Your camping holidays on Père Fouras's trail
Looking for a campsite near Fort Boyard ? Just come to Île d'Oléron ! A former military fort turned prison, Fort Boyard has been the scenary of a cult television show broadcast all over the world since 1990. Cruises at sea enable you to take pictures of this impressive and majestic fortress.
Camping with a view over Fort Boyard
We recommend 1 to 5-star sites in the following towns on Île d'Oléron to get the best view over Fort Boyard:
· lovely Boyardville
oyster farm town of Fort-Royer, along la Perrotine channel
Vacationing at Fort Boyard : you'll travel back in time !
Fort Boyard was opened in 1866. The fortress's cannons were originally supposed to defend the river Charente's mouth, Rochefort's arsenal and Île d'Aix's harbour against the British navy . But the progress in artillery technology soon made it obsolete hence its nickname "Fort de l'inutile" - « fort of uselessness». It was transformed into a military prison at the end of the Second Empire. Charente-Maritime's department council owns it now.
Tours of Fort Boyard
Every year, millions of visitors gather to circle Fort Boyard on a boat. Departing at Boyardville or Saint-Denis-d'Oléron, you too can admire the astonishing walls during a guided tour on a cutter, speedboat, catamaran or old sailing ship. The campsites of Oléron will make for a perfect base to discover Fort Boyard during a weekend break by the sea or a longer vacation in summertime.
Did you know this?
The name « Père Fouras » – for the famous character who puzzles contestants with his riddles on the TV show – comes from Fouras-les-Bains, a family resort of Charente-Maritime with a view over Fort Boyard.