Fort Énet

Fort Énet is a sea fort located on a sandbar in the Pertuis Charentais strait, between Île d'Aix and Fouras, in the Charente-Maritime department of France. Construction began in 1810 under Napoleon I and was completed in 1848 during the reign of Louis-Philippe.

Originally conceived as part of a defensive system to protect the arsenal of Rochefort from British naval attacks, Fort Énet was strategically positioned to block access to the Charente River. The fort's location, however, proved to be less effective than anticipated due to the range of artillery available at the time and the shifting sandbanks in the strait.

The fort is roughly rectangular in shape, constructed of stone masonry, and features several levels of gun emplacements. Barracks and other living quarters were included within the fort's structure to accommodate a garrison of soldiers.

Over the years, Fort Énet's military significance diminished, and it was eventually decommissioned. It is now privately owned and not accessible to the public without permission.

Fort Énet gained notoriety as one of the challenges in the French game show Fort Boyard. In the show, contestants are transported to the fort via boat to participate in various challenges related to the show's overall narrative. The fort serves as a visually striking and historically significant landmark within the show's format.