Strong Louvois

The Fort Louvois (also called extremely of Chapus ) is a Fortification located on the rock of Chapus, vis-a-vis the citadel of the Château of Oléron at sea on the commune of Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, in the department of the Charente-Maritime in France.

Presentation

Last work of maritime fortification ordered by Louis XIV, to defend the sluices against the incursions of enemy ships, it is located between the island of Oléron and the continent, and locks the southern access to the roads of Rochefort.

History

Project initiated by the Marquis de Louvois, then Minister for the war, his implementation is entrusted to the engineer François Ferry. To died of Louvois, Vauban reduces of it the ambition, and limit construction with part of the Ovale considered, to give him its final form of Horseshoe.

The fort is arranged at the 18th century to remain in phase with progress of the armament, in particular by reducing the number of embrasures to ten, out of the sixteen initially built, and takes its final form.

Armed with guns then of howitzers at the 19th century, it preserves a garrison and its military potential.

Severely bombarded during the Second world war during the release of Marenne oyster-Oléron the September 10th 1944, it is repurchased with the Central administration of the Fields by the commune of Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, then is entirely restored by the Art schools in the Années 1960.

Classified Historic building in 1929, it shelters since 1972 a museum Ostréicole as well as a permanent exposure devoted to the history of the fort, in particular composed of the models of the fortifications of the Charente-native littoral.

Gallery

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