Fort du Chay, Coastal fortification in Royan, France
Fort du Chay is an abandoned fortification built on a rocky outcrop near Royan on the French coast. What remains today are mostly concrete bunkers embedded into the cliffs, representing different periods of military construction.
The fort was built in 1757 to defend the Gironde estuary mouth through coordinated fire with other coastal forts. During World War II, German forces substantially modified it and incorporated it into their extensive Atlantic coastal defense system.
The site takes its name from the nearby beach and stands as a reminder of the coast's military past. Visitors can observe how wartime bunkers were integrated into the rocky landscape.
The site sits directly beside a beach and is freely accessible from outside. The best views are found along nearby pathways and from the shore itself, particularly at low tide.
During a demolition wave in the 1950s, large portions of the fort were torn down to make room for hotels and residential buildings. This widespread destruction was considered modernization at the time but has severely limited what visitors can see of the original structure.
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