What Royan Atlantique urban community does

Communauté d'agglomération Royan Atlantique (CARA) is a French public territorial collectivity — an établissement public de coopération intercommunale (EPCI) — that consolidates 33 communes in the Charente-Maritime department (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France) under a single governing authority. It serves approximately 82,000 permanent residents and a peak daily population of around 225,000 during the summer tourist season, operating across a 107 km Atlantic coastline with beaches, estuaries (Gironde, Seudre), and Natura 2000 protected areas.

CARA delivers a broad portfolio of public services: waste management (8 déchèteries, the Montri mobile app, biodechets/composting, 3R programs), sanitation and water management, urban planning, housing, energy and climate programs (CARA Rénov', photovoltaic installations), mobility (public transit, cycling, carpooling, car-sharing), early childhood services, nautical and beach safety (22+ monitored beaches, ~40 nautical operators), a public swimming pool (Piscine de La Lande), economic development (UP! le CARRÉ des ENTREPRENEURS incubator, Trophée Innov'Action), agricultural initiatives (Projet Alimentaire Territorial), and cultural programming (Jeudis Musicaux, Sentiers des Arts, Maison des Douanes). Underlying technology is conventional: a Liferay CMS-based website portal, a GIS-driven cartographic platform (carto.agglo-royan.fr), and branded mobile/web sub-channels; no AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

The business model is non-commercial public administration: CARA is funded through local taxation (taxe foncière, Cotisation foncière des entreprises), national and regional government subsidies, European funding (FEDER, FEAMPA, INTERFONDS), and user fees on recreational facilities. Services are distributed through owned physical infrastructure (déchèteries, beach stations, swimming pool, ports, cultural venues), the website portal, citizen/partner portals, school channels (institutional partnerships with Education Nationale and national sailing/surfing/kayaking federations reaching ~2,300 children annually), and tourism networks (Office de Tourisme communautaire, Destination Royan Atlantique).

Name

Royan Atlantique urban community

Legal name

Communauté d'agglomération Royan Atlantique

Website

https://agglo-royan.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

French public intercommunal authority (EPCI) consolidating 33 communes in Charente-Maritime, serving 82,000+ residents and 225,000 peak-season visitors with waste, water, sanitation, mobility, beach safety, cultural, and economic development services funded by local taxation and public grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Administration Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953), Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Administration & Cadastral Services (Public Land Records, Parcel Management) (BPAIANAH)

Keywords

• Municipal waste management
• Intercommunal public services
• Water and sanitation utilities
• Coastal tourism infrastructure
• Outdoor recreation networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochefort

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Local taxation: CARA is funded primarily through local taxes including property tax (taxe foncière) and business tax (Cotisation foncière des entreprises - CFE), which are collected from residents and businesses within the 33 municipalities.
2. European funding programs: CARA receives funding from European programs including FEDER (Fonds Européen de Développement Régional), FEAMPA (Fonds Européen pour les Affaires Maritimes et la Pêche), and INTERFONDS for regional development projects.
3. User fees and service charges: Revenue from service fees including waste collection charges, swimming pool admissions, and parking at community facilities.
4. Government subsidies: National and regional government subsidies for specific programs including public transportation, environmental initiatives, and economic development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CARA delivers mandatory intercommunal public services across 33 municipalities, including household waste collection and recycling (8 déchèteries), drinking water and sanitation, urban planning and housing policy, sustainable mobility, energy renovation support (CARA Rénov'), beach safety surveillance along 107 km of Atlantic coastline, a public swimming pool (Piscine de La Lande), nautical school programs, an outdoor trail network of 1,300 km, cultural programming (Jeudis Musicaux, Sentiers des Arts, Maison des Douanes), and economic development through the UP! business incubator. It also runs the Montri mobile application for waste collection schedules and the cartographic portal carto.agglo-royan.fr for geographic information access.

Product overview

Royan Atlantique urban community (CARA) is a French intercommunal structure comprising 33 municipalities serving over 82,000 permanent residents. The organization operates a comprehensive digital portal providing access to diverse municipal services and administrative functions. The product portfolio includes core web services (the main CARA Portal and Sports Nature Portal), specialized mobile applications (Montri for waste management), and a wide range of community services spanning waste management, sanitation, water management, mobility/transportation, nautical activities, cultural programs (Jeudis Musicaux, Sentiers des Arts, Maison des Douanes), sports facilities (Piscine de La Lande, beach safety), agricultural initiatives (PAT), and economic development support. The ecosystem also includes a Cartographic Portal for geographic information and the CARA'MAG publication for community communications. As a public government entity, the focus is on service delivery rather than commercial technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sports Nature Royan Atlantique: Outdoor leisure activities service managing cycling routes, hiking trails, horse riding paths, and orientation courses across the territory.
• Nautisme Royan Atlantique
• CARA Rénov'
• UP! le CARRÉ des ENTREPRENEURS
• CARA'MAG'
• Montri

Products and services

• Waste Management Services (Gestion des déchets) Municipal waste collection, recycling, composting programs, professional waste handling, and access to 8 recycling centers (déchèteries) for residents of the 33 communes.
• Montri Mobile Application Mobile application for residents providing waste collection schedules, bin locations, and waste-related information across the CARA territory.
• Sanitation Services (Assainissement) Wastewater treatment, sanitation infrastructure management, online démarches for residents, and treated wastewater reuse (REUT) for the community.
• Water Management (Eau potable, eau de pluie) Drinking water supply and urban rainwater management (GEPU) services for residents.
• CARA Rénov' Energy renovation assistance program helping homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their properties, complemented by photovoltaic installation support.
• Mobility Services (Mobilités) Public transport, cycling infrastructure, carpooling, car sharing, and bus station services under the Plan de mobilité simplifié.
• Nautical Activities (Nautisme) Water sports and nautical activities including sailing schools, surfing, kayaking, beach safety services, and maritime sports infrastructure across the 107 km coastline.
• Piscine de La Lande Public swimming pool facility with single entries, 10-entry passes, group rates, individual and group swimming lessons, aquatic activities (aquagym, aquabike), and lane rental.
• Beach Safety Services (Sécurité des plages) Beach surveillance and lifeguard services during the summer season across 22+ monitored beaches, with real-time beach status updates and accessibility information.
• Jeudis Musicaux Cultural event series featuring musical performances at heritage sites throughout the summer season (June to September).
• Sentiers des Arts Arts trail program combining nature walks with cultural artistic installations across the territory.
• Maison des Douanes Cultural center housed in a former customs building hosting exhibitions and cultural events including the Vincent Munier photography exhibition.
• Cartographic Portal Interactive mapping service providing geographic information about the territory including infrastructure, services, and recreational trails.
• Territorial Food Project (PAT) Territorial Food Project promoting local agriculture, sustainable food systems, agro-environmental practices, local consumption, and school nutrition.
• Early Childhood and Youth Services (Enfance-Jeunesse) Childcare and youth programs including early childhood facilities (accueil petite enfance), childcare network (La bavarde des nounous), and youth service (Ulysse).
• Economic Development (Développement économique) Business support services including the UP! le CARRÉ des ENTREPRENEURS business incubator, Trophée Innov'Action 2026 innovation competition, social and solidarity economy (ESS) support, business installation assistance, campus des métiers, and Croissance bleue maritime economy initiatives.
• Housing Services (Habitat) Housing policy services including the Programme local de l'habitat (PLH), housing aid and advice, seasonal housing support, and traveler accommodation (gens du voyage).
• Sports Nature Outdoor Activities Outdoor and nature activities including cycling, hiking, VTT mountain biking, horseback riding, and orientation courses managed across the 1,300 km trail network with 9,000 wayfinding beacons.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~2,300 children annually receive nautical education (surf, kayak, sailing) through school programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Education NationalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational education system partnership for delivering nautical school programs (surf, kayak, sailing) to CE2-CM2 students from 33 municipalities, with complementary pedagogical materials and teacher training.
• Parc Naturel Marin de l'Estuaire de la Gironde et de la Mer des PertuiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine natural park partnership for environmental protection, maritime culture education, and sustainable development of marine and estuarine ecosystems. CARA utilizes park educational resources and participates in conservation initiatives.
• Musée du patrimoineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal heritage museum partnership for cultural programming, exhibitions, and heritage preservation activities including the Maison des Douanes cultural venue.
• Destination Royan Atlantique (Office de tourisme communautaire)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial tourism promotion organization for the territory, managing visitor information, tourism marketing, and promotional activities for beaches, nautical activities, and cultural attractions.
• Fédération Française de Voile (FFVoile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sailing federation providing guidelines, pedagogical resources, and competitive pathways for school sailing programs and section sportive voile at Collège Zola and Lycée Cordouan.
• Fédération Française de SurfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational surfing federation providing safety guidelines, pedagogical resources, and technical support for school surfing programs.
• Fédération Française de Canoë-Kayak (FFCK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational canoeing and kayaking federation providing pedagogical guidelines and technical support for school kayak programs.
• UP! le CARRÉ des ENTREPRENEURScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness incubator and entrepreneurship support program operated as a partner initiative to support local business creation and development within the CARA territory.
• CODEV Royan Atlantique (Conseil de développement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal development council providing citizen participation and consultation on territorial development projects and policies.
• SMB Seudre (Synergie pour le Marais et la Seudre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater management and environmental protection syndicate for the Seudre estuary and marshlands, coordinating water quality, flood management (GEMAPI), and environmental conservation activities.
• Sentinelles des Sports de NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nature sports observation network managed by Pôle Ressources National Sports de Nature, enabling citizen reporting of trail conditions, usage conflicts, safety incidents, and environmental issues.
• SAGE Seudre (Schéma d'Aménagement et de Gestion des Eaux)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater management plan for the Seudre watershed coordinating environmental protection, agricultural water use, and ecosystem conservation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Paprec Group: Leading French waste-management and recycling group operating recycling centers and collection services for local authorities — directly comparable to CARA's 8 déchèteries and household-waste operations.
• Veolia Environnement: Global incumbent operating water, waste, and environmental services under municipal and intercommunal contracts in France — directly comparable as the dominant private-sector provider of competencies CARA delivers in-house.
• Suez: Major private operator of water and waste services with significant French municipal and intercommunal contracts — the principal commercial counterpart to CARA's regulated competencies.

Direct peers

• Nantes Métropole: Major French métropole with an analogous portfolio of waste, water, mobility, economic-development, and cultural competencies delivered through a unified EPCI governance structure.
• Bordeaux Métropole: Larger French métropole with shared Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional jurisdiction and overlapping waste, mobility, water, and economic-development competencies — a structurally identical EPCI model at greater scale.
• La Rochelle Agglomération: Adjacent French communauté d'agglomération in Charente-Maritime with a comparable coastal-Atlantic mandate, similar tourism economy, and overlapping nautical/maritime service portfolio — making it the closest geographic and functional peer.
• Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole: Mediterranean-coastal French métropole with comparable tourism-driven seasonality, beach-management responsibilities, and intercommunal service-delivery structure.
• Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer: Mid-sized French communauté d'agglomération with similar EPCI governance model, multi-commune waste/water competencies, and rural-coastal service portfolio.
• Grand Poitiers: Nearby Nouvelle-Aquitaine communauté d'agglomération with comparable EPCI governance, university-town demographic profile, and shared regional planning responsibilities — a strong institutional peer.

Regional players

• Office de Tourisme de la Rochelle: Tourism-promotion counterpart in the adjacent Charente-Maritime territory — comparable to CARA's Office de tourisme communautaire (OTC) and Destination Royan Atlantique tourism function, illustrating the regional tourism ecosystem in which CARA operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AGGLOMERATIONROYANATLANTIQUE
• Xx.com/aggloroyan

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Royan Atlantique urban community