The Fountain and Fort Lupin

Many forts were built in the Charente estuary. They defended access to Rochefort, a military arsenal. Fort Lupin was one of them. As for the Fontaine Lupin, it allowed ships coming from Rochefort to take on water before setting sail. Tree trunks were placed in the Fosse aux Mâts to harden them before they were fitted to the ships.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.44 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 7 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Fontaine Lupin car park.

(S/E) Take the road in front of the entrance to the car park of the restaurant L’Escale de Lupin. You will soon reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn left onto this path, heading towards the Fosse aux Mâts. Walk along the left-hand side of a livestock shed. Continue straight ahead. The path becomes tarmac and runs alongside a farm, then a small bridge and a bend to the right.

(2) Turn left onto a path running alongside a field; be careful in wet weather as this path can be very muddy. You will then come out onto a small tarmac road.

(3) Turn left onto it to reach the village of Lupin.

(4) At the entrance to Lupin, turn right and walk along the edge of the village. Before the last house in the village, take a path on the left. Continue straight ahead along the grassy track beside a cultivated field, then reach a small copse.

(5) Continue straight on towards the Charente, reaching it at Les Carrelets.

(6) Walk along the left bank of the Charente, then turn off to go round Fort Lupin and reach the crossroads in the village of Lupin, which you passed on the way out.

Turn right and follow the path back along the same route as on the way out to return to the Fontaine Lupin car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Fontaine Lupin car park
  2. 1 : km 0.34 - alt. 4 m - Crossroads, white path
  3. 2 : km 0.88 - alt. 3 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.36 - alt. 3 m - Road junction
  5. 4 : km 2.09 - alt. 3 m - Lupin
  6. 5 : km 2.83 - alt. 5 m - Bois Nollet
  7. 6 : km 3.41 - alt. 3 m - Bank of the Charente
  8. S/E : km 6.44 - alt. 4 m - Fontaine Lupin car park

Notes

Village of Lupin on the return journey: it is not possible to reach the Fontaine Lupin directly as, unfortunately, the marsh and the Fosse aux Mâts do not allow passage.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
User 25221599

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At a place called Lupin, on the road known as Route des Cigognes, turn left before the last house. However, this road quickly becomes impassable as it is not maintained. You must therefore pass the last house on the left and walk along the field to find the road again a few hundred metres further on.

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Btarreau
Btarreau

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Part of the route leading out of Lupin cannot be found

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mirabel54
mirabel54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant little walk, though not particularly interesting apart from the Royal Fountain and Fort Lupin, which are best viewed from a distance as they are private and not open to the public.

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Olive3217
Olive3217

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk along the banks of the Charente, with the fountain and Fort Lupin as the main points of interest. Please note that when passing through the village of Lupin, the path leading to the fishing huts is difficult to follow as it is poorly marked. It’s a shame that access to the fort isn’t possible (private property, no entry). But the walk itself is lovely.

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phbizet
phbizet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The Royal Fountain is well worth a visit (unfortunately, Fort Lupin is not open to the public, and I couldn’t find the ‘fosse aux mâts’). This walk complements the routes suggested for Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée and Fouras. The route is rather whimsical. It’s a walk that would benefit from being extended, as the 6 km feels rather short.

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mirabel54
mirabel54

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short walking route that takes you past the fountain and Fort Lupin. These are the only highlights of this short walk. But in fine weather like today, it’s very pleasant. There’s a lovely view of the Charente at point 6, with the fishing huts.

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