  High-energy photons are a powerful probe for astrophysics and for fundamental
physics under extreme conditions. During the recent years, our knowledge of the
most violent phenomena in the universe has impressively progressed thanks to
the advent of new detectors for very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays (above 100
GeV). Ground-based detectors like the Cherenkov telescopes (H.E.S.S., MAGIC and
VERITAS) recently discovered more than 80 new sources. This talk reviews the
present status of VHE gamma astrophysics, with emphasis on the recent results
and on the experimental developments, keeping an eye on the future. The impact
on fundamental physics and on cosmic-ray physics is emphasized.
