Fort Boyard
Encyclopedia
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.
s for the emplacements of guns and further quarters. Above that were facilities for barbette
guns and mortars
.
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. Due to the limited range of artillery in the 17th century, the fields of fire between the fortifications on the islands of Aix and Oléron did not overlap. A fort on Boyard bank, roughly mid-way 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".
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, the logistical problems again ensured it was abandoned. 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, to act as foundations. To this end, stones were piled up on the bank.
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 significantly 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. As time went by, the fort slowly crumbled and deteriorated into the sea as it was left unsustained.
In 1961 the Commune sold the fort to the département
of Charente-Maritime
. Six years later, the final scene of the French film Les aventuriers (1967)
was filmed at the remains of the fort.
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 jack-up barge was 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 October 2011. When the new series Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge begins is October 4th, 2011.
Île-d'Aix
Île-d'Aix is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department off the west coast of France. It occupies the territory of small island of Île d'Aix in the Atlantic. It is a popular place for tourist day-trips during the summer months.-Location:...
and the Île d'Oléron
Oléron
Île d'Oléron is an island off the Atlantic coast of France , on the southern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait....
in the Pertuis d'Antioche
Pertuis d'Antioche
The Pertuis d'Antioche is a strait on the Atlantic coast of Western France, located between the two islands Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron and the continental coast, between the cities of La Rochelle and the naval arsenal of Rochefort...
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 Boyard is oval-shaped, 80 metres (262.5 ft) long and 40 m (131.2 ft) wide. The walls were built 20 m (65.6 ft) high. At the centre was a yard, and the ground floor provided stores and quarters for the men and officers. The floor above contained casemateCasemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
s for the emplacements of guns and further quarters. Above that were facilities for barbette
Barbette
A barbette is a protective circular armour feature around a cannon or heavy artillery gun. The name comes from the French phrase en barbette referring to the practice of firing a field gun over a parapet rather than through an opening . The former gives better angles of fire but less protection...
guns and mortars
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
.
History
The construction of the fort was first considered during a build-up of the French armed forces undertaken by Louis XIVLouis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
between 1661 and 1667. Fort Boyard was to form a line of fortification with Fort Enet
Fort Enet
Fort Énet is a fortification in the Pertuis d'Antioche in Charente-Maritime, France. It is located on the "Pointe de la Fumée", the roadway extending from the city of Fouras, between Fouras and Île-d'Aix, and can be accessed from there at low tide....
and Fort de la Rade on Île-d'Aix
Île-d'Aix
Île-d'Aix is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department off the west coast of France. It occupies the territory of small island of Île d'Aix in the Atlantic. It is a popular place for tourist day-trips during the summer months.-Location:...
to protect 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:...
from Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
incursions. Due to the limited range of artillery in the 17th century, the fields of fire between the fortifications on the islands of Aix and Oléron did not overlap. A fort on Boyard bank, roughly mid-way 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
Vauban
Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban , commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them...
, Louis XIV's leading military engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
, 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".
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, the logistical problems again ensured it was abandoned. Efforts were renewed under Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
in 1800, and the following year engineers Ferregeau and Armand Samuel de Marescot
Armand Samuel de Marescot
Armand Samuel de Marescot, born in Tours on 1 March 1758, died November 5, 1832 at Castle Chaslay near Montoire Loir-et-Cher was a French general of engineering in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars....
, and Vice-Admiral François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros
François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros
François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros was a French naval commander of the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. He is notable as being chosen by Napoleon to succeed Villeneuve as commander of the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at Cádiz fleet, arriving to take up his appointment just after its...
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
Boyardville
Boyardville is a district in the city of Saint-Georges-d'Oléron on the eastern part of the island of 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....
was built for the workers. The first stage of construction was to establish a plateau, some 100 by, to act as foundations. To this end, stones were piled up on the bank.
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
, 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 significantly increased, making the fort unnecessary for national defence.
Under the Paris Commune
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune was a government that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It existed before the split between anarchists and Marxists had taken place, and it is hailed by both groups as the first assumption of power by the working class during the Industrial Revolution...
of 1871, Fort Boyard was briefly used as a prison, before being abandoned a few years later. As time went by, the fort slowly crumbled and deteriorated into the sea as it was left unsustained.
In 1961 the Commune sold the fort to the département
Départements of France
The departments of France are French administrative divisions. The 101 departments form one of the three levels of local government, together with the 22 metropolitan and 5 overseas regions above them and more than 36 000 communes beneath them...
of 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...
. Six years later, the final scene of the French film Les aventuriers (1967)
Les aventuriers (1967 film)
Les Aventuriers is a drama film directed by Robert Enrico. It is based on a novel by José Giovanni.-Synopsis:Three very likeable losers fail while they pursue individual goals. Roland Darbont is an inventor who has designed his own engine. Manu Borelli on the other hand is a pilot who prepares a...
was filmed at the remains of the fort.
In 1988, restoration work commenced on Fort Boyard, in order to prepare it for a television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, also named Fort Boyard
Fort Boyard (TV series)
For the fortress see Fort Boyard Fort Boyard is a French game show created by Jacques Antoine that was first broadcast in 1990 and is popular to this day...
. The fort was electrified and a jack-up barge was 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 October 2011. When the new series Fort Boyard: Ultimate Challenge begins is October 4th, 2011.