Citadelle du Château d'Oléron, Military fortress in Le Château-d'Oléron, France.
The citadel stands on raised ground overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, featuring ramparts, triple moats, and fortified walls designed for coastal defense.
Cardinal Richelieu ordered the construction in 1630 on medieval castle remains, with architect Pierre d'Argencour leading the initial phase until 1704.
The Arsenal building now functions as a 300-seat theater, presenting performances while maintaining its historical military architecture.
The fortress offers guided tours, treasure hunts, and night visits throughout the year, with extended activities during school vacation periods.
The citadel contains a monumental staircase with sloping steps descending to sea level, complemented by restored stone and brick vaults.
Location: Le Château-d'Oléron
Architects: Pierre de Conty d'Argencour
Address: 17480 Le Château-d'Oléron, France 17480 Le Château-d'Oléron
Website: http://ot-chateau-oleron.fr
GPS coordinates: 45.88501,-1.18933
Latest update: October 24, 2025 08:26
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.
Oléron Bridge
3.6 km
Fort Louvois
3.3 km
Château de la Gataudière
8.1 km
Petit Train de Saint-Trojan
5.4 km
Plage de Gatseau
8.4 km
ÎléO
5.8 km
Le Marais aux Oiseaux
8.2 km
Réserve naturelle nationale de Moëze-Oléron
3.8 km
Parc Myocastors
7.9 km
Plage de la Giraudière
6.1 km
Dolmen d'Ors
2.4 km
Église Saint-André de Dolus-d'Oléron
6.5 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption du Château-d'Oléron
691 m
Musée de l'huître
3.3 km
Église Saint-Trojan de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains
5 km
Pont Napoléon
3.2 km
Plage de la Rémigeasse
8.1 km
Maison de Richelieu
9.4 km
Fontaine, place de la république
530 m
Plage de Marennes
8.6 km
Hôtel des fermes
9.4 km
Cabanes de créateurs et d'artisans de La Baudissière
5.5 km
Petite plage de Saint-Trojan
5.8 km
Grande plage (naturiste)
7.2 km
Église Saint-Louis de Bourcefranc-le-Chapus
6 km
Plage de Vert Bois
6.1 km
Prieuré de La Perroche
8.6 km
Plage des Anses
9.6 kmReviews
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