Marché Central de Royan

This avant-garde structure was invented in 1955 by architects Louis Simon and André Morisseau, assisted by engineer Bernard Laffaille and his successor, René Sarger.

It is a shell made of thin veil 8 cm thick of reinforced concrete, covering a diameter of 52,40 m, and resting on 13 points of support, connected to each other by tie rods embedded in the ground, thus avoiding deformations by separation. The height at the center of the volume is 10,50 m.

The most spectacular event took place at the end of construction. To proceed with the stripping, the cupola was raised by 2 millimeters in the center by 300-ton jacks to release the scaffolding props in three hours. This maneuver avoided any deformation to the structure.

Published in the architecture magazine today in 1956, this construction represents an achievement of international level, insofar as it implements one of the first structures in thin veil of free configuration. It could have served as a model throughout the world: project for the Nanterre market (architect: Sébillotte), the Xochilmico restaurant in Mexico (architect: Candela), or even the State circus in Bucharest (architects: Porunbescu, Pruncu and Rulea).

The central market was restored in 2003 and has been listed as a historical monument since 2002.

Open every morning from 7:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m. (except Monday off season) and every morning in season (July-August).
Every Wednesday and Sunday morning, the market takes on the air of a big market throughout the year.

Location details