Fort Boyard, an iconic military building turned television set, is threatened by climate hazards and requires 44 million euros (nearly $65 million CAD) of work by 2028, the Charente-Maritime Department announced Friday (western France). , which opens a public consultation.
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Planted in the Atlantic Ocean, between the Isle of Oleron and the Isle of Aix, this 19th-century monument is “destined to perish” because it lacks protection against the onslaught of waves, the society argues in a press release from 1989.
“Studies (…) conclude that Fort Boyard will inevitably be destroyed unless works are constructed to ensure its safety from currents and swells,” we read.
AFP
The work, planned from 2025 at the beginning of 2027 to the end of 2028, rebuilds some of the protective structures of the past, with concrete that resumes the appearance of the original granite: a spur at the front of the building, a berthing refuge, a berm (safety dam)…
At the end of the project, the castle should become “accessible” to the public, notes Silvie Marsilli, head of the department, in a video broadcast by the community.
The department council voted to authorize up to 44 million euros for the work, with an estimated budget of 36 million euros (nearly $53 million CAD) excluding taxes.
AFP
Grant requests from the state, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and the European Union are “in progress”. A call for hosts will be launched in the fall of 2024.
The society offered its initial consultation Friday, titled “Save Fort Boyard,” and registrations are open to the public from May through September. An educational exhibition was also organized.
Built between 1803 and 1857, a former military structure turned prison, Fort Boyard fell into disrepair before being listed as a historic monument. Purchased by a television game producer in 1988, it was sold the following year for an index franc, with the latter responsible for ensuring its upkeep.
Launched in France in 1990, “Fort Boyard” made the fort a star, leading to more than 1,500 episodes of this hit game show in about forty countries.
Throughout the year, sea cruises bring thousands of people to admire the oval silhouette of the 68 by 31 meter monument, which can only be accessed by boat or helicopter.
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