Municipality of Charente-Maritime, in New Aquitaine, Fouras takes place at the mouth of the Charente, about thirty kilometers from the very sunny city of La Rochelle. It is located opposite the Ile d'Oléron, not far from Châtelaillon-Plage, Rochefort and Vergeroux.
Occupied since the Neolithic, as evidenced by the remains found on site, the territory of Fouras developed from the early Middle Ages with the construction of a first defensive building. Seat of many battles, especially under the wars of religion, the town has also distinguished itself in history with the Battle of Burns, or Battle of the Island of Aix, between the English and Napoleon's troops.
Fouras experienced significant growth in the 19th century thanks to the development of sea bathing, thus becoming a popular seaside resort and today still geared towards tourism.
A former medieval fortified castle, the fort of Fouras has undergone many transformations over the centuries, notably seeing its keep changed into a semaphore under the First Empire. Installed between the Grande Plage and the Plage Sud, it was transformed into a defensive fort in the second half of the 17th century under the orders of the famous Vauban. Today classified as an historic monument, it houses a museum revealing the different aspects of the region's history through collections dedicated to archeology, geology, military history and maritime history. The site also houses a documentary and artistic collection on the history of Saintonge and Aunis as well as weapons and tools from Africa and Asia. It benefits from the Musée de France label.
Private residence open only during Heritage Days, Fort Enet was built under Napoleon I to help protect the bay of Rochefort. Listed in the supplementary inventory of Historical Monuments, it served in particular as a transit prison for convicts.
While strolling in the city and its surroundings, you will also be able to discover the redoubt of the Needle, visible only from the outside, or the fort Lapointe.
Do not miss to admire the town hall from the beginning of the 20th century in brick and freestone, the Château du Bois-Vert, a neoclassical residence from the end of the 19th century, the market hall fish and the covered market built under the Second Empire or the bandstand.
Fouras also has very beautiful residences to discover during a stroll in the seaside town, with in particular the castle of Treuil-Bussac, the villa La Jetée listed in the Historic Monuments or the various seaside villas of the beginning of the 20th century and the casino, always open to the public.
Built at the end of the 19th century on the remains of a first building from the 11th century, the Saint-Gaudent church is a magnificent neo-Gothic building with some touches of the Romanesque style. Buttresses and an ogival porch are visible on the outside, while inside you can admire a beautiful wooden altar and a painting of the Baptism of Christ from the 18th century.
Several beaches are accessible to enjoy sunny days, with supervised swimming in season, such as the Grande Plage, the North beach, the South beach, the Esperance beach and the Virgin beach.
A market is offered every day in the covered market and the fish market. A fairground market is also organized on Tuesday and Friday mornings. A fair is offered every Tuesday and Friday morning, while the North Beach hosts a funfair in July and August.
Concerts are organized in June for the Fête de la Musique.
A fireworks display and a popular ball are organized in mid-July for the national holiday.
The arts festival takes place every year at the end of July.
In August, make way for the Summer Symphony with five free concerts over three evenings.
Born in 2017, "Jazz day at Fouras" makes the peninsula vibrate to the rhythm of jazz, every winter. Concerts, exhibitions, screenings... allow you to discover or find amateur artists and recognized professionals.
Led by a Collective of Fouras lovers and jazz enthusiasts, each event is resolutely festive, convivial and of quality. All artistic forms find their place in a program that seeks to bring together and convince as many people as possible. Residents, traders, artists, associations gather "out of season" for 24 hours devoted to jazz and meetings.
Demonstration - Glass art Bead Making
- From 29 march to 30 april 2024
- 33 rue de la Halle
- Discover how glass art beads are made ! Demonstrate your skills and sell jewellery made in the workshop.
Screening of the Film "Sur la Route des Bergers"
- On 19 april 2024
- Casino de Fouras, Place Bugeau
- Screening of the film "Sur la route des Bergers" in the presence of Jérôme Tropini, shepherd at Fouras-les-Bains.
Painting Exhibition
- From 22 to 28 april 2024
- Fort Vauban - Casemate N° 2
- By the Art'omilvi association.
Concert Reading: Women's Stories by Candlelight!
- On 4 may 2024
- Fort Lapointe
- "Women's stories by candlelight !" - Reading Concert to the sound of the cello. - Piaf recital by candlelight.
Music Festival : les Arts Fous
- From 9 to 11 may 2024
- Hip Pop'n Jazz. This year, the festival celebrates its 15th anniversary. - Programme to come.
Show: Molière!
- On 16 may 2024
- Casino de Fouras, Place Bugeau
- Martin Petitguyot, who enchanted us in La Jurassienne de réparation, returns as an asthmatic and awkward biographer-lecturer, keen to dispel a few clichés about Molière and give us a better understanding of the famous man of the theatre.
Vogue les Couleurs - 2nd Edition
- From 11 to 16 june 2024
- Casemate 2 du fort Vauban
- Les Délires de Lulette and Yann Partisan de l'Art are back at the Casemate 2 in Fort Vauban for the second edition of "Vogue les Couleurs", with new original painting creations.
Guided Tour and Oyster Tasting
- From 1 july to 15 september 2024
- 121 Boulevard de la Pointe de la Fumée, Ets Benard et Fils
- Guided tour followed by a tasting.
Summer Fair
- From 1 july to 31 august 2024
- Esplanade du fort Vauban
- Large fair on the esplanade of the Vauban Fort.
