Fort Boyard

History of Fort Boyard

Created at the request of Napoleon, Fort Boyard is named after the sandbar on which it is built. The fort is part of the municipality of Aix Island.

When its construction was decided, his artillery was supposed to protect Ro­che­fort and his arsenal against an attack by an enemy fleet.

The construction of the fort lasted almost 70 years, from 1802 to 1870. At the completion of Fort Boyard, the progress of the artillery had rendered it useless. It was converted in a prison in 1872.

From 1913 to 1988, Fort Boyard remained disused. It was rehabilitated to serve as a framework for the game that bears his name.

Sea trip around Fort Boyard

The fort is owned by the "Conseil Général" of Charente-Maritime. As its access is prohibited to the public, it can not be visited.

However, it is possible to tour around Fort Boyard by boat.

The TV game

Thanks to the TV game, Fort Boyard is famous worldwide. More than twenty countries have recorded a variant of the French game.

The architecture of the fort is enhanced by the game. It is in the observation tower that "Père Fouras" expects candidates to ask them formidable enigmas.