Fort Boyard, Sea fortress in Île-d'Aix, France
The oval-shaped stone fortress rises 20 meters above sea level between the islands of Oléron and Aix in the Pertuis d'Antioche straits.
Military engineers constructed this defensive structure between 1801 and 1857 to protect the arsenal of Rochefort from British naval attacks.
The Department of Charente-Maritime transformed this former military fortress into a television production location, hosting game shows since 1990.
Maritime excursions depart from Fouras-les-Bains, Rochefort, and Port-des-Barques, allowing visitors to circle the fortress and observe its architecture.
The fortress stands on a sandbank that remained submerged under 4.5 meters of water during low tide, requiring extensive engineering solutions.
Location: Île-d'Aix
Inception: 1801
Architects: military engineering
Made from material: natural stone
Part of: archipel charentais
Address: Pleine mer Île-d'Aix
Phone: +33546317171
GPS coordinates: 45.99964,-1.21393
Latest update: November 20, 2025 21:43
Historical structures in France range from Roman amphitheaters to modern bridges. The buildings display engineering and architectural techniques through multiple periods. Monuments include Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance castles, medieval fortresses, Roman bridges, and contemporary architectural designs. These constructions represent significant periods in French history and architecture.
The region around La Rochelle offers numerous ideas for family outings, including the Aquarium with its 12,000 marine animals, the medieval Towers, and Fort Boyard. The area features several museums, such as the Maritime Museum and the New World Museum, as well as beaches and islands like Ré and Oléron. Visitors can explore the Old Port, natural parks, local product markets, and historical monuments like the Grosse Horloge and Saint-Louis Cathedral.
Oléron Island, the largest island in mainland France after Corsica, features a military, maritime, and natural heritage reflecting its strategic position facing the Atlantic Ocean. This Charente island, connected to the mainland since 1966 by a nearly three-kilometer-long bridge, houses fortifications built under Louis XIV, such as the Citadel of Château d'Oléron and Fort Louvois, as well as the famous Fort Boyard positioned on its sandbank offshore. The Chassiron Lighthouse, standing at forty-six meters high, marks the northern tip of the island and guides ships through the waters of the Pertuis d'Antioche. Beyond its defensive legacy, the island offers various natural areas where sandy beaches, pine forests, and salt marshes alternate. Saint-Trojan-les-Bains extends its wooded shoreline to the south, while Boyardville features a protected coast on its eastern side. Visitors also observe oyster farming along the La Baudissière channel and explore the colorful huts that house artist workshops at the port of Château d'Oléron. The Saltworks Museum traces the history of salt extraction, a resource that shaped the local economy for centuries.
Musée napoléonien de l'île d'Aix
3.3 km
Aix island lighthouses
3 km
Musée africain de l'île d'Aix
3.3 km
Maison Heureuse de Saint-Georges-d'Oléron
3.8 km
Église Saint-Martin
3.5 km
Poudrière du bourg d'Île-d'Aix
3.4 km
Plage de Boyardville
3.4 km
Caserne Montalembert
3.3 km
Plage de l'Anse de la Croix
3.1 km
Hôtel de ville d'Île-d'Aix
3.4 km
Maison Gourgaud
3.3 km
Maisons Gourgaud
3.8 km
Caserne Vaudreuil
3.2 km
Pointe Sainte-Catherine
3 km
Maison, 19 rue Marengo
3.4 km
Maison, 5 rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Chai, 6 rue Napoléon
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Maison, 7 rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Maison, 10 rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Maison, 19 rue Napoléon
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Maison, 15 rue Napoléon
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Maison, 17 rue Marengo
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Maison, 18 rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Maison, 13 rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Maison, 11 rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Maison, 7bis rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Maison, 4 rue Napoléon
3.3 km
Maison, 28 rue Marengo
3.3 kmReviews
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