Fouras Explained

Fouras
Commune Status:Commune
Image Coat Of Arms:Blason ville fr Fouras.svg
Arrondissement:Rochefort
Canton:Châtelaillon-Plage
Insee:17168
Postal Code:17450
Mayor:Daniel Coirier[1]
Term:2021 - 2026
Intercommunality:CA Rochefort Océan
Coordinates:45.9878°N -1.0931°W
Elevation Min M:0
Elevation Max M:21
Area Km2:9.51
Population Demonym:Fourasin·e

Fouras, also known as Fouras-les-Bains (in French pronounced as /fuʁa le bɛ̃/), is a commune in the French department of Charente-Maritime, administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (before 2015: Poitou-Charentes). It lies 34 km south of La Rochelle.

Geography

Fouras is on a peninsula. It is bordered by five beaches and a forest named "Bois Vert" ("Green Wood" in English) which covers 20% of its area.

There is a causeway linking Fouras to Fort Énet, which is walkable at low tide, in the direction of Île-d'Aix. The pier for the island of Aix is also located in the territory of the commune.

The south coast of the peninsula of Fouras forms the northern side of the mouth of the river Charente. A little further south is the Île d'Oléron. Off the island between Aix and the Oleron Island is Fort Boyard, which was made famous by the French and U.K. TV game shows of the same name and whose character "Père Fouras" (in French pronounced as /pɛʁ fuʁa/, also incorrectly pronounced in French pronounced as /pɛʁ fuʁas/) increased the celebrity of the town.

Vauban Fortress

The "Vauban Fortress" (in French pronounced as /fɔʁ vobɑ̃/) was initially a strategic fortification established by Philip the Fair, circa 1300. The donjon was rebuilt in 1480-1490 by Jehan II de Brosse. In 1689, Ferry reinforced the walls of the Donjon to set up a battery of 9 canons and a signaling point. In 1693 a lower circular battery was set up to control access to the river Charente. The donjon received a signal station from 1889 to World War II.[2]

People

See also

International relations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 9 August 2021. fr.
  2. Local notice