Presentation of the Royan agency
Headed by Vincent Petit, the “Royan Île d'Oléron Sotheby's Realty” agency operates in the luxury real estate sector in Royan, the surrounding area and Île d'Oléron.
Ideally positioned in the heart of the listed town center, right next to the market, the agency occupies a 50 m2 space spread over two levels. Its refined layout reflects an elegant seaside ambience. The agency's digital storefront is a real eye-catcher, with ads highlighting the region's rich heritage.
The agency's team is made up of four highly skilled employees, including the agency manager and three sales negotiators. In addition, a specialized video photographer captures unique content using a drone, effectively covering all the agency's areas of intervention.
Our team is made up of employees with varied profiles and backgrounds. One of the team's strengths lies in its diversity, with members having experience in fields as varied as luxury hotels, high-end decoration and premium automobiles. In addition to their in-depth expertise in the real estate sector, our staff are fluent in foreign languages such as French, English and Spanish. This diversity enables us to better respond to the specific needs of a high-end international clientele.
Royan Île d'Oléron Sotheby's Realty's exceptional portfolio offers a unique selection of properties, including sumptuous seaside villas, ocean-view villas, architect-designed villas, townhouses, ocean-view apartments and châteaux. Each property is carefully selected for its charm, character and top-of-the-range amenities.
The Royan real estate market
Oleron's real estate market is mainly focused on second homes, while Royan's is a mix of second and main homes. Property prices can vary considerably depending on location. The Île d'Oléron apartment market is less developed than Royan's, which is more dynamic and offers more choice.
The coastal region of Aquitaine enjoys a temperate climate and offers a pleasant seaside living environment. In recent years, demand for real estate has increased tenfold, particularly during the health crisis. Buyers fleeing the big cities, mainly Île-de-France, were looking for a principal residence in a pleasant living environment. An interesting trend is the rejuvenation of the clientele, now aged between 30 and 50, in search of a lifestyle closer to nature and a better quality of life.
Customers in this high-end sector value the charm and prestige of the properties. Homes with outdoor spaces, such as gardens or terraces, are particularly popular. What's more, the TGV high-speed rail link to Paris is a major advantage.
The clientele on the Ile d'Oléron is made up of different nationalities, including French, Belgian, Swiss and German. These customers often include executives and people with high socio-professional status. Generally aged over 40, the clientele also includes retired people. Many of these customers are entrepreneurs, self-employed, work in the web industry or are pensioners. In Royan, the clientele is mainly Anglo-Saxon, with a limited number of Americans. These foreign customers are looking for exceptional properties in the region, attracted by the charm and prestige of the coastal area.
The area's most popular neighborhoods include Saint-Palais, Vaux-sur-Mer and Pontaillac, as well as micro-neighborhoods such as Les Domaines des Fées. Their proximity to the ocean makes them particularly attractive. The Royan and Ile d'Oléron markets benefit from slightly more attractive property prices, providing customers with greater flexibility.
Royan: history and heritage
In the Middle Ages, Royan was a small fishing port with several priories. Royan's history has always been closely linked to British history. In the 12th century, Eleanor of Aquitaine married the King of France, and the Duchy of Aquitaine became part of the Kingdom of France. When Eleanor divorced her husband and married Henry Plantagenet, who became King of England in 1154, Royan came under English control.
The island of Oleron is remarkably well-preserved and easily accessible via a free bridge, setting it apart from its more exclusive neighbor, the Ile de Ré. In full expansion, the island of Oleron seduces with its vast and fascinating natural territory, including vast forests and wild beaches.
With over 1,000 kilometers of coastline, the region's economic activity is closely linked to its coastline. Agriculture plays a major role on the island, particularly in the fields of mussel farming, oyster farming and memochiculture. Famous producers such as Gilardo and Joguet have made a major contribution to the island's reputation with their exceptional products.
Xavier Taffart, the son of an oyster farmer, works as a Michelin-starred chef at L'Aquarelle, a gourmet restaurant in Royan. His creative cuisine showcases the region's culinary delights. For his part, Chef David Boyer, winner of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title in 2023, officiates at the gastronomic restaurant of the 5-star Grand Large hotel. Set in a privileged location, the hotel boasts a breathtaking view of the ocean through its large bay windows.
The Charente-Maritime department, where Sotheby's has four branches, is an extremely popular destination for tourists. Located north of the Vendée and close to the Médoc and Bordeaux wine regions, it is the third most visited département in France. This popularity is due to its generous amount of sunshine, its exceptional natural heritage including magnificent beaches and islands, and its gentle way of life. Indeed, many residents of the big cities choose to settle in this département to escape the problems of transport and insecurity.
The reputation and high-end value of Sotheby's is unquestionable. As a prestigious brand, it wields considerable power and attracts a prestigious clientele, both French and foreign. As a member of the Sotheby's International Realty network, our positioning is undeniably focused on the premium segment of real estate. The agency deploys all our technical, human, marketing and commercial resources to meet the high expectations of our customers.
