thanks to the vision of architect Claude Ferret and his team. Between 1947 and 1962, they turned it into a true architectural laboratory. The buildings you see here belong to the Brazilian-inspired style that defines Royan’s postwar reconstruction. Continue along the waterfront for about a kilometer and you’ll reach the Chay district, which offers a very different face of the city. Unlike Foncillon’s carefully planned modernism, the Chay has kept its authentic, family-friendly charm. Its sheltered beach is considered Royan’s most picturesque, and from its cliffs the view over the Gironde Estuary and the Cordouan Lighthouse is breathtaking. The name “Chay” comes from the Celtic chail, meaning stone, and its history is much older than Foncillon’s. At the tip of the Chay, you’ll find the remains of a Napoleonic fort built in 1811 and modernized throughout the 19th century. The current lighthouse, rebuilt in 1960, stands where its predecessor once did. These structures speak to the strategic importance of this headland in controlling access to the Gironde’s mouth. Today, a fitness trail and walking paths let you explore the fort’s surroundings, while the cliffside coastal path links the two districts seamlessly. When you can, we invite you to take this beautiful coastal walk and discover it all for yourself.