Fort Boyard to Be Protected from the Surf for 44 Million Euros

Fort Boyard – 18 July 2026: The protection of Fort Boyard off the coast of Charente-Maritime is entering a new phase. The Charente-Maritime department is having the foundations of the historic structure reinforced and is preparing to install two major protective structures. The total project is budgeted at 44 million euros, including taxes. The aim is to permanently limit damage caused by waves, storms and marine erosion.

The focus is on repairing the riprap berm, a protective strip around six metres wide surrounding the foundations, as well as rebuilding a breakwater and a landing dock. The berm has been weakened over the years by winter storms and heavy surf. In future, it is intended once again to prevent the sea from directly attacking the fort’s masonry and load-bearing sections.

According to the department, work is currently being carried out on the seabed and preparations are being made for the assembly of the new structures. The landing dock will be prefabricated off-site and transported to the fort in summer 2026. It will then be installed on site, weighted down and connected to the existing structures. At the same time, work is under way on the protective layers around the monument.

The planned breakwater will be located on the side facing the open sea. It is intended to break incoming waves before they reach the complex. Its construction is scheduled for the period from September 2026 to April 2027. Installation on site is to follow in summer 2027. Plans call for the main construction work to be completed in late 2027 or early 2028.

Fort Boyard lies between the Ile d’Oleron and the Ile d’Aix and is particularly exposed to Atlantic conditions. Earlier protective structures had disappeared or been damaged over time. This also made access to the fort more difficult and less safe. The new facilities are therefore intended not only to preserve the monument but also to enable boats to dock in a controlled manner.

The department links the project to a tourism outlook. Once restoration is complete, Fort Boyard is expected to be regularly accessible to visitors for the first time from 2028. Visits are planned from early August to late October. Before opening, however, interior spaces, staircases, walkways, terraces and safety routes must also be prepared for public access.

The fort is known far beyond France through the television programme of the same name, but it also has independent historical value. The current effort combines heritage conservation, coastal engineering and future visitor safety. For those responsible, restoring the maritime protective structures is the crucial prerequisite for ensuring that the building can be preserved in the long term and made available to the public.