Discover Fort Boyard

fort boyard vue aerienne — © Shutterstock

Since 1990, everyone knows Fort Boyard thanks to the television show of the same name. We don't necessarily know where it is located, nor do we know its history, but we recognize its distinctive shape erected like a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean.

If you're traveling or vacationing in Charente-Maritime, now's the perfect time to learn more about this magnificent monument that's worth visiting!

Why was Fort Boyard built, what is its purpose?

A slow construction

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

Admittedly, 54 years to build a monument, even of this size, even in the middle of the sea, is long you might say. But there's a reason for this: our English neighbors invaded the site until 1842, which obviously didn't help the construction progress...

Moreover, a sandbank for a foundation is not the easiest thing to master; it had to be moved or stabilized, which required time and money.

Already in the 17th century, Louis XIV had the idea of building a fort in this location to improve the kingdom's defense, to which Vauban replied: "Sire, it would be easier to seize the Moon with one's teeth than to attempt such a task in this place." This shows the difficulty of the project...

Why was Fort Boyard built in this location?

This military fort was intended to ward off incursion attempts on a sector that extended from La Rochelle to the island of Oléron. It was meant to reinforce the defense system of other nearby forts whose cannons had insufficient range to protect the coasts and prevent invasions.

Why did Fort Boyard never serve as a fort?

Another question that should be asked of our dear English neighbors, as their prolonged invasion delayed the fort's completion. In the meantime, the reason for which it had been built - to compensate for the insufficient range of other forts' cannons - was no longer relevant.

Indeed, in just a few decades, progress in artillery was significant enough to directly solve this problem, making Fort Boyard useless...

What was it used for?

Having no more defensive military future, a use had to be found for this building that had cost the handsome sum of 8 million francs of the time!

So, after years of emptiness, it was transformed into a military prison from 1870 for Prussian soldiers and communards. It served as a base for torpedo surveillance before being abandoned again by the navy in 1913.

During World War II, it served as a "practice" target for the Germans who severely damaged the eastern part of the fort as well as the watchtower.

Classified as a historical monument in 1950, it was bought by a private individual for 28,000 francs and served as a set for films such as: "Le repos du guerrier," "Les aventuriers"... Then it became the playground for participants in the television show "la chasse aux trésors" in 1981.

In 1988, it was bought by the production company that wanted to create an adaptation of "Dungeons and Dragons." On June 30, 1990, the first episode of the Fort Boyard show that we all know today aired. This show made the fort famous worldwide. What a beautiful revenge for this forgotten, pillaged, and abandoned monument.

Can you visit Fort Boyard?

Yes, but only the exterior. You look but don't touch, unless you sign up to participate in the show! The producers and the region, who have invested enormously in the building's renovation, don't want to risk it being damaged.

How to visit Fort Boyard?

There are 3 ways to visit this monument:

By helicopter, you'll have the opportunity to fly over the building and surroundings.
By boat, cruises are organized to allow tourists to see the impressive structure up close! Motor boat, sailboat...
By kayak, for the most athletic!

If you don't have sea legs and aren't comfortable in the air, you can always observe it from afar from the beaches of Saumonards or Boilier on the island of Oléron.

Can you sleep at Fort Boyard?

Again, for heritage preservation reasons, it's impossible to sleep on site. La Rochelle, Fouras, and the island of Oléron offer many possibilities instead.

Did you know?

It's a village near Fort Boyard called Fouras-les-Bains that gave the idea for the name of Father Fouras.
The 2 cranes seen in the shows: the wooden one in cell 119 and the one at the foot of the watchtower were already there and used in the 19th century.
88,860 m3 of stones were needed to stabilize the sandbank on which the fort is built.
No one ever managed to escape from Fort Boyard when it was used as a prison despite numerous attempts!
The Fort Boyard show not only brought this building back to life but also sparked curiosity from tourists worldwide, benefiting the region's tourism sector.
The Fort Boyard show is broadcast in about thirty countries.
Fort Boyard measures 68 meters long, 21 meters wide, 27 meters high (at the watchtower) and the base wall thickness is 2.30 meters.

Where does the name Boyard come from?

The Dutch were the first to map this location, which they called "ban iaert," which became Boyard through deformation.