# Royan

> commune in Charente-Maritime, France

**Wikidata**: [Q81909](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81909)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/royan

## Summary
Royan is a commune located in the Charente-Maritime department of France, situated within the Arrondissement of Rochefort. It serves as a territorial subdivision of the French Republic and is the location of the Royan railway station. The commune has been recognized with the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 military decoration.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune in Charente-Maritime, France.
- **Administrative Division**: Arrondissement of Rochefort.
- **Canton Affiliations**:
  - Canton of Royan (inception: March 22, 2015).
  - Canton of Royan-Est (until March 2015).
  - Canton of Royan-Ouest (until March 2015).
- **Coordinates**: 45.623055555556, -1.0430555555556.
- **Official Website**: http://www.ville-royan.fr.
- **Transportation**: Contains the Royan railway station.
- **Military Decoration**: Recipient of the Croix de guerre 1939–1945.
- **Recorded Population Figures**: 18138.0, 18393.0, 19047.0, 18398.0, 18499.0, 17292.0, 18062.0, 17540.0, 16837.0, 17102.0, 18202.0, 17875.0, 18419.0, 18638.0, 19029.0, 19322.0, 19425.0.
- **Department Inception**: Charente-Maritime was established on March 4, 1790.
- **Commune Inception**: The territorial subdivision for communes in France was established in 1789.
- **National Context**: France is a semi-presidential republic with a population of 68,605,616 (2025 estimate) and a GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022).

## FAQs
**Where is Royan located?**
Royan is a commune situated in the Charente-Maritime department in France, specifically within the Arrondissement of Rochefort.

**What administrative changes has Royan undergone?**
Prior to March 2015, Royan was divided between the cantons of Royan-Est and Royan-Ouest; as of March 22, 2015, it is part of the canton of Royan.

**What historical recognition has Royan received?**
The commune was awarded the Croix de guerre 1939–1945, a French military decoration created on September 26, 1939.

**What transportation facilities are available in Royan?**
Royan is served by the Royan railway station, which is located within the commune.

**What is the population of Royan?**
Historical population data for Royan includes figures ranging from 16,837 to 19,425, with specific recorded values such as 18,138 and 19,029.

## Why It Matters
Royan matters as a distinct administrative and municipal entity within the French Republic, contributing to the local governance and demographic landscape of the Charente-Maritime region. Its receipt of the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 signifies its historical role and resilience during the Second World War. As part of France, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a leading global power, Royan is connected to a nation with significant political, economic, and cultural influence. The commune's integration into the canton of Royan and the Arrondissement of Rochefort places it within a structured framework of regional and national administration.

## Notable For
- **Military Honor**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1939–1945.
- **Administrative Reorganization**: Transitioned from the cantons of Royan-Est and Royan-Ouest to the unified canton of Royan in 2015.
- **Geographic Coordinates**: Located at 45.623055555556 latitude and -1.0430555555556 longitude.
- **Population Data**: Recorded population figures peaking at 19,425 in the provided dataset.
- **Infrastructure**: Hosts the Royan railway station.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Royan is a commune located in the Charente-Maritime department of France. It is situated within the Arrondissement of Rochefort, a district of the country. The geographic coordinates of Royan are 45.623055555556 latitude and -1.0430555555556 longitude. As a commune, it functions as a territorial subdivision for municipalities within the French administrative system, which was established in 1789.

### National Context: France
Royan is part of France, a country located primarily in Western Europe but extending its presence to other continents through overseas territories. France operates as a semi-presidential republic known for its significant global cultural, political, and economic influence. It is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of the European Union.

**Key National Indicators:**
- **Official Name**: République française (French Republic).
- **Capital**: Paris.
- **Population**: 68,605,616 (2025 estimate).
- **Area**: 643,801 square kilometres.
- **Government**: Semi-presidential system led by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
- **Currency**: Euro (EUR) in metropolitan France; CFP Franc in overseas territories.
- **Independence**: Established by the Treaty of Verdun (843 AD) as West Francia; First French Empire proclaimed in 1804.

**French Territory and Borders:**
Metropolitan France shares borders with Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland. It also borders Brazil and Suriname via French Guiana and the Netherlands via Sint Maarten. The country possesses overseas territories in the Americas (e.g., French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique), Africa (e.g., Mayotte, Réunion), Oceania (e.g., New Caledonia, French Polynesia), and Antarctica (Adélie Land).

### Administrative History
The commune of Royan falls under the jurisdiction of the Charente-Maritime department, which was founded on March 4, 1790. Administratively, Royan has undergone changes regarding its canton affiliation. Until March 2015, the commune was divided between the canton of Royan-Est and the canton of Royan-Ouest. Following the reorganization that took effect on March 22, 2015, Royan was incorporated into the newly established canton of Royan.

### Demographics
Royan has recorded various population figures over time. The available data points for the commune's population include:
- 16,837
- 16,902
- 17,292
- 17,540
- 18,062
- 18,138
- 18,202
- 18,393
- 18,398
- 18,419
- 18,499
- 18,638
- 19,029
- 19,047
- 19,322
- 19,425

### Infrastructure and Transportation
Royan is home to the Royan railway station, which serves the commune. The official website for the city is http://www.ville-royan.fr. The broader infrastructure of France includes driving on the right side of the road, a metric system, and an electrical grid operating at 230 volts and 50 Hz using Europlug and Type E plugs.

### Awards and Recognition
Royan has been recognized for its historical significance, specifically receiving the Croix de guerre 1939–1945. This French military decoration was instituted on September 26, 1939, and awarded to the commune in recognition of its actions or resilience during the Second World War.

### Economy and National Standards
As part of France, Royan operates within a major global economy. France has a nominal GDP of approximately $2.78 trillion USD (2022) and a government budget of €455.2 billion (2023). The country uses the Euro as its currency and maintains a high standard of living, with a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.903 (2021). France is also a nuclear-armed state, possessing nuclear weapons since 1960, and is a leading member of NATO.

### Symbols and Culture
The national symbols of France, which apply to Royan as a French commune, include the tricolore flag (blue, white, red), the national anthem "La Marseillaise," and the motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité." The country observes public holidays such as Bastille Day (July 14) and Armistice Day (November 11). France is renowned for its cultural heritage, housing numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and serving as a top global tourist destination.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. Annuaire de service-public.fr
8. MusicBrainz
9. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
10. Populations légales 2016
11. Populations légales 2017
12. Populations légales 2018
13. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
14. Populations légales 2019
15. Populations légales 2020
16. Populations légales 2021
17. Populations de référence 2022
18. Populations de référence 2023
19. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
20. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
21. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
22. GeoNames
23. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
24. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
25. [Ville de Royan: Overview | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ville-royan/)
26. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
27. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
28. [Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno](https://ipac.svkkl.cz/arl-kl/cs/detail-kl_us_auth-0321829-Royan-Francie)