Discover Fort Boyard

Since 1990, everyone has been familiar with Fort Boyard thanks to the television programme of the same name. We don’t necessarily know where it is or what its history is, but we do know about its distinctive shape, erected like a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean.

If you’re travelling or on holiday in the Charente-Maritime region, now’s the time to find out more about this magnificent monument, which is well worth a visit!

Why was Fort Boyard built and what is its purpose?

Slow construction

Fort Boyard is a military fort whose construction began in 1803 and was completed in 1857, just as Napoleon Bonaparte had taken power in the kingdom of France.

Of course, 54 years to build a monument, even of this size, even in the open sea, is a long time. But there’s a reason for that: our English neighbours invaded the site until 1842, which obviously didn’t help construction progress…

What’s more, a sand bank for a foundation is not the easiest thing in the world to master; it had to be moved or stabilised, which cost time and money.

As far back as the 17th century, Louis XIV had the idea of building a fort here to improve the defence of the kingdom, to which Vauban replied: “Sire, it would be easier to grasp the moon with your teeth than to attempt such a task here”. That just goes to show how difficult the project was…

Why was the Boyard fort built here?

The purpose of this military fort was to ward off attempted incursions into an area stretching from La Rochelle to the island of Oléron. It was intended to reinforce the defence system of the other nearby forts, whose cannons had insufficient range to protect the coast and prevent invasions.

Why was Fort Boyard never used as a fort?

This is another question that should be put to our dear English neighbours, as their prolonged invasion delayed the delivery of the fort. In the meantime, the reason it had been built – to provide insufficient range for the cannons of the other forts – was no longer relevant.

In fact, in the space of a few decades, progress in artillery had been sufficiently significant to address this problem directly, so Fort Boyard became unnecessary…

What was it used for?

With no future in military defence, a use had to be found for the building, which cost a whopping 8 million francs at the time!

So, after many empty years, it was converted into a military prison from 1870 for Prussian soldiers and Communards, and used as a forward base for torpedo surveillance, before being abandoned again by the navy in 1913.

During the^2nd World War, it was used as a “practice” target by the Germans, who caused extensive damage to the eastern part of the fort and the lookout turret.

Listed as a historic monument in 1950, it was bought by a private individual for the sum of 28,000 francs and used as a set for films such as “Le repos du guerrier” and “Les aventuriers”, before becoming the playground for participants in the television programme “La chasse aux trésors” in 1981.

In 1988, it was bought by the production company that wanted to set up an adaptation of “Dungeons and Dragons”. On 30 June 1990, the first Fort Boyard programme took place, as we all know it today. The show made the fort famous the world over. What a fitting revenge for a monument that has been forgotten, pillaged and left to rot.

Can I visit Fort Boyard?

Yes, but only from the outside. You can look, but you can’t touch, unless you sign up to take part in the show! The producers and the region, who have invested heavily in renovating the building, don’t want to run the risk of it falling into disrepair.

How can I visit Fort Boyard?

There are 3 ways to visit this monument:

• By helicopter, you can fly over the building and the surrounding area.
• By boat, cruises are organised to allow tourists to see the impressive building up close! Motorboats, sailing boats…
• By kayak, for the more sporty!

If you don’t have the sea legs or are not comfortable in the air, you can always observe it from a distance from the beaches of Saumonards or Boilier on the Ile d’Oléron.

Is it possible to sleep at Fort Boyard?

Once again, for reasons of heritage conservation, it is impossible to sleep on site. La Rochelle, Fouras and the Ile d’Oléron, on the other hand, offer numerous possibilities.

Did you know?

• It was a village near Fort Boyard called Fouras-les-Bains that gave Father Fouras his name.
• The 2 cranes seen in the broadcasts: the wooden one in cell 119 and the one at the foot of the lookout were already there and in use in the 19th century.
• 88,860 m3 of stone were needed to stabilise the sand bank on which the fort was built.
• No one has ever managed to escape from Fort Boyard when it was used as a prison, despite numerous attempts!
• The TV show Fort Boyard has not only brought the building back to life, it has also attracted tourists from all over the world, which has benefited the region’s tourist industry.
• The programme Fort Boyard is broadcast in some thirty countries.
• Fort Boyard is 68 metres long, 21 metres wide, 27 metres high (at the lookout tower) and the base of the walls is 2.30 metres thick.

Where does the name Boyard come from?

The Dutch were the first to map this place, which they called “ban iaert”, which became Boyard by deformation.