Guided tour of Fort de Bouc
Entertainment/recreation Spring/Summer Tours Guided tour HistoricPlace : Entrée principale de l'Hôtel de ville
Contact
Office de Tourisme et des Loisirs de Martigues
Phone : +33 4 42 42 31 10
Place
Entrée principale de l'Hôtel de ville
Rond-point de l'Hôtel de Ville
13500
Martigues
- Spoken language(s) :
Presentation
Take a trip back in time and discover the history of Fort de Bouc from the Middle Ages until today. Envious of the Kings and Counts of the time, the Fort allowed control of the region, surveillance of the coasts and the defense of a territory.
Follow your guide through the corridors and rooms of the castle to discover the history of this emblematic place. A true fortress, Fort de Bouc was entirely built in the 17th century.
Over time, the interior layout of the Fort changed and adapted to the invaders. Fortification of the Tower, use of a lighthouse, installation of an icehouse in the prison, addition of bastions with watchtowers, etc.
Walk the corridors of the Fort and discover the evolving uses of the stunner, access the courtyard of the Fort and discover the casemates, the medieval tower and the remains of forgotten buildings (the chapel, the officers' dormitories and the governor's accommodation.) , enter the icehouse - the ancestor of the bunker - which served as a state prison.
Visit the different rooms including the Act of Union room in which Duke Henri d'Angoulème, envoy of the King, signs the Act of Union of the three districts of Martigues in the presence of judge Emile Bertrand and Maître Corriolis. You will also have the chance to discover a model of Fort de Bouc as it was presented to Vauban during his work.
Outside, you will take the Chemin de Rondes. A panoramic view of the port of Port-de-Bouc and the industrial landscape awaits you! On the way, you will have the opportunity to discover the artillery renewed by Napoleon III during his visit to Martigues. 3.5 ton cannons which notably targeted English boats in the 17th century.
You will know everything about this Fort which is also called Fort Vauban. For what ? You will discover it very quickly!
During this visit, accessed by boat from the Martigues canals, you will have the opportunity to discover the emblematic places. The Caronte bridge, 943 meters long, was put into service in 1915 to allow TER and TGV trains to reach Marseille from Miramas via Martigues. It has the particularity of opening to allow liners wishing to reach the Etang de Berre from the Mediterranean Sea to pass, and thus stop train traffic.
On the way back, the boat will pass alongside the old Verminck factory (closed in 1985) where oils and soaps were manufactured; as well as the Calen, one of the last in France. This is where we make our famous Boutargue, dried mullet eggs.
Over time, the interior layout of the Fort changed and adapted to the invaders. Fortification of the Tower, use of a lighthouse, installation of an icehouse in the prison, addition of bastions with watchtowers, etc.
Walk the corridors of the Fort and discover the evolving uses of the stunner, access the courtyard of the Fort and discover the casemates, the medieval tower and the remains of forgotten buildings (the chapel, the officers' dormitories and the governor's accommodation.) , enter the icehouse - the ancestor of the bunker - which served as a state prison.
Visit the different rooms including the Act of Union room in which Duke Henri d'Angoulème, envoy of the King, signs the Act of Union of the three districts of Martigues in the presence of judge Emile Bertrand and Maître Corriolis. You will also have the chance to discover a model of Fort de Bouc as it was presented to Vauban during his work.
Outside, you will take the Chemin de Rondes. A panoramic view of the port of Port-de-Bouc and the industrial landscape awaits you! On the way, you will have the opportunity to discover the artillery renewed by Napoleon III during his visit to Martigues. 3.5 ton cannons which notably targeted English boats in the 17th century.
You will know everything about this Fort which is also called Fort Vauban. For what ? You will discover it very quickly!
During this visit, accessed by boat from the Martigues canals, you will have the opportunity to discover the emblematic places. The Caronte bridge, 943 meters long, was put into service in 1915 to allow TER and TGV trains to reach Marseille from Miramas via Martigues. It has the particularity of opening to allow liners wishing to reach the Etang de Berre from the Mediterranean Sea to pass, and thus stop train traffic.
On the way back, the boat will pass alongside the old Verminck factory (closed in 1985) where oils and soaps were manufactured; as well as the Calen, one of the last in France. This is where we make our famous Boutargue, dried mullet eggs.
Provide hat, sunscreen, bottle of water. No drinking water on site. No toilets on board. Uneven terrain, provide comfortable shoes for walking.
Opening period (s)Saturday 19 April 2025 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Complete.
Saturday 17 May 2025 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Saturday 21 June 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 12 July 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 26 July 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 9 August 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 23 August 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 27 September 2025 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Saturday 25 October 2025 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Complete.
Saturday 17 May 2025 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Saturday 21 June 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 12 July 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 26 July 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 9 August 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 23 August 2025 between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.
Saturday 27 September 2025 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Saturday 25 October 2025 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Practical information
- Services :
- 44 people max per group
- 10 yrs old min
- Environments :
- In centre of town
Facilities, services, amenities
- Sitra promotion typology :
- Open air
- Not recommended in bad weather
Tarifs
One price: 22 €.
- Payment methods :
FICHE_INFO_SIMPLE_LIBELLE_DESTINATION
Rond-point de l'Hôtel de Ville
13500
Martigues
GPS coordinates
Latitude : 43.405875
Longitude : 5.047511
- By bike: bicycle parking is provided in front of the tourist office.
- By Bus: the Ulysse local bus service and the Cartreize departmental bus service stop in front of the police station and the town hall, 250 m from the tourist office.
- By boat: the landing stage for the free maritime shuttle which links the three districts of the city is 200 m behind the town hall.
- By train: the two railway stations (TER Marseille Miramas, almost 20 trains every day) in the Croix Sainte and Lavéra districts are accessible via the local bus system.
- By Bus: the Ulysse local bus service and the Cartreize departmental bus service stop in front of the police station and the town hall, 250 m from the tourist office.
- By boat: the landing stage for the free maritime shuttle which links the three districts of the city is 200 m behind the town hall.
- By train: the two railway stations (TER Marseille Miramas, almost 20 trains every day) in the Croix Sainte and Lavéra districts are accessible via the local bus system.
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