Visit Château d'Oléron citadel | History, prices and citadel visit

A defensive citadel from the 17th century

Built under Louis XIII from 1630 onwards, the citadel was probably completed around 1640 before the death of Cardinal de Richelieu, whose armoury can be seen on its walls. When theroyal arsenal at Rochefort became the country’s main military port, under the impetus of Louis XIV’s minister Colbert, the need to protect the site from English threats became obvious. The fortifications of Château d’Oléron grew in number and strengthened around the original citadel. Largely built on marshland, these fortifications were a Pharaonic undertaking. The ensemble evolved until the mid-18th century. Today, the citadel is a fine example of Vauban’s genius. It faces the sandy Atlantic beaches of Saint Pierre d’Oléron and Marennes-Oléron in the Charente Maritime department of the Poitou-Charentes region (Nouvelle Aquitaine).

A state prison during the French Revolution, it then housed convicts sentenced to hard labor for a century. In 1870, it housed German prisoners of war during the Franco-Prussian conflict. Until 1911, it housed a garrison. After the First World War, it housed the disciplinary sections of the national military service. Occupied by German troops during the Second World War, it was liberated in 1945, but badly damaged by Allied bombing raids. Restoration work took place between 1959 and 1970. Abandoned after the first oil crisis, it was gradually restored from the late 1980s onwards. Today, it’s a must-see site on the island, and one of the most visited in Charente-Maritime. Take a stroll around the building to discover the island’s oyster farms.

Visit the citadel

Not to be missed when visiting the island of Oleron, the citadel is open to visitors all year round, with the exception of the August Jazz en feu festival held within its walls. The site’s ramparts offer an exceptional panoramic view of the Moëze-Oléron Nature Reserve. The site is home to showrooms and exhibition halls. Numerous seasonal events are held here.

To discover the history of the citadel, its challenges and its secret corners, you can take a traditional guided tour, but you can also enjoy a more original exploration of the site through night-time or storytelling tours, or a trip on a small train around the fortifications. The site is vast, with many buildings open to the public. You can discover :

The arsenal
The horned work
The royal gate
The powder magazine
The bastion of La Brèche
The royal bastion
The Saint-Nicolas bastion

Practical information

The citadel of Château-d’Oléron is less than 4 km from the Île d’Oléron Made in Camp Le Fief Melin campsite. The citadel can be reached by taking the Avenue d’Antioche to the center of the fortified town. Classic guided tours last around an hour and a half. They cost €4 full price and €2 for children. For exceptional night-time visits, prices are €6.50 for adults and €2.50 for children.

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Cycle paths on the Ile d’Oléron