Fort Boyard

Castle in La Rochelle

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Alexandre SEMUR

Fort Boyard is a historic sea fort situated in the Pertuis d’Antioche straits, between the Île-d’Aix and the Île d’Oléron, off the west coast of France. Originally conceived in the 17th century to protect the strategic port of Rochefort from naval attacks, its construction was deemed impractical at the time due to engineering challenges. It wasn’t until the early 19th century, under Napoleon Bonaparte, that construction commenced in earnest. The project faced numerous delays and was not completed until 1857. By then, advancements in artillery had rendered the fort obsolete for its intended defensive purpose.

The fort is oval-shaped, measuring approximately 68 meters in length and 31 meters in width, with walls rising up to 20 meters high. It was designed to house a garrison of up to 250 men and featured multiple levels for artillery placements and living quarters.

After a brief period of use as a military prison, Fort Boyard was abandoned in the early 20th century and fell into disrepair. In the 1990s, it gained international fame as the setting for the adventure game show “Fort Boyard,” which has been adapted in various countries.

Today, while the interior of Fort Boyard is not open to the public, visitors can view the fort from the sea. Boat tours departing from La Rochelle, Fouras, and Île-d’Aix offer close-up views of the structure, allowing tourists to appreciate its architectural significance and storied past.

The Fort Boyard appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting La Rochelle!

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