Saint-Palais-sur-Mer
A food shop, a school and somewhere to eat or drink.
Partly served 55.6/100 · confidence: high· Better served than 70 % of the {n|commune|communes} of a similar size.
Identity
Saint-Palais-sur-Mer (INSEE 17380) is in Charente-Maritime (17), part of CA Royan Atlantique. Population 3,840 (2023). [1]
INSEE density class: Ceintures urbaines (level 4). [2]
Data vintages: INSEE BPE 2025 · INSEE SIRENE 2026-09 · INSEE census (RP) 2023 · INSEE COG 2026 · INSEE density grid 2026 · Commune website 2026-10-25 · DATAtourisme 2026-10-22.
Permanent link: https://vivantrural.com/en/fr/17380-saint-palais-sur-mer
Vitality score
Vitality score 55.6/100 — Partly served (model fr-v0.2).
Confidence: high.
Better served than 70 % of the 5,849 communes of a similar size.
Compare this with communes of a similar size. The score measures how well a place is served relative to its own size band, and larger communes score higher as a rule — so it reads meaningfully against another village, and misleadingly against a town.
Measured but not scored in this model: Market. See the methodology for why.
| Component | Value (0–1) | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily food | 0.52 | 25 | 13.06 |
| Social | 0.86 | 20 | 17.13 |
| Education | 0.22 | 10 | 2.21 |
| Health | 0.47 | 10 | 4.67 |
| Public & culture | 0.22 | 5 | 1.11 |
| Population trend | 0.9 | 10 | 9.04 |
| Housing mix | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Services
What is here, at a glance
A food shop, a school and somewhere to eat or drink. [3,4]
4 × Bakery (boulangerie) (BB 1870 · LA BONBONNIERE · CHEZ AUGUSTE · DADON). [3,4]
1 × Butcher (boucherie) (LA ROTISSERIE SAINT PALAISIENNE). [3,4]
5 × Grocery (épicerie / supérette) (CAVE PARISIENNE · VALLEE DES ALDUDES · GREECE 55). [3,4]
1 × Supermarket (SUPER U). [3,4]
1 × Cheese shop (fromagerie) (LA FROMAGERIE SAINT PALAISIENNE). [4]
1 × Fishmonger (LES VIVIERS CHARENTAIS). [3,4]
30 × Restaurant (SOCIETE HOTELIERE GAMOT · LE PETIT POUCET · L'HORIZON · RESTO PLAGE ST PALAIS · JMC). [3,4]
5 × Café / bar (CAFE DU MARCHE · LA CAFE RACER · CHILLAX). [4]
1 × Primary school (élémentaire) (ECOLE PRIMAIRE LUCIEN ROBIN ST PALAIS SUR MER). [3]
5 × GP (médecin généraliste) (CHRISTOPHE VANDAMME, MÉDECIN · DELPHINE JULIEN-LABRUYERE, MÉDECIN · VIRGINIE CAYOL-MILESI, MÉDECIN · PHILIPPE PESSIOT, MÉDECIN · JEAN-PHILIPPE BARBIER, MÉDECIN). [3]
1 × Pharmacy (PHARMACIE DE CORDOUAN). [3,4]
1 × Post office / agence postale (LA POSTE). [3]
1 × Library (MEDIATHEQUE CENTRE CULTUREL BORIS VIAN). [3]
1 × Cinema (CINEMA MICHEL LEGRAND). [3]
1 × Gym / sports hall (SALLE OMNISPORT). [3]
4 × Swimming pool (PLAGE DE LA GRANDE COTE · PLAGE DE NAUZAN · PLAGE DES COMBOTS · PLAGE DU BUREAU CENTRE). [3]
1 × Bank (CAISSE REG CREDIT AGRICOLE MUTUEL 17-79). [3]
6 × Hairdresser (CONFLUENCE EXPERTISE · SEASIDE · MON SALON A DOMICILE · SALON CARITEY). [3,4]
1 × Fuel station (STATION SERVICE). [3]
4 × Hotel (HÔTEL RESTAURANT PRIMAVERA · HÔTEL RÉSIDENCE LES FLOTS · LE DOMAINE DE SAINT-PALAIS · ART'S HOTEL). [3,4]
10 × Campsite (CAMPING ELIM CAFEJ · CAMPING LES ORMEAUX · CAMPING PARADIS LES PINS · YUKADI VILLAGES · CAMPING LA BORDERIE). [3,4]
Not counted, because the business register records them as closed: 1 × Butcher (boucherie), 1 × Fishmonger, 8 × Restaurant, 1 × Hairdresser, 2 × Hotel, 1 × Campsite.
Not found in the commune: Nursery school (maternelle). [3]
All 25 service types, with per-source counts
| Type | Count | Names | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery (boulangerie) | 4 | BB 1870 · LA BONBONNIERE · CHEZ AUGUSTE · DADON | INSEE BPE 4 / INSEE SIRENE 6 [3,4] |
| Butcher (boucherie) | 1 | LA ROTISSERIE SAINT PALAISIENNE | INSEE BPE 1 / INSEE SIRENE 3 [3,4] |
| Grocery (épicerie / supérette) | 5 | CAVE PARISIENNE · VALLEE DES ALDUDES · GREECE 55 | INSEE BPE 5 / INSEE SIRENE 6 [3,4] |
| Supermarket | 1 | SUPER U | INSEE BPE 1 / INSEE SIRENE 1 [3,4] |
| Cheese shop (fromagerie) | 1 | LA FROMAGERIE SAINT PALAISIENNE | INSEE SIRENE 1 [4] |
| Fishmonger | 1 | LES VIVIERS CHARENTAIS | INSEE BPE 1 / INSEE SIRENE 1 [3,4] |
| Restaurant | 30 | SOCIETE HOTELIERE GAMOT · LE PETIT POUCET · L'HORIZON · RESTO PLAGE ST PALAIS · JMC | INSEE BPE 30 / INSEE SIRENE 45 [3,4] |
| Café / bar | 5 | CAFE DU MARCHE · LA CAFE RACER · CHILLAX | INSEE SIRENE 5 [4] |
| Nursery school (maternelle) | 0 | INSEE BPE 0 [3] | |
| Primary school (élémentaire) | 1 | ECOLE PRIMAIRE LUCIEN ROBIN ST PALAIS SUR MER | INSEE BPE 1 [3] |
| Collège | 0 | INSEE BPE 0 [3] | |
| GP (médecin généraliste) | 5 | CHRISTOPHE VANDAMME, MÉDECIN · DELPHINE JULIEN-LABRUYERE, MÉDECIN · VIRGINIE CAYOL-MILESI, MÉDECIN · PHILIPPE PESSIOT, MÉDECIN · JEAN-PHILIPPE BARBIER, MÉDECIN | INSEE BPE 5 [3] |
| Pharmacy | 1 | PHARMACIE DE CORDOUAN | INSEE BPE 1 / INSEE SIRENE 2 [3,4] |
| Nurse | 0 | INSEE BPE 0 [3] | |
| Dentist | 0 | INSEE BPE 0 [3] | |
| Post office / agence postale | 1 | LA POSTE | INSEE BPE 1 [3] |
| Library | 1 | MEDIATHEQUE CENTRE CULTUREL BORIS VIAN | INSEE BPE 1 [3] |
| Cinema | 1 | CINEMA MICHEL LEGRAND | INSEE BPE 1 [3] |
| Gym / sports hall | 1 | SALLE OMNISPORT | INSEE BPE 1 [3] |
| Swimming pool | 4 | PLAGE DE LA GRANDE COTE · PLAGE DE NAUZAN · PLAGE DES COMBOTS · PLAGE DU BUREAU CENTRE | INSEE BPE 4 [3] |
| Bank | 1 | CAISSE REG CREDIT AGRICOLE MUTUEL 17-79 | INSEE BPE 1 [3] |
| Hairdresser | 6 | CONFLUENCE EXPERTISE · SEASIDE · MON SALON A DOMICILE · SALON CARITEY | INSEE BPE 6 / INSEE SIRENE 7 [3,4] |
| Fuel station | 1 | STATION SERVICE | INSEE BPE 1 / INSEE SIRENE 0 [3] |
| Hotel | 4 | HÔTEL RESTAURANT PRIMAVERA · HÔTEL RÉSIDENCE LES FLOTS · LE DOMAINE DE SAINT-PALAIS · ART'S HOTEL | INSEE BPE 4 / INSEE SIRENE 13 [3,4] |
| Campsite | 10 | CAMPING ELIM CAFEJ · CAMPING LES ORMEAUX · CAMPING PARADIS LES PINS · YUKADI VILLAGES · CAMPING LA BORDERIE | INSEE BPE 10 / INSEE SIRENE 14 [3,4] |
Market and village life
A market is recorded here, but no source gives the day. [5,6]
Trajectory
Population 3,936 (2012) → 3,840 (2023): -2.4 % over 10 years. [7,1]
Population 2,736 (1990) → 3,840 (2023): 40.4 % over 30 years. [8,1]
Dwellings (2023): 6,914, of which 68.8 % second homes and 1.3 % vacant. [9]
Access and surroundings
Which way the everyday services lie
Bakery (Saint-Palais-sur-Mer): 0.2 km to the west (straight line). [10]
Food shop (Saint-Palais-sur-Mer): 0.2 km to the west (straight line). [10]
GP (Saint-Palais-sur-Mer): 0.1 km to the east (straight line). [10]
Pharmacy (Saint-Palais-sur-Mer): 0.3 km to the west (straight line). [10]
Primary school (Saint-Palais-sur-Mer): 0.8 km to the north-east (straight line). [10]
Climate
Where this sits nationally
An average of 15 days a year at or above 30 °C and 23 days at or below 0 °C, over 30 complete years in 1995–2024. [11]
Measured at the ROYAN-MEDIS weather station, 8.7 km away at 12 m; the village itself is at 11 m. [11]
Muggy days — a dew point at or above 18 °C — average 6 days a summer. [11]
Humidity measured at ROYAN-MEDIS, 8.7 km away at 12 m, over 30 summers. [11]
An average of 841 mm of rain a year, spread over 120 days — about 7 mm on a day it rains. [11]
Rainfall measured at ROYAN-MEDIS, 8.7 km away at 12 m. Rainfall is not adjusted for altitude: unlike temperature it has no simple gradient to correct by. [11]
Uncertainties
No specific uncertainties flagged.
References
- INSEE census (RP) 2023 — 17380/2023
- INSEE density grid 2026
- INSEE BPE 2025
- INSEE SIRENE 2026-09
- DATAtourisme 2025-01— https://data.datatourisme.fr/13/252ed8d4-7b83-3d15-8d1c-fd11b97fb8be— “Marché couvert de Saint-Palais-sur-Mer”(unverified)
- DATAtourisme 2025-01— https://data.datatourisme.fr/13/2de343bf-24f1-3daf-a1cc-1ee72c98b263— “Marché extérieur de Saint-Palais-sur-Mer”(unverified)
- INSEE census (RP) 2023 — 17380/2012
- INSEE census (RP) 2023 — 17380/1990
- INSEE census (RP) 2023 — 17380/logement/2023
- INSEE BPE 2025 — 17380
- Météo-France daily climatology 1995-2024
Villages like this one
Matched on size, density, second homes and which everyday shops and services are present — not on the score, so a village of the same kind that is doing better or worse shows up rather than being hidden.
| Commune | Dept | Distance | Population | Score | Band | Climate vs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaux-sur-Mer | 17 | 1.7 km E | 4,013 | 52.9 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| Grosseto-Prugna | 2A | 909 km SE | 3,900 | 59.6 | Partly served | Warmer summers and milder winters.Summers feel about as humid.summer 23 % · winter 73 % · humidity 86 % |
| Saint-Georges-de-Didonne | 17 | 8.4 km SE | 5,092 | 59.6 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| Le Touquet-Paris-Plage | 62 | 577 km N | 4,224 | 61.6 | Served | Cooler summers, similar winters.Summers feel drier.summer 69 % · winter 85 % · humidity 64 % |
| Merlimont | 62 | 571 km N | 3,342 | 52.8 | Partly served | Cooler summers, similar winters.Summers feel drier.summer 69 % · winter 85 % · humidity 64 % |
| Cucq | 62 | 575 km N | 5,129 | 60 | Served | Cooler summers, similar winters.Summers feel drier.summer 69 % · winter 85 % · humidity 64 % |
Order by distance instead
| Commune | Dept | Distance | Population | Score | Band | Climate vs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaux-sur-Mer | 17 | 1.7 km E | 4,013 | 52.9 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| Saint-Georges-de-Didonne | 17 | 8.4 km SE | 5,092 | 59.6 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| Merlimont | 62 | 571 km N | 3,342 | 52.8 | Partly served | Cooler summers, similar winters.Summers feel drier.summer 69 % · winter 85 % · humidity 64 % |
| Cucq | 62 | 575 km N | 5,129 | 60 | Served | Cooler summers, similar winters.Summers feel drier.summer 69 % · winter 85 % · humidity 64 % |
| Le Touquet-Paris-Plage | 62 | 577 km N | 4,224 | 61.6 | Served | Cooler summers, similar winters.Summers feel drier.summer 69 % · winter 85 % · humidity 64 % |
| Grosseto-Prugna | 2A | 909 km SE | 3,900 | 59.6 | Partly served | Warmer summers and milder winters.Summers feel about as humid.summer 23 % · winter 73 % · humidity 86 % |
Sort and compare these on the full list →
…and in much the same climate
The same match on size and services, narrowed to communes whose summers, winters and summer humidity are all close to Saint-Palais-sur-Mer's. All three are required, so this section is absent for the 11.8 % of communes with no humidity station near enough to measure: two temperature axes alone cannot tell a muggy coast from a dry one.
| Commune | Dept | Distance | Population | Score | Band | Climate vs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaux-sur-Mer | 17 | 1.7 km E | 4,013 | 52.9 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| Saint-Georges-de-Didonne | 17 | 8.4 km SE | 5,092 | 59.6 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| Meschers-sur-Gironde | 17 | 14 km SE | 3,180 | 50.9 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| La Plaine-sur-Mer | 44 | 187 km NW | 4,760 | 49.2 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 96 % · humidity 86 % |
| Saint-Sulpice-de-Royan | 17 | 6.8 km NE | 3,446 | 53.8 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 100 % · humidity 100 % |
| Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef | 44 | 190 km NW | 5,714 | 53.6 | Partly served | Much the same temperatures.Summers feel about as humid.summer 100 % · winter 96 % · humidity 86 % |
Elsewhere
Commune website · Wikipedia (en) ·Wikipedia (fr) · INSEE dossier complet · OpenStreetMap · Web search · Map
Permanent link: https://vivantrural.com/en/fr/17380-saint-palais-sur-mer