Roger Expert Square

Here you are in Place Roger Expert, right in the heart of Arcachon, between the market halls and the beach. This square pays tribute to one of the greatest French architects of the 20th century, Roger-Henri Expert, who was born right here in Arcachon in 1882. A true son of the town, Roger-Henri Expert grew up in these streets before making his mark in Paris and across the globe with his talent. A graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts, he became one of the masters of French Art Deco and eventually a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Yet Expert never forgot his Arcachon roots. Between 1924 and 1930, he designed five exceptional villas on Arcachon Bay: four in Pyla-sur-Mer, including the famous Villa Téthys, now listed as a Historic Monument, and one in Le Moulleau, the Villa Kypris. With their elegant lines and bright white rotundas, these homes embody the Art Deco style and foreshadow his international masterpieces, such as the French Embassy in Belgrade. Beyond the Bay, Roger-Henri Expert signed many prestigious works, including the fountain at the Trocadéro in Paris, the Reims City Hall, and the French Pavilion for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. This square therefore reflects the spirit of Arcachon: a perfect blend of deep local roots and international influence. A well-deserved tribute to the man who carried the name of Arcachon to the four corners of the architectural world.