Boyardville
Encyclopedia
Boyardville is a district in the city of Saint-Georges-d'Oléron
on the eastern part of the island of Oléron
(Île d'Oléron) in Charente-Maritime
, France. The community is a small beach resort with a fishing port and marina, and is a popular spot for surfing
.
The name derives from Fort Boyard
, the famous ocean fortress located a few kilometers offshore. Boyardville was the location where materials were stored for construction of the fort, and where the barracks were built for laborers who worked on this project.
Less known is Fort Galissonière (formerly Fort Napoleon), located in the Saumonards forest. Designed to protect the mouth of the Charente and the arsenal of Rochefort
, it lost any military purpose and is now converted into a summer vacation retreat.
and its cargo of gold ran aground in 17th century off Saumonards beach. The village began to develop as large fortifications were built to defend its strategic location, notably Fort Boyard
immediately off of its shores. On land, Fort Galissonière hosted small military garrison
s, and in the 19th century, the French Navy chose Boyardville as the place to operate a torpedo
training school. The Navy constructed an academy in 1876, and moored renowned Torpedo Boat
No. 5 at Boyardville for several years.
The village has long been an important port
of entry for cargo passing in and out of the island. Goods were transferred from the docks to a steam railway that served the villages on both ends of the island. The old rail terminal is still visible on Sauzelle Road.
Boyardville was seriously damaged by two extremely violent storms in recent decades. Martin
, called "Storm of the Century," struck in December 1999, during which 198 km/h gusts of wind were recorded. Xynthia
hit in February 2010, causing massive flood damage from the ocean, as well as bursting a dam that caused flooding that destroyed many neighborhoods.
Saint-Georges-d'Oléron
Saint-Georges-d'Oléron is a commune on Oléron Island in the Charente-Maritime department in western France.-Population:-References:*...
on the eastern part of the island of Oléron
Oléron
Île d'Oléron is an island off the Atlantic coast of France , on the southern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait....
(Île d'Oléron) in Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime is a department on the west coast of France named after the Charente River.- History :Previously a part of Saintonge, Charente-Inférieure was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, France. The community is a small beach resort with a fishing port and marina, and is a popular spot for surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
.
The name derives from Fort Boyard
Fort Boyard
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. 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.-Layout:Fort...
, the famous ocean fortress located a few kilometers offshore. Boyardville was the location where materials were stored for construction of the fort, and where the barracks were built for laborers who worked on this project.
Less known is Fort Galissonière (formerly Fort Napoleon), located in the Saumonards forest. Designed to protect the mouth of the Charente and the arsenal of Rochefort
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort is a commune in southwestern France, a port on the Charente estuary. It is a sub-prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department.-History:...
, it lost any military purpose and is now converted into a summer vacation retreat.
History
Boyardville has a long history mixed with legends, like many places on Oléron Island. According to tradition, a Spanish galleonGalleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
and its cargo of gold ran aground in 17th century off Saumonards beach. The village began to develop as large fortifications were built to defend its strategic location, notably Fort Boyard
Fort Boyard
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. 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.-Layout:Fort...
immediately off of its shores. On land, Fort Galissonière hosted small military garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
s, and in the 19th century, the French Navy chose Boyardville as the place to operate a torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
training school. The Navy constructed an academy in 1876, and moored renowned Torpedo Boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
No. 5 at Boyardville for several years.
The village has long been an important port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
of entry for cargo passing in and out of the island. Goods were transferred from the docks to a steam railway that served the villages on both ends of the island. The old rail terminal is still visible on Sauzelle Road.
Boyardville was seriously damaged by two extremely violent storms in recent decades. Martin
Martin (storm)
Martin was a violent European windstorm which crossed southern Europe on 27–28 December 1999, one day after another powerful storm, Lothar....
, called "Storm of the Century," struck in December 1999, during which 198 km/h gusts of wind were recorded. Xynthia
Xynthia (storm)
Xynthia was a violent European windstorm which crossed Western Europe between 27 February and 1 March 2010. It reached a minimum pressure of 967 mb on 27 February. In France—where it was described by the civil defence as the most violent since Lothar and Martin in December 1999—at least 51 people...
hit in February 2010, causing massive flood damage from the ocean, as well as bursting a dam that caused flooding that destroyed many neighborhoods.