Fort-Royer, the Oyster Farmers' Village

What it is

Fort-Royer is a former oyster farmers' village in Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, at La Perrotine, next to Boyardville: some forty colourful cabins between canals and claires, within the Moëze-Oléron nature reserve. For thirty years it has been looked after by an association, the Site ostréicole et naturel de Fort-Royer, which has restored the cabins, keeps oyster farming alive and teaches the trade to anyone who comes. It is not a museum in the usual sense: it is a working site with tours, tastings and games for families, always by reservation.

The tours

• Commentated oyster tour, 1 hour: from the oyster bed to the finishing in the claires, with the museum cabin and a 1907 film on oyster farming on a big screen. €6, reduced €5.
• Commentated oyster walk, 2 hours: the same and, in addition, a walk through the marsh landscape and the history of the oyster in the area. €8, reduced €7.
• Discovery tasting, 1 hour: a short introduction to the trade and three oysters to try. €7.

During the activities you can add a tasting: three plain fine oysters for €4, the Fort-Royer platter with six for €6.50, or the sweet platter, with Oléron butter-and-cognac biscuit, pastries and fleur de sel caramels, also for €6.50. They are served with a glass of Oléron white or with local lemonade, and only for those taking part in an activity.

For families

• Gourmet treasure hunt, from age 3, 3 hours: orienteering, riddles and challenges with nine routes to choose from on the oyster, fauna, flora and heritage, with two tastings. €10, reduced €8. It runs on Wednesdays at 9:30 and 14:30 during French school holidays and in May, June and September.
• "P'tit scientifique" workshop, for children aged 6 to 12, 1 hour: oysters, marsh fauna and plants, and a keepsake they make themselves (key ring, magnet or herbarium). €5. For children only, in school holidays, at the same time as the afternoon tours.

While the grown-ups try oysters, there is a corner with books, games and drawings for the little ones.

Season and booking

In 2026 it opened from Tuesday 10 February until November. All tours and activities are booked: write to [email protected] or call +33 5 46 47 06 48 and leave a message so they call you back. Confirm days and times with them, because outdoor activities need a minimum number of participants and may be postponed in bad weather. The 2027 season has not yet been published.

Getting there

The address is Allée de Fort-Royer, La Perrotine, Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, next to Boyardville, on the east coast of the island. You get there by car across the Oléron bridge, which is free. By bike you arrive along the Route des Huîtres from Le Château-d'Oléron: it is the end of the stretch we describe in Oléron by bike.

Rules

You are in a nature reserve: you may not pick plants or gather shellfish, and animals are not admitted, even on a lead. Wear comfortable shoes for the two-hour walk and something for the sun and wind: there is hardly any shade in the marsh.

Afterwards, if you want more oysters, on the Route des Huîtres there is the producer's cabin Établissement Testard, in Dolus.