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Tour of the fountains 4.3 mi

in Saint-Agnant
7.5 km
1h 30min
Easy
  • Set off across the fields before reaching wooded areas and the Vélodyssée cycle route. Keep a close eye out along the way: you might spot some storks!
    A walk offering a wide variety of landscapes, taking in wells and fountains.

  • This walk offers a wide variety of landscapes: the edge of the marsh, the banks of the Bridoire Canal, not to mention the charming little hamlets you’ll pass through, where walkers can explore the local rural heritage, particularly the wells and fountains.

    Along the way, you’ll see:

    - The banks of the Charente-Seudre Canal (La Bridoire): situated in the commune of Saint-Agnant, they are unique in that they feature two paths running side by side. The first is the old towpath, which was...
    This walk offers a wide variety of landscapes: the edge of the marsh, the banks of the Bridoire Canal, not to mention the charming little hamlets you’ll pass through, where walkers can explore the local rural heritage, particularly the wells and fountains.

    Along the way, you’ll see:

    - The banks of the Charente-Seudre Canal (La Bridoire): situated in the commune of Saint-Agnant, they are unique in that they feature two paths running side by side. The first is the old towpath, which was later supplemented by a second track, now used by the Vélodyssée cycle route. It replaces the old railway line that once linked Rochefort to Marennes and the Pointe du Chapus, via the Cèpe Bridge. Planned as early as 1872, this branch line was not opened until 1889. Closed to passengers in 1971 and then to freight services some fifteen years later, it was decommissioned in 1991 and its tracks removed. From Saint-Agnant, a village boasting a majestic Early Renaissance dovecote, it takes cycle tourists to the astonishing little fortified town of Brouage or to Marennes, famous for its oysters.
Points of interest
1 Dovecote of Montierneuf
Also known as a fuie, this early 16th century dovecote was used to raise pigeons in order to harvest their droppings, a rich phosphate fertiliser.
2 Fountain of Merzaud
Fountain of Merzaud
3 Fountain of Roule-Tronc
This fountain dates from the 15th or 16th century and has been restored from archives.
4 Charente-Seudre Channel
Channel from the Charente to the Seudre, known as the Bridoire Channel.
70 meters of difference in height
  • Start altitude : 9 m
  • End altitude : 9 m
  • Maximum altitude : 19 m
  • Minimum altitude : 1 m
  • Total positive elevation : 70 m
  • Total negative elevation : -70 m
  • Max positive elevation : 12 m
  • Min positive elevation : -13 m