It is bordered by five beaches and a forest named "Bois Vert" ("Green Wood" in English) which covers 20% of its surface area.

There is a causeway linking Fouras to Fort Énet, which is walkable at low tide, in the direction of Île-d'Aix.

The south coast of the peninsula of Fouras forms the northern side of the mouth of the river Charente.

Off the island between Aix and the Oleron Island is Fort Boyard, which was made famous by the French and U.K. TV game shows of the same name and whose character "Père Fouras" ([pɛʁ fuʁa], also incorrectly pronounced [pɛʁ fuʁas]) increased the celebrity of the town.

In 1689, Ferry reinforced the walls of the Donjon to set up a battery of 9 canons and a signaling point.