- For the 2026 edition of the Heritage Lottery, thirteen sites have been selected in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, including twelve departmental projects.
- The famous Fort Boyard, located in Charente-Maritime, is the region’s flagship project with works estimated at 36.5 million euros.
- The share usually collected by the State on each ticket, namely 1.86 euros, will be donated to the Heritage Foundation to fund these restorations.
A national mobilisation to safeguard local heritage
The Heritage Foundation has unveiled the list of 100 departmental sites selected for the 2026 edition of the Heritage Lottery, an operation launched in 2018 under the aegis of the Mission Stéphane Bern. This national scheme aims to preserve endangered buildings while stimulating economic activity and the tourist appeal of the regions. The principle is based on the sale of scratch cards by the Française des Jeux, where the tax share usually captured by the State, amounting to 1.86 euros per ticket, is fully reallocated to the Heritage Foundation to finance these projects. Participants can hope to win a maximum prize of 1.5 million euros in the draw.
Fort Boyard facing the challenge of the elements
Among the selections in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Fort Boyard stands out as this year’s flagship project. This former 19th-century military structure, built between the islands of Aix and Oléron and classified as a historical monument since 1950, is bearing the full brunt of marine erosion and successive storms. To ensure its survival, the Charente-Maritime Departmental Council has approved a major rescue plan. The overall budget for this extraordinary restoration amounts to 36.5 million euros excluding tax, combining public funding, loans, and an active search for sponsorship. While the Department is injecting 14 million euros and the State is providing 4.5 million euros, a sum of approximately 8 million euros still needs to be raised from the general public and businesses by 2028.
A territorial network across twelve monuments
Beyond Fort Boyard, twelve other sites in the region will benefit from this financial aid to restore their historic structures. The 2026 selection reflects great architectural diversity, mixing religious buildings, medieval castles, industrial brownfields, and rural heritage. The list includes varied monuments ranging from the former cellars of Bassac Abbey in Charente to the Studio Alhambra in Rochefort, as well as the churches of Vergt and Sarrance. The castles of Turenne, Pontarion, Salles, Dentomas, Bonaguil, La Séguinière, and La Cosse complete this selection alongside the Touche Salbœuf barn, illustrating the historical richness of these territories.
