Royan Museum

Visit Royan Museum est une institution culturelle dédiée à l’histoire de cette station balnéaire emblématique de la côte atlantique française. Situé dans l’ancien marché de Pontaillac, au cœur d’un quartier historique, le musée offre un parcours chronologique riche en artefacts et en informations sur le passé de la ville.

Royan Museum, description and exhibitions

Visit Royan Museumset up in January 2004 in the former Pontaillac market, offers a permanent exhibition of chronological and thematic, retraçant l’histoire de Royan depuis l’Antiquité jusqu’à la Seconde Guerre mondiale, ainsi que la architectural reconstruction in the 1950s. The building, designed by Michel Bancon and Louis Basalo in 1957, has been renovated to present a sober, contemporary scenography, enhanced by the following features festive and digital for an immersive visit.

Permanent collections

The museum features several major historical milestones:

• The origins of Royan from Gallo-Roman remains to the Wars of Religion, tracing the emergence of the seaside town.

• Development of seaside tourism in the XIXᵉ century avec affiches, objets souvenirs et photographies illustrant l’âge d’or de la “Perle de l’Océan”.

• Picasso's stay in Royan (1939-1940) A space dedicated to the artist, with a reproduction of Le Café à Royan and works inspired by his stay..

• The Second World War : occupation, Résistance, bombardements de 1945 et la “poche de Royan”.

• Reconstruction Royan as modern architecture laboratory and emergence of the Festival international d'art contemporain des Trente Glorieuses.

• Cabinet of curiosities rare objects, exotic specimens and the archaeological memory of the royannais region.

Temporary exhibitions

At the heart of the museum, the central hall hosts an annual temporary exhibition that brings together a variety of disciplines, including history, architecture, visual arts, music and natural sciences.. Until May 31, 2025, the exhibition "Au cœur de l'Histoire d'une Cité Balnéaire" explores the birth, the estuary, sea bathing, Picasso, the 14-18 war, the Second World War and the renewed city.. In summer 2025, a major photo exhibition entitled "Royan '60 - The '60s in Royan: an art of living". presents the daily life of the Trente Glorieuses, captured by Jean-Pierre Boudon, between cafés, beaches, casinos and stars on the terrace..

Practical information

• Address 31 avenue de Paris, 17200 Royan
• Opening hours :
  • Du mercredi au vendredi : 14h00 – 18h00
  • Samedi et dimanche : 10h00 – 12h30 et 14h00 – 18h00
• Rates :
  • Adults: €4.20
  • Reduced rate (students, jobseekers, RSA recipients, disabled people): €2.10
  • Under 18s: free
  • Adult guided tour: €6.50
  • Reduced-rate guided tour : 4,50 €
  • Ateliers jeune public : 4,20 € à 6,80 € selon l’activité
  • Groups: special rates available on request
• Contact : +33 5 46 38 85 96