A fundraising campaign has been launched to raise nine million euros for the restoration of Fort Boyard, a historic military structure requiring a total of 36.6 million euros for preservation. While significant funding has already been secured, efforts will focus on repairing damage caused by ocean erosion. Restoration work is set to begin in summer 2025 and aims to enhance the fort’s durability while maintaining its original appearance, allowing for public tours post-restoration.
Fundraising Campaign for Fort Boyard
In a bid to preserve the iconic Fort Boyard, a fundraising initiative has been launched with an ambitious target of raising nine million euros. This campaign was officially announced on Tuesday, December 17, by the Charente-Maritime Department Council in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation. The total amount required to safeguard this historic 19th-century military structure is estimated at a staggering 36.6 million euros, as highlighted by Ghislaine Guillen, co-leader of the ‘Save Fort Boyard’ initiative and a member of the departmental council, which has been responsible for the site since 1989.
Funding and Restoration Plans
A significant portion of the required funds has already been secured, with three-quarters of the total amount earmarked for the restoration. The Department will contribute 21.6 million euros, while an additional 6 million euros will come from the Charente-Maritime Council for Architecture, Urban Planning, and the Environment (CAUE) and the State-Region plan contract. As a result, there remains a gap of 9 million euros that needs to be filled. Alexandre Giularis, the general director of the Heritage Foundation, expressed confidence in mobilizing local communities, the general public, and corporate sponsorship to bridge this gap.
The primary objective of this initiative is to repair the monument, which has been significantly weakened by the relentless forces of the Atlantic Ocean. According to studies referenced by the Department, failing to implement protective measures against the ocean’s currents and waves will lead to the inevitable deterioration of Fort Boyard.
The restoration works, which the Department Council approved in spring 2024 with a budget authorization of 44 million euros (including taxes), are slated to commence in summer 2025 and are projected for completion by 2028. The plans involve reconstructing protective structures that historically surrounded the fort, utilizing concrete designed to resemble the original granite. This includes the reconstruction of a spur at the front, restoration of a southeastern docking haven, and refurbishment of the risberme, the fort’s protective embankment. The Heritage Foundation confirms that these efforts aim to ensure the fort’s longevity while restoring its original aesthetic.
Delphine Gramaglia, the heritage architect overseeing the renovation, clarified that the fort itself will remain untouched. Instead, new protective structures will be recreated around it to enhance its durability. These structures, which were originally in place when the fort was constructed in 1866, have been eroded by the Atlantic. The planned breakwaters are expected to extend the structure’s life by an additional 100 years, paving the way for future interior restoration. Should the fundraising efforts exceed expectations, any surplus funds will be allocated towards immediate repairs to the fort itself, addressing issues like dislodged stones and emerging cracks, which are not currently included in the budget.
Fort Boyard, built between 1803 and 1857, has a rich history as a military site and former prison located between Oléron Island and Aix Island. After falling into a state of neglect, it was designated a historical monument. In 1988, television game producer Jacques Antoine acquired the fort, transferring it to the Department the following year for a nominal fee of one franc, thereby assuming responsibility for its upkeep. Since its debut in 1990, the television show Fort Boyard has aired over 1500 episodes globally.
Every year, thousands of visitors embark on boat trips to view the fort’s distinctive oval outline, measuring 68 meters by 31 meters, which is accessible solely by boat or helicopter. Once the restoration work is completed, the general public will have the opportunity to tour Fort Boyard in small groups of approximately 25 people, although the cost of these visits has yet to be determined.