Fouras, also known as Fouras-les-Bains (French pronunciation: [fuʁa le bɛ̃]), is a commune in the French department of Charente-Maritime, administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine (before 2015: Poitou-Charentes). It lies 34 km south of La Rochelle.

Fouras
A general view of Fouras
A general view of Fouras
Coat of arms of Fouras
Location of Fouras
Map
Fouras is located in France
Fouras
Fouras
Fouras is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Fouras
Fouras
Coordinates: 45°59′16″N 1°05′35″W / 45.9878°N 1.0931°W / 45.9878; -1.0931
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentCharente-Maritime
ArrondissementRochefort
CantonChâtelaillon-Plage
IntercommunalityCA Rochefort Océan
Government
 • Mayor (2021–2026) Daniel Coirier[1]
Area
1
9.51 km2 (3.67 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
4,061
 • Density430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
DemonymFourasin·e[a]
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
17168 /17450
Elevation0–21 m (0–69 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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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 surface area.

There is a causeway linking Fouras to Fort Énet, which is walkable at low tide, in the direction of 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 river Charente. A little further south is the Île d'Oléron. Off the island between Aix and the Oleron Island is Fort Boyard, which was made famous by the French and U.K. TV game shows of the same name and whose character "Père Fouras" ([pɛʁ fuʁa], also incorrectly pronounced [pɛʁ fuʁas]) increased the celebrity of the town.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 615—    
1800 638+0.53%
1806 645+0.18%
1821 736+0.88%
1831 860+1.57%
1836 843−0.40%
1841 800−1.04%
1846 833+0.81%
1851 823−0.24%
1856 870+1.12%
1861 926+1.26%
1866 1,028+2.11%
1872 1,138+1.71%
1876 1,256+2.50%
1881 1,679+5.98%
1886 1,877+2.25%
1891 1,887+0.11%
1896 1,989+1.06%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 2,171+1.77%
1906 2,461+2.54%
1911 2,499+0.31%
1921 2,399−0.41%
1926 2,322−0.65%
1931 2,166−1.38%
1936 2,474+2.69%
1946 3,013+1.99%
1954 4,068+3.82%
1962 4,121+0.16%
1968 3,634−2.07%
1975 3,612−0.09%
1982 3,295−1.30%
1990 3,238−0.22%
1999 3,835+1.90%
2007 4,056+0.70%
2012 4,083+0.13%
2017 4,006−0.38%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

Vauban Fortress

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The "Vauban Fortress" (French: fort Vauban, [fɔʁ vobɑ̃]) was initially a strategic fortification established by Philip the Fair, 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 river Charente. The donjon received a signal station from 1889 to World War II.[5]

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People

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See also

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International relations

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Fouras, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Local notice
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  •   Media related to Fouras at Wikimedia Commons
  1. ^ Demonym pronunciation: [fuʁazɛ̃], [fuʁazin]