Fort Vauban

This ancient castle was dramatically altered over the centuries. Transformed into a semaphore under the First Empire, it now houses the regional museum.

Established by the sea between the beach west and the south beach, the fort consists of a medieval dungeon surrounded by stone walls complemented by four circular towers, the whole being protected by deep moats. The square tower seems to have been erected in the early fourteenth century under the reign of King Philip the Fair. It is based on a rib-vaulted crypt forming four bays, and settled on three levels. It was taken in 1480 by architect De Brosse, who helped to modernize it.

The medieval fortress was replaced in 1672 by a very modern, built according to the guidelines of Vauban, on plans by architect Ferry, yet the work were not actually completed until 1689. The fort, which was handed down to posterity under the name of its initiator (Fort Vauban) had a low battery to fire to sink, and a battery for high shots dismasted. The tower was preserved and strengthened in order to place a platform lined with cannons at the top. Transformed into a semaphore during the first empire, he was also integrated into the "Ring of Fire" desired by the emperor to protect the coasts of any English incursions. This "Ring of Fire" had to consolidate the Vauban fort, Fort Enet and Fort Boyard. Property of the Ministry of Defence, the fort was finally decommissioned in the late nineteenth century, batteries and redoubts dismantled. Historical monument in 1987, this monument has become a symbol of the city, is now partly a museum. The latter, installed in the tower, consists of several rooms with different aspects of the history of the region: the main sections are devoted to geology, archeology, military history to contemporary history or maritime history. A fund artistic and a documentary focused on the history of Aunis and Saintonge are also presented, along with a series of collections of non-European origin (tools and weapons from Africa and of Asia mostly).