We knew this was in the works and it looks like the lines have recently opened, France’s Department of Charente-Maritime have launched a charity drive to look after and restore the Fort to its original glory.
The project will include the repair of the very deteriorated embankment that surrounds the structure, as well as the restoration of a berthing haven to the south-east and a spur to the north-west.
The objective is to ensure the fort’s durability by restoring it to its original appearance. Once the work is completed, a dream will come true for many people: for the first time, Fort Boyard will open to the public and tours will be organised from 2028.
Fingers crossed they will still be making the show by then, 2029 will be series 40 effectively.
If you want to throw it a few Euros, here’s the site set up for it. The aim is €1.4m over three years which feels eminently doable. Presumably Pere Fouras can’t afford it himself.
I’ve put my money where my mouth is, which now means I’m responsible for a brick, probably.
If you wanted to see what the Fort looked like before becoming a gameshow setting, here it is in 1967 as the final location for the film Les Aventuriers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G332Q-cwM0E&t=2s