Grouin Fort

This fort, the most recent on the Île de Ré, was originally designed to defend and monitor the coastline at Loix, and was armed with four cannons during the French Revolution. It is now privately owned and not open to the public. Like most military structures on the island, the battery was disarmed and subsequently abandoned in 1814. Regarded as a military structure in need of reinforcement, reconstruction and modernisation work was carried out between 1861 and 1863. Designed to accommodate around twenty soldiers, the building was fitted with a guardhouse surrounded by a moat, leading to the construction of a drawbridge, which still stands today. Less than 20 years after its renovation, it was abandoned once more before being repurposed by the Nazi occupiers, then left to decay again before becoming private property. It is not open to visitors, but you can view it from Grouin beach or during a bike ride.