Fort Boyard (fortification)

Fort Boyard (French pronunciation: ​[fɔʁ bwajaʁ] (listen)) is a fort located between the Île-d'Aix and the Île d'Oléron in the Pertuis d'Antioche straits, on the west coast of France and is the filming location for the eponymous TV gameshow. Though a fort on Boyard bank was suggested as early as the 17th century, it was not until the 1800s under Napoleon Bonaparte that work began. Building started in 1801 and was completed in 1857. In 1967, the final scene of the French film Les aventuriers was filmed at the remains of the fort.

This article is about the fortification itself. For the game show, see Fort Boyard (TV series).
Fort Boyard
In the Pertuis d'Antioche straits, between the Île-d'Aix and
the île d'Oléron, on the west coast of France
Fort Boyard in June 2015
Fort Boyard
Coordinates45.9996°N 1.2139°W / 45.9996; -1.2139
TypeFortress
Site information
Controlled by France
Site history
BuiltStarted 1801,
completed 1857
In use1857–1913
Garrison information
Garrison250 soldiers

Layout
Fort Boyard from the air.

Fort Boyard is stadium-shaped, 68 metres (223 ft) long and 31 m (102 ft) wide. The walls were built 20 m (66 ft) high. At the centre is a yard, and the ground floor provided stores and quarters for the men and officers. The floor above contained casemates for the emplacements of guns and further quarters. Above that were facilities for barbette guns and mortars.[1]

History

The construction of the fort was first considered during a build-up of the French armed forces undertaken by Louis XIV between 1661 and 1667. Fort Boyard was to form a line of fortification with Fort Enet and Fort de la Rade on Île-d'Aix to protect the arsenal of Rochefort from Royal Navy incursions.[2] With the limited range of artillery in the 17th century, there was an unprotected gap between the fields of fire of the fortifications on the islands of Aix and Oléron; a fort on Boyard bank, roughly midway between the two, would have filled that gap. In 1692 the French engineer Descombs began planning the programme of building the fort; however, once it became clear how expensive it would be the scheme was abandoned. Vauban, Louis XIV's leading military engineer, famously advised against it, saying "Your Majesty, it would be easier to seize the moon with your teeth than to attempt such an undertaking in such a place".[1]

After a British raid on Île-d'Aix in 1757, plans for a fort on Boyard bank were once again considered. Though plans were drawn up, it was abandoned again due to the logistical problems. Efforts were renewed under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800, and the following year engineers Ferregeau and Armand Samuel de Marescot, and Vice-Admiral François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros designed a fort to be built on the bank. To facilitate the work, a port was established on île d'Oléron. The village of Boyardville was built for the workers. The first stage of construction was to establish a plateau, some 100 by 50 m (330 by 160 ft), to act as foundation. To this end, stones were piled up on the bank.[3]

The project was suspended in 1809. Construction resumed in 1837, under Louis-Philippe, following renewed tensions with the United Kingdom. The fortifications were completed in 1857, with sufficient room for a garrison of 250 men; however, by this time the range of cannons had significantly increased, covering the hitherto unprotected gap and making the fort unnecessary.

After 1871, Fort Boyard was briefly used as a military prison, and abandoned in 1913,[4] after which the unmaintained fort slowly deteriorated and crumbled into the sea. In 1950 it was made a listed building, and in 1961 was sold to Charente Maritime Regional Council.[5]

It has been used as the location for the filming of both the French and international versions of the TV gameshow of the same name since 1990, and was also the location for filming The Last Adventure, starring Alain Delon, Lino Ventura and Joanna Shimkus.

References
Notes
  1. Lepage 2009, p. 206
  2. Barber 1999, p. 50
  3. Lepage 2009, pp. 206–207
  4. "Fort Boyard". Oleron-island.com. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
  5. "Fort Boyard". Bordeaux-doc.com. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
Bibliography
  • Barber, Richard (1999). The Companion Guide to Gascony and the Dordogne. Companion Guides. ISBN 978-1-900639-27-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lepage, Jean-Denis G. G. (2009). French Fortifications, 1715–1815: An Illustrated History. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-4477-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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