Fort Boyard history

Fort Boyard, world-famous for the game show of the same name, is a landmark in the Charente Maritime region. Numerous boat tours are organized to get up close and personal during the summer months. More than a monument, it's an experience.

Origin of the name

In 1583, Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer, a Dutch pilot from Enkhuizen, published the Spiegel der Zee-Vaert, the Mirror of Navigation. This is a navigator's atlas comprising 50 charts. Access channels are accurately depicted. The book was a huge success throughout Europe.

It was in the Miroir de la navigation that the sandbar between the islands of Aix and Oléron was mapped for the first time.

Waghenaer naturally mentions it in his native language: ban iaert. Deformed over time, it became known as La longe de Boyard.

When the Fort was built, it was naturally named Fort Boyard.

Protecting the Port de l'Arsenal de Rochefort

In 1966, a wartime harbor was built at the Arsenal de Rochefort. However, the port is too far inland and there isn't enough water to bring the ships in. They had to be loaded further out into the ocean. To protect the loading area, several forts were built. 

But two areas remained unprotected, including the one between Île d'Aix and Île d'Oléron. For military engineers, it was essential to build a fort to secure this area. The engineer Vauban was called in to carry out the necessary surveys.

A century to decide 

In 1757, the Île d'Aix was invaded by the English. With 6,000 men, it was impossible for the French to resist. The English plundered the island. In the wake of this tragedy, a military engineer by the name of Filley resubmitted a complete project in 1763. The Fort was to be rectangular in shape, with 1 storey, armed on 3 sides and a small harbor for landing. Alas, the project never saw the light of day due to lack of funding.

Finally, in 1801, the project was revived by Napoleon Bonaparte. The building would have 2 storeys and be in the shape of an elliptical ring. Cost: 830,000 francs.

In 1803, the project was accepted.

Time-consuming construction renders it useless

After numerous construction stoppages due to lack of manpower and funds, it took a total of 60 years to complete construction. In 1866, the minutes of completion were signed.

However, over the years, many improvements were made, notably to the cannons of the Fort de l'Île d'Aix and the Fort d'Oléron. Now that their fire has crossed, the Fort (which had been built because the fire was not long enough to cross) is now useless.

Only the first floor and terrace will be equipped with the old cannon.

An unexpected conversion into a cult film location

In 1871, thanks to its ideal location on the open sea, it became a prison. It housed 300 inmates, including the famous journalist Henri de Rochefort, who spent 8 months in what is now cell 218. For most of the 20th century, the Fort was in a state of abandonment. Despite the various wars, it was not occupied by the enemy, but served as a training center for gunners. 

Eventually, the state decided to get rid of it and sell it. In 1962, it was sold to a Belgian dentist, Eric Aerts, for 28,000 Francs. By the 1970s, he had abandoned it once again. 

Antenne 2 filmed a number of programs on the site, including Robert Enrico's 1966 film Les Aventuriers, followed in 1981 by La Chasse au Trésor. When La Chasse au Trésor came to an end in 1985, another game had to be found. In 1989, major renovation work began to erase all traces of neglect. 

In June 1990, the first Fort Boyard Keys show was filmed and broadcast on Channel 2 1 week later.

What's your best memory of Fort Boyard? Share it in comments.