Attractions and Places To See around L'Éguille - Top 20

The port of Ribérou is a major heritage site in Saujon, bearing witness to a prosperous maritime past linked to the salt and wine trade. Transformed in the 19th century by ambitious works, it has now been reinvented as a place for living, relaxation, and preserving local history. 🛶 Origins and the Middle Ages The port of Ribérou takes its name from the Latin word ripa ("riverbank") or the Occitan word ribèira ("river"). It is located at the head of the Seudre estuary. It existed as early as the 11th century and became an important river and sea port thanks to its strategic position at the head of the estuary, used particularly for the salt trade—then called "white gold"—a highly sought-after product for preserving food. 🚢 Medieval Period and International Trade With the opening of British markets during the reigns of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II Plantagenet, ships laden with wool, salt, wine, and other goods flocked to Ribérou. In the 16th century, the port exported local wines (such as cognac and pineau) throughout Europe. In 1577, during the Wars of Religion, the port was a strategic site: troops were stationed there, and battles took place. 🏗️ Decline, Reconstruction, and the 19th Century The estuary gradually silted up, making navigation difficult. By 1691, only smaller vessels could dock there. During the French Revolution, the sale of the tidal mill, which helped remove sediment, worsened the silting, leading to the port's decline. A modernization project began in 1822, but it wasn't until 1839 that an ambitious program was launched under the impetus of Jules Dufaure—a native of Saujon and Minister of Public Works—with the construction of sturdy quays, slipways, a lock bridge (marking the boundary between fresh and salt water), and reception facilities. In 1842, the work was completed, and the main quay was named Quai Dufaure in honor of this political support. 📉 Gradual Decline and Modernization The arrival of the railway in 1876 and the persistent problems of silting led to a decline in the port's traditional commercial activity, already facing competition from other transport networks. In the 20th century, the port gradually lost its economic importance but remained active for traditional fishing and became a place for pleasure boating, leisure, and local culture. Urban and tourism development projects (particularly in 2011–2012) modernized the port while preserving its historical charm. 🌊 Today The port of Ribérou is now a small fishing and pleasure port, much appreciated for its walks along the Seudre River, water sports (canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, etc.), and seasonal events.

📍 Introducing the Gilet Cove The Gilet Cove is a small, natural beach on the oceanfront, located on Boulevard de la Conche de Gilet / Boulevard de la Falaise, in the town of Vaux-sur-Mer, just before Royan. 🌿 It's a sheltered, rocky cove, appreciated for its tranquility and more intimate setting compared to the larger urban beaches nearby. 🏖️ At high tide, the sea can completely cover this small beach, making the space very limited; at low tide, you can enjoy a patch of sand and rocks for relaxing or swimming. 🧭 Features & Tips 📍 Type of place: small, unsupervised beach, nestled among the rocks with sand and cliffs. 🏖️ Tides: access is best at low tide — at high tide the beach can disappear underwater. 🐶 Animals: prohibited from April 1st to September 30th (subject to municipal regulations). 👣 Access: via stairs from the boulevard above, surrounded by villas with sea views. 🚫 Lifeguard services: no lifeguard station or marked services. 📍 Location La Conche de Gilet is often considered the last small beach in Vaux-sur-Mer before reaching Royan/Pontaillac when following the coastline from Saint-Palais-sur-Mer.

🏖️ General Overview Chay Beach is a family-friendly, fine sandy beach located in Royan (Charente-Maritime), on the Côte d’Argent promenade between Pigeonnier Beach and Pointe du Chay. It stretches for approximately 200 meters and boasts a pleasant natural setting, with a cove bordered by rocks typical of the Charente coastline. 🏝️ Features • 🌊 Beach type: fine sand, sheltered cove. • 🏄‍♂️ Atmosphere: relatively calm and family-friendly, ideal for children and vacationers seeking relaxation away from the large urban beaches. • 🐾 Pets: prohibited from April 1st to September 30th. • 🫧 Water quality: excellent (Blue Flag label awarded for 2025). 🧭 Lifeguard and Safety • Swimming is supervised during the season (June to early September), with areas marked by red and yellow flags. • The area is classified as a Category 3 "Supervised Beach" and lifeguards are present during the indicated hours. 🪑 Amenities On-site, you can find: • 🏖️ Sun loungers, parasols, and mattresses for rent. • 🚿 Foot rinse and public restrooms. • 📶 Wi-Fi access, first aid station, and an area accessible to people with reduced mobility (assistance may be required depending on the slope). • 🍴 Beachfront restaurant ("Le Chay" bar-restaurant with sea views). 🚶‍♂️ Atmosphere and Activities • 🎈 Ideal for families and leisurely strolls. • 🌞 People come here for swimming, playing on the sand, flying kites, or simply relaxing by the ocean. • 🅿️ Parking is available nearby, and the beach is easily accessible on foot or by bike from Royan town center in just a few minutes. 🧭 Practical Tips • 📆 Best time to visit: summer for supervised swimming and full services, but also during the off-season for a more peaceful atmosphere. • ☀️ Arriving early in the morning makes parking easier during peak season. • 🐶 Dogs are not allowed during the summer season; check the signs on site during the off-season.

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The port of Royan is located between the Foncillon district and the Grande Conche beach, in the heart of the city. Ideally located at the mouth of the Gironde, in the immediate vicinity of the Atlantic Ocean and opposite Port-Médoc, it consists of a marina with a thousand rings and a fishing port, specializing in “noble” species (sole, meagre, sea bass, etc.). You will find the harbor master's office, the Fishing Port and the auction, as well as a covered shopping arcade, “Les voûtes du Port”, which extends the shopping arcades of the “Front de Mer”. Port, 1100 sheltered places – Reception pontoon – Secure pontoons. Access pass is 0.30 m above the zero of the nautical charts. Basins after dredging 2.30 m from the zero of the nautical charts. Services: water, electricity (220 V) on pontoon, toilets, WC, showers, handling in closed technical area, recovery of careening water, grey water and black water pumps, maintenance and ship repair workshops, ship chandlers on the port, wifi, 24/24 CB fuel, slipway. V.H.F. 9. The port is sheltered from all winds because it is protected by the landing stage of the ferries which ensure the crossing of the Gironde for the crossings to the Pointe de Grave/Le Verdon-sur-Mer.

Of the first star-shaped fort (1811), only a few things remain today. In 1859 its plan was redesigned with a solid ground facing the sea separated by a large ditch cutting the fort in two. The redoubt is cut off and allows the access bridge located to the north to be monitored. This redoubt has the particularity of having a specific plan. It only has a machicolation on three of its sides to the north (inland side) and on its two short sides (east and west). The tour of the solid ground is reinforced by a large masonry wall now. At the rear, the star-shaped device protects against attacks coming from the land. The site was affected by erosion and especially lost its relief after the Second World War. The battery line is still visible from the air and on the ground, only a few German and French bunkers are still outcropping. They are inaccessible. Transformed into a promenade, the site borders the coastal path that starts from the port of Royan and continues to the Grande Côte. Today, nearly 75% of the militarized surface of the late 19th century is occupied by residences and the Cordouan Thalazur hotel. The site still has some visible remains, mainly of French origin

The first fortification projects for Pointe du Chay date back to 1772, counterbalanced on the other bank by Fort du Verdon. But it was not until the battle of 1811 that the military authorities were convinced to fortify the point. However, in 1757, Marshal Senectere, Lord of Didonne, had a defensive element built a little further south of Fort du Chay. He had opened a strategic route to protect the mouth of the estuary. A fort comprising star-shaped bastions was built between 1811 and 1812. It was recaptured by the English in April 1814 and partly destroyed. It was not until the Second Empire that the fort was considerably improved. In addition to the rebuilt embankments, a redoubt derived from the crenellated towers of the 1846 type was built between 1859 and 1860. It served the battery. The battery was remodeled between 1875 and 1877 at the same time as that of the Fort de Suzac. This new battery included eight cannons that would not evolve again until the Second World War. They were divided into four 24cm cannons and four 27cm cannons. One of the vats is disproportionate and seems to indicate that it was planned to install a larger piece there. A fire control post was probably built after 1920, perhaps at the same time as the Arros battery around 1937. It does not appear on the aerial photos of 1920 and is located in front of the firing positions. According to some sources, the Fort du Chay was equipped around 1930 with 75 model 1897 cannons (to be confirmed). The Fort du Chay redoubt would have a hardly more favorable fate than the one near the Fort de Suzac. Integrated into the improvements made to the fort at the end of the 19th century and then at the beginning of the 20th century, this structure would remain until the fort was integrated into the Atlantic Wall around 1942. In 1920, the fort was partially disarmed since only seven of the eight cannons and a reduced garrison remained. At the end of the Second World War, the Fort du Chay redoubt, the oldest vestige of the fort, was literally cut in two by the bombings of 1944 to 1945. Although in 1946, the site remained as it was, it was the object of much covetousness from 1950. The site was largely razed between 1956 and 1957 to make way for a program of 120 housing units. In 1959, it was used temporarily by an equestrian center using a large part of the star-shaped glacis of 1811.

The Chay de Royan beach is a continuation of the Pigeonnier cove on the Côte d'Argent promenade and offers a larger area than the latter. This sandy beach is family-friendly with a restaurant on the beach. It is supervised during the summer season (mid-June to early September) and you can rent mattresses and cabins. The environment of this beach is very pleasant, there are fewer houses than on the other beaches in Royan. A large car park is available near this beach (left side). Access is possible for people with reduced mobility via an inclined plane with assistance (the slope is steep). Dogs are prohibited from April 1st to October 31st.