Located at the Gironde Estuary in the Poitou-Charentes region of southwestern France, the seaside resort town of Royan is home to a bustling fishing port, world-class marina and several pristine beaches. Its popularity as a tourist destination dates back to the now infamous ‘roaring twenties,’ but it was virtually demolished during World War II. Today, the town is enjoying newfound popularity among tourists, thanks to the rebuilding process that took place during the 1950s and its abundance of modernistic architecture.

The church of Notre Dame is one of the major attractions in Royan. Completed in 1958, it is enormous in size, constructed completely from raw concrete and is the masterpiece of renowned architects Marc Hebrard and Guillaume Gillet. Also of note, the marche central or ‘central market’ was constructed in 1955 and is very easily recognizable, with its round concrete shell that is only 8 centimeters thick and rests on 13 outside supports with no internal pillar.