Fouras

Fouras
Fouras
Location within Poitou-Charentes region  Fouras
Administration
Country	France
Region	Poitou-Charentes
Department	Charente-Maritime
Arrondissement	Rochefort
Canton	Rochefort-Nord
Intercommunality	Pays Rochefortais
Mayor	Sylvie Marcilly (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	0–21 m (0–69 ft)
Land area1	9.51 km2 (3.67 sq mi)
Population2	4,095  (2008)
- Density	431 /km2 (1,120 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	17168/ 17450
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Fouras is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Poitou-Charentes region in southwestern France. It lies 34 km south of La Rochelle.

Geography

Fisherman's Cabin

Fort Boyard

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.

It extends into a roadway to discover tide to the low Fort Enet in the direction of the 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 Charente river. A little further south is the Île d'Oléron. Off the island between Aix and the island of Oleron is the Fort Boyard, which was made famous by the French issuance of the same name: "Père Fouras" is not for nothing in the Fouras' celebrity .

Population

Historical population of Fouras

Year	1793	1800	1806	1821	1831	1836	1841	1846	1851	1856
Population	615	638	645	736	860	843	800	833	823	870

Year	1861	1866	1872	1876	1881	1886	1891	1896	1901	1906
Population	926	1028	1138	1256	1679	1877	1887	1989	2171	2461

Year	1911	1921	1926	1931	1936	1946	1954	1962	1968	1975
Population	2499	2399	2322	2166	2474	3013	4068	4121	3634	3612

Year	1982	1990	1999	2008
Population	3295	3238	3835	4095

Vauban fortress

Fouras donjon in the "Vauban fortress" in Fouras.

The "Vauban fortress" in Fouras.

The "Vauban fortress" was initially a strategic fortification established by Philippe le Bel, 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 a circular battery was set up to control access to the Charente River. The donjon received a signal station from 1889 to World War II.

See also

• Communes of the Charente-Maritime department

References

• INSEE