Editing Charente-Maritime (section)

==== Post-war ====
===== 1945-1960: The Feverish Years of Reconstruction =====
Royan, 85% destroyed, was rebuilt as a modernist “urban laboratory” under Claude Ferret in the 1950s.<ref name=":40">{{Harvtxt|Delmas|1991|p=81}}</ref> Saintes launched the “Castors Saintais” housing cooperative in 1950.<ref name=":41">{{Harvtxt|Flohic|2002|p=1035}}</ref> Rail lines closed, replaced by roads like Rochefort-Aigrefeuille-d’Aunis by 1950.<ref name=":42">{{Harvtxt|Blier|2003|p=130-133}}</ref>

===== 1960-1975: Modernization Underway =====
The [[Trente Glorieuses]] brought industrial growth, with [[Simca|SIMCA]] in Périgny (1965) and CIT-Alcatel in La Rochelle (1970).<ref name=":69">{{Harvtxt|Soumagne|1987|p=156}}</ref> Agriculture modernized, but rural exodus hit hard, with commune mergers like Montendre in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montendre - Notice Communale |trans-title=Montendre - Municipal Notice |url=http://cassini.ehess.fr/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=23350 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |website=cassini.ehess.fr |language=fr}}</ref> Urbanization grew, with La Rochelle’s agglomeration exceeding 100,000 by 1975; tourism surged with the Oléron viaduct (1966) and [[La Palmyre Zoo]] (1967).<ref name=":70">{{Cite web |title=Chenac-Saint-Seurin-d'Uzet - Notice Communale |trans-title=Chenac-Saint-Seurin-d'Uzet - Municipal Notice |url=http://cassini.ehess.fr/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=9123 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |website=cassini.ehess.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

===== 1975-1990: Continued Modernization Against a Backdrop of Economic Crisis =====
A 1976 drought and 1982 floods hit hard.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Genet|2007|p=149}}</ref> Agriculture shifted to cereals and oilseeds like sunflower.<ref name=":71">{{Harvtxt|Soumagne|1987|p=88}}</ref> De-industrialization cut 10,000 jobs by 1985, with unemployment peaking above 15%.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Soumagne|1987|p=138}}</ref> Peri-urbanization emerged, and infrastructure grew with the A10 freeway (1981) and [[Île de Ré]] bridge (1988).<ref>{{Harvtxt|Genet|2007|p=88}}</ref> Royan became a tourist hub, hosting 400,000 visitors seasonally.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Soumagne|1987|p=165}}</ref>