This citadel, which surrounds the town of Château d’Oléron, was built under Louis XIII in 1630 by d’Argencourt, Clerville and then Vauban, near the now-demolished fortified castle of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

It remains a landmark on the island of Oleron, a vestige of the great battles. The route is several hundred metres long and you can visit the powder magazine, the moat and the drawbridge.

Far from its military vocation, the Citadelle now hosts exhibitions, guided tours, cultural events (storytelling, jazz, Site en Scène, Rencontres Nationales des Tisserands, etc.) and night-time illuminations.