Fort Louvois, Sea fort in Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, France.
Fort Louvois is a horseshoe-shaped coastal fortress standing about 400 meters from the mainland, featuring a central tower and two pier structures. The structure was designed with barracks and defensive installations to protect the coastline from attack.
Construction began in 1691 under architect François Ferry and was later redesigned by military engineer Vauban. These modifications made the fortification more effective at defending the coast.
The fort now houses exhibits about oyster farming traditions and the role of coastal fortifications in local maritime life. These displays show how the site shaped daily activities and livelihoods in the region.
Access depends on tidal conditions: visitors can walk across a stone pathway during low tide or take a boat shuttle at high tide. Plan your visit around the tide schedule and check conditions before arriving.
The fort was positioned to work together with Château d'Oléron, creating a coordinated defense that controlled the Pertuis de Maumusson waterway. This paired fortification strategy was key to protecting the entire coastal region.
Location: Bourcefranc-le-Chapus
Architects: François Ferry
Part of: archipel charentais
Address: Extrémité de la Pointe du Chapus
Website: http://fort-louvois.com
GPS coordinates: 45.85710,-1.17425
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40
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
630 m
Citadelle du Château d'Oléron
3.3 km
Château de la Gataudière
5.3 km
Petit Train de Saint-Trojan
3.4 km
Église Saint-Pierre-de-Sales de Marennes
6.6 km
Plage de Gatseau
6 km
Cité de l'Huître
6.8 km
Réserve naturelle nationale de Moëze-Oléron
6.5 km
Marais du Galon d'or
6.8 km
Plage de la Giraudière
6 km
Plage de la Cèpe
6.8 km
Dolmen d'Ors
1.9 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption du Château-d'Oléron
3.9 km
Musée de l'huître
0 m
Église Saint-Trojan de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains
3.1 km
Hôtel particulier, 57 rue de la République, Marennes
6.7 km
Pont Napoléon
6.4 km
Maison de Richelieu
6.5 km
Fontaine, place de la république
3.7 km
Plage de Marennes
5.3 km
Hôtel des fermes
6.5 km
Petite plage de Saint-Trojan
3.2 km
Place Brochard
6.5 km
Grande plage (naturiste)
6.3 km
Église Saint-Louis de Bourcefranc-le-Chapus
3.3 km
Huîtres Marennes Oléron
6.7 km
Protestant church of Marennes
6.6 km
Plage du Soleil
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