Fort Boyard, in Charente-Maritime, is one of the most emblematic monuments on the Atlantic coast. Built in the 19th century on a sandbank between the Île d’Aix and the Île d’Oléron, in the Pertuis d’Antioche strait, this oval fort stands alone in the middle of the water, with a silhouette recognisable anywhere.
Made world-famous by the television game show filmed there since 1990, it is generally not visited from the inside but is seen from the sea. Boat trips from La Rochelle, the Île d’Aix, Fouras or the Île d’Oléron let you approach it and understand its defensive role, with Fort Enet and Île Madame nearby.
Fort Boyard fits into an excursion on the Charente coast, combined with the Île d’Aix, Rochefort and Brouage. Departure times and conditions depend on weather and tides, so it is best to book ahead.