Fouras
Description
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Fouras is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France. 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.
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 Fort Boyard, which was made famous by the French TV game show of the same name and whose character "Père Fouras" increased the celebrity of the town.
Population
Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1793 615 — 1800 638 +3.7% 1806 645 +1.1% 1821 736 +14.1% 1831 860 +16.8% 1836 843 −2.0% 1841 800 −5.1% 1846 833 +4.1% 1851 823 −1.2% 1856 870 +5.7% 1861 926 +6.4% 1866 1,028 +11.0% 1872 1,138 +10.7% 1876 1,256 +10.4% 1881 1,679 +33.7% 1886 1,877 +11.8% 1891 1,887 +0.5% 1896 1,989 +5.4% 1901 2,171 +9.2% 1906 2,461 +13.4% 1911 2,499 +1.5% 1921 2,399 −4.0% 1926 2,322 −3.2% 1931 2,166 −6.7% 1936 2,474 +14.2% 1946 3,013 +21.8% 1954 4,068 +35.0% 1962 4,121 +1.3% 1968 3,634 −11.8% 1975 3,612 −0.6% 1982 3,295 −8.8% 1990 3,238 −1.7% 1999 3,835 +18.4% 2008 4,095 +6.8%Vauban fortress
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 circular battery was set up to control access to the Charente River. The donjon received a signal station from 1889 to World War II.