Visit Fort Boyard: overflight, cruise, excursion

Are you in the department of Charente-Maritime and want to visit a military fort? Take a tour of the famous Fort Boyard and discover our dedicated article!

Located in the department of la Charente-Maritime In the New Aquitaine region, Fort Boyard is probably one of the most famous military buildings in the French. The reason for this celebrity is not related to the exploits of the French army in the 19th century but to a TV game!

Indeed, created in 1990, Fort Boyard is an indefamous television program for the summer months, where candidates are media figures (the goal of this game is to raise money for an association). Fort Boyard's new status made this place very popular but also unavailable. Unless there is a special permission (very) it is impossible to visit Fort Boyard without participating in the game. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to approach it by various means!

The purpose of this article is to provide all the information necessary to visit Fort Boyard and original tour ideas.

Fort Boyard, a uncommon military history

Visiting Fort Boyard is first of all going to a major military place. Even though television was not yet available, Fort Boyard was already shining by his splendour, at least the one originally imagined. Located in the middle of the islands of Oleron and Aix, the impressive military building (68 meters long, 32 meters wide, 20 meters high) was not created to accommodate Pass-Partout and Pass-Muraille !

The construction of Fort Boyard began in the early 19th century at the beginning of the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 and ended in 1857. If the slowness of a building has nothing surprising for a castle, it is more for a military fort. One explanation was an English invasion in 1809, which stopped construction until 1842. The other is his location, a sandbank called Boyard’s lane, from which his name is.

Why choose this location for a military fort? The aim is then to protect an area open to the attacks called Antioch’s pertuis. It extends from La Rochelle to Oleron Island about and includes the great military arsenal of Rochefort. Placed in the middle of this strait, Fort Boyard is supposed to prevent military invasions, including the insufficiency of the cannons of the nearby forts (Fort Enet, Fort de la Rade, Fort des Saumonards, etc.).

If the idea of departure is good, the completion date is much less. In fact, artillery progressed significantly during the nineteenth century. In fact, between 1842 and 1913 Fort Boyard served as a prison instead of being decommissioned in 1913. The fort is then abandoned and plundered!

Fort Boyard, from abandonment to the star monument of a TV game

The partial abandonment in 1913 marked the beginning of 80 years of disappointment for Fort Boyard, prey to the winds, waves, birds and even to the Nazi army which used it as a basis for training in shooting! The French Army then decided to get rid of it for good and Fort Boyard was auctioned. They are won by a dental surgeon, André Aerts, for the sum of... 28,000 francs! The story tells us that André Aerts doesn’t even know what to do with his property... The destination of the fort does not change: to abandon or almost!

In 1988, André Aerts put the fort on sale and the production company of Jacques Antoine, who was very well known at the time, the acquiert for 1.5 million francs (beautiful surplus-value). Immediately, the production company makes "donation" to the department of Charente-Maritime, responsible for the latter to do the rehabilitation work.

While nothing predestined to it, Fort Boyard became the star of a TV game of the same name in 1990. The story is beautiful because, from a fort to a agony, defiled by the bird guano and many other wastes, it is now the most famous military fort in France.

Today, Fort Boyard is visiting in a certain way. No matter how to do it, it's unforgettable moments to live for all those who will taste the happiness of Fort Boyard's visit! What if it was your turn?

What to see and what to do in Fort Boyard?

Visiting Fort Boyard is the pleasure of watching without touch. In fact, unless you participate in the TV game, shoot a film or have the (impossible) agreement of the production company and the department of Charente-Maritime, you cannot go inside. So we simply visit it outside, in various ways.

To simplify, there are three ways to visit Fort Boyard (we save you swimming!) : the helicopter fly, the boat cruise, the jet ski ride. It is almost certain that you will choose one of the three to visit Fort Boyard.

You can also visit Fort Boyard further, admiring it from the beach. It is observed very well from the beach of Saumonards and the beach Boilier on the island of Oleron. In general, the best views are located on the island of Oleron.

If you are visiting Fort Boyard, you can also discover this beautiful department that is Charente-Maritime. In addition to the islands of Oleron and Aix, there are also cities like La Rochelle and Rochefort or the seaside resort of Châtelaillon-Plage.

How to visit Fort Boyard?

Fort Boyard helicopter flight

Visiting Fort Boyard from the inside is impossible. Then why not try to get close to the air? This is what this Fort Boyard helicopter flyer offers. Departure from the airport La Rochelle – Île de Ré , you fly for 25 minutes flight discovering the fort and the surrounding region.

After the briefing to remind the safety instructions, your pilot takes you over the old port of La Rochelle with its huge towers. The rest of the program is the discovery of Fouras-les-Bains, a village that gave his name to Father Fouras until the mouth of the Seine (pertuis d’Antioche) to get close to Fort Boyard.

The opinions are unanimous on the kindness and skill of the pilot, who takes you to the nearest fort. The tour is also recommended for lovers of strong sensations!

The return is made by the bay of the Aiguillon to the departure airport, the time to remember the magical moments you have just lived.

Cruise around Fort Boyard

The cruise around the fort is the classic trip to Fort Boyard. There are many, with each their characteristics. First, everything will depend on your starting point. There are many excursions from La Rochelle, in general with rather imposing motor boats. From the island of Oleron, you’ll visit Fort Boyard instead of sailing.

The choice can also depend on the number of people per boat, the sailboats being generally less filled than the boats leaving La Rochelle. In any case, the two types of cruise are of quality and we are very far from a mass tourism.

Whatever the choice is made, the cruise is always the same: first of all, you take a good bowl of fresh air and you breathe the sea air! Then we see the fort and get as close as possible. It’s good from a boat that you can make the best photos and visual memories of Fort Boyard. The cruise ends with a return to the port of departure, with memories full of eyes!

Ski tour around Fort Boyard

The last original way to see Fort Boyard closer is to go to Jet Ski. Activity is Open to all , children from 16 years old provided you can swim.

You will be accompanied by a graduate instructor who knows places like his pocket. Before departure, located at the Port des Minimes in La Rochelle, the instructor will teach you all the techniques to know to run your jet ski to evaluate your level. You have the possibility of navigate alone or more .

Once properly installed on your ski jet and your rated level, you left for a 2-hour hike. This excursion is clearly the best to enjoy the discovery of Fort Boyard as you will spend a lot of time around, to know its least corners. This will also allow you to discover the beautiful island of Aix and the Charente archipelago in general.

How to get to Fort Boyard?

By train

The nearest large town to visit Fort Boyard is La Rochelle, which is the capital of Charente-Maritime. From this city you will have the largest choice of excursions.

From Paris , we have to count about 3 hours of TGV . From Lyon and Marseille , this is much longer because you have to go through Paris! On the other hand, since Bordeaux , we have to count 2h15 train . Same or less than two hours for cities Brittany .

The choice of train therefore clearly depends on your departure city.

By car

The advantage of the car is to be able to get you to the nearest Fort Boyard, to Fouras-les-Bains and even to Oleron Island.

Count 1h50 from Bordeaux, 5 hours road since Paris, 6:30 from Lyon or 7:30 since Marseille. The road is rather easy as you take the highway during almost all the journey.

By bus

If you are short of budget and comfort doesn’t matter much to you, the bus option is to consider since La Rochelle is rather well served .

Are there combined visits?

Visit Fort Boyard without discovering the rest of the region would be a sacrilege! You have a small glimpse of it with the overflight of the helicopter that makes you discover the port of La Rochelle.

If you are not talking about combined visits, you can enjoy your visit to Fort Boyard with a discovery of La Rochelle before or after your cruise. Likewise, if you are on the islands of Oleron or Aix, there are many things to do.

And why not visit the other abandoned forts? The Saumonards Fort, the Rade Fort and Fort Enet, at a low tide for the latter, can be part of a day dedicated to military buildings! But if you’re really interested in military architecture, take a tour of Rochefort to visit the old great arsenal.

The good addresses where to stay

If the options are numerous, Wanderlix has selected three possibilities for you.

La Rochelle

It is clearly the city we advise you. You'll have a lot more choice and you'll have something to go out in the evening. Here are two accommodations we selected in La Rochelle.

15th century classified remains

Located in a shaded building, this Airbnb in La Rochelle has a sublime wooden decoration, with very original luminaires. In addition, you are located near the port, ideal for boarding and visiting Fort Boyard.

Design city house

Here is an Airbnb in La Rochelle with a nice side that will seduce you right away! Rather decayed, its decoration clearly wants to spend time there! It is also located near the port of the city.

Fouras

It is possible to stay in Fouras. This includes counselling to families with children or other travellers wishing to spend several days in the region.

Île d’Oléron

Oleron Island is the starting point for many excursions to visit Fort Boyard. It can therefore be an ideal place to stay in the region.

Know that there are many apartments Airbnb at affordable prices. If you prefer the hotel, don’t hesitate to call a hotel Compare hotels to benefit from the best offers.

The good addresses where to recover

Choosing a restaurant will be very difficult because there are many, especially in La Rochelle! The majority of restaurants around the port of La Rochelle are advised and you will not have a bad surprise.

If you are on Oleron Island, we recommend restaurants From island to Papilles or The Courtine . They offer local food and fresh products!

The spots around Fort Boyard

We can't visit Fort Boyard without mentioning... Fort Boyard Like spot number one! Indeed, it is observed very well from the Saumonards beach located on the island of Oleron .

The second spot we recommend is that of the lighthouses of the island of Aix . Get a little behind and you will have a wonderful view of both lighthouses and the beach in the foreground, and Fort Boyard in the background!

Finally, if you are at low tide, don’t hesitate to take the Go to the beefs from Port-des-Barques to visit the island of Madame. Located south of Rochefort, the crossing is absolutely superb and offers an exceptional panorama!