Unfortunately, during your humble and obedient servant's visit daylight was a depreciating asset, so models and drawings will have to suffice for the never completed town fortifications. Instead, we will concentrate on the citadel and its outworks.
| On the eastern end of Oleron island, the Chateau d'Oleron overlooks the
Oleron channel. The fort helped protect the salt center at Brouage directly across the channel on
the mainland as well as the Charente estuary - and the Rochefort naval
dockyard upriver. The city walls are an example of what is often called Vauban's second
system. Small bastions are fronted by counterguards, also known
as detached bastions. Although planned, the city walls were never
completed. Unfortunately, during your humble and obedient servant's visit daylight was a depreciating asset, so models and drawings will have to suffice for the never completed town fortifications. Instead, we will concentrate on the citadel and its outworks. |
|
| After passing in front of the hornwork, we cross the ditch into the counterguard. The end of the ditch included a wall with firing ports topped with a monk's hat to prevent passage along its top. |  |
| Entering the gate, we face the arsenal. Signs give
cross sections of various features of the citadel, including, at right, the gate
complex. On the right side of the panorama is the powder magazine. |
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