| Fort Boyard - a great day out when staying in our Family Friendly Gites in SW France |
Fort Boyard 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. It is 61 metres long, 31 metres
wide, and its walls are 20 metres high. 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, but Vauban, his leading military engineer, famously advised
against it, saying "Sire, it would be easier to catch the moon with the teeth than take
on such an endeavour in such a location". Construction of the fort did not begin in
earnest until 1801, under Napoleon, in order to protect the coast (and especially the
arsenal of Rochefort) from possible incursions by foreign (and especially British)
navies. At that time, cannons only had a limited range, and the distance between the
two islands of Aix and Oleron was too large to block the passage. Following
difficulties in establishing a firm base (stone blocks had to be installed on the sandy sea
bed during low tide, where they could still sink under their own weight) 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 the
time of its completion, the range of cannons had markedly increased, making the fort
unnecessary for national defence.
Under the Paris Commune of 1871, Fort Boyard was briefly used as a prison, before
being abandoned a few years later. Over time, the fort slowly crumbled and
deteriorated into the sea as it was left unmaintained. In 1988, restoration work
commenced on Fort Boyard, in order to prepare it for a television game show, also
named Fort Boyard. The fort was electrified and a contraption similar to an oil rig has
been installed on the side in order to facilitate access to television crews. Restoration
on the fort finished in 1989 and filming commenced in 1990. Fort Boyard has been
used as the set for the show to this present day. On the boat trip you don't actually get
to visit inside, or indeed stop at all, but a its a fun boat trip over the sea, particularly
for children who know the game show..
Pertuis d'Antioche straits, on the west coast of France. It is 61 metres long, 31 metres
wide, and its walls are 20 metres high. 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, but Vauban, his leading military engineer, famously advised
against it, saying "Sire, it would be easier to catch the moon with the teeth than take
on such an endeavour in such a location". Construction of the fort did not begin in
earnest until 1801, under Napoleon, in order to protect the coast (and especially the
arsenal of Rochefort) from possible incursions by foreign (and especially British)
navies. At that time, cannons only had a limited range, and the distance between the
two islands of Aix and Oleron was too large to block the passage. Following
difficulties in establishing a firm base (stone blocks had to be installed on the sandy sea
bed during low tide, where they could still sink under their own weight) 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 the
time of its completion, the range of cannons had markedly increased, making the fort
unnecessary for national defence.
Under the Paris Commune of 1871, Fort Boyard was briefly used as a prison, before
being abandoned a few years later. Over time, the fort slowly crumbled and
deteriorated into the sea as it was left unmaintained. In 1988, restoration work
commenced on Fort Boyard, in order to prepare it for a television game show, also
named Fort Boyard. The fort was electrified and a contraption similar to an oil rig has
been installed on the side in order to facilitate access to television crews. Restoration
on the fort finished in 1989 and filming commenced in 1990. Fort Boyard has been
used as the set for the show to this present day. On the boat trip you don't actually get
to visit inside, or indeed stop at all, but a its a fun boat trip over the sea, particularly
for children who know the game show..
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