Fort Boyard

Fort Boyard is an oval sea fortress built of stone that rises 20 meters (65 feet) above sea level in the Pertuis d'Antioche strait between the islands of Oléron and Aix. The outer walls extend roughly 68 meters (223 feet) in length and 31 meters (102 feet) in width, with towers at both ends of the longer sides.

Military engineers constructed this defensive structure between 1801 and 1857 to protect the arsenal at Rochefort from British naval threats. The lengthy construction faced difficult conditions on the sandbank and several interruptions during the Napoleonic wars.

The former military structure now serves as a backdrop for television productions and draws onlookers who observe its exterior walls from boats. Many visitors recognize the distinctive oval shape from the popular game show that has been filmed here for decades.

Boat tours depart from Fouras-les-Bains, Rochefort, and Port-des-Barques, allowing visitors to circle the fortress and observe its exterior walls up close. The trips typically last several hours and depend on tidal conditions and weather at sea.

The fortress was built on a sandbank that lay submerged under 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water at low tide, requiring a massive wooden foundation. Engineers had to drive thousands of tree trunks into the seabed to create a stable base.

Location: Île-d'Aix

Inception: 1801

Architects: military engineering

Made from material: natural stone

Part of: archipel charentais

Address: Pleine mer

Phone: +33546317171

GPS coordinates: 45.99964,-1.21393

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:46