Home / Plan your stay / Walks and hikes / Along the sea and the river / Cycling path 14 : From the Charente river up to the Atlantic - 17.4 mi - Port-des-Barques
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Cycling path 14 : From the Charente river up to the Atlantic - 17.4 mi

in Port-des-Barques
26.2 km
1h 40min
Easy
  • An ideal route to appreciate the remarkable landscapes of the Grand Site. Through its insular extension (L'île Madame), the left bank of the Charente estuary was part of the defense and supply of the Arsenal: Fort Lupin, Fontaine Lupin, Redoute de l'île Madame... Facing the sea, oyster farming and plaice fishing hold a prominent place in unspoiled nature.
  • Difference in height
    94.15 m
  • Documentation
    GPX / KML files allow you to export the trail of your hike to your GPS (or other navigation tool)
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Points of interest
1 The Hotel des Rohan
This beautiful Renaissance-style residence is reputed to have been built at the end of the reign of Louis XIII, according to the wishes of Catherine de Rohan. The leaves and numerous plant decorations on the façade are characteristic of late 17th century mannerism. These elements make it possible to say that this hotel is the result of the same construction campaign which took place between 1600 and 1650. From 1686 onwards, the nuns of St Vincent de Paul made it a hospice and a school. This building is now the Soubise town hall.
2 La pointe sans fin
Pointe sans fin is the name that the convicts gave to this meander of the Charente. They were used to hauling ships with the "cordelle" and found that this meander had no end. It is at the endless point that one can observe what are known as "land cannons". What look like mooring bollards are in fact cannons planted in the ground with their mouths to the sky and which were used as milestones during the hard hauling work.
3 The carrelets
Square nets stretched on a frame and lowered horizontally from a pontoon with a shelter, these constructions allow fishing. The fish are caught in the nets at high tide.
rochefort-ocean-charente-carrelet © Marine de Villartay (1).JPG
4 fort Lupin
An important element of the defensive system of the Royal Arsenal of Rochefort, its construction was planned in 1683. Vauban drew up the plans in 1685. The construction of Fort Lupin began the same year and was completed in 1689. It is a private historical monument.
5 The Lupin Fountain
The fountain-reservoir, whose architecture is in the classical style of the 18th century, is the essential element of the drinking water supply network of the port of Rochefort, as it was the first source to be tapped, allowing the ships of the Arsenal to refuel.
In 1733, describing the fountain in a collection, a priest exclaimed "nothing is more beautiful than to see fresh water coming out of the salt water"...
6 Port-des-Barques Ecomuseum
Located on the banks of the Charente, in the heart of a working oyster farm, the eco-museum encourages visitors to discover the oyster and its environment through various exhibitions tracing the history, life and culture of the oyster. At the end of the visit, children can go shrimping.
The Ecomuseum of the Estuary also welcomes many school groups throughout the year to help them discover the foreshore, the estuary and oyster farming through educational workshops. A fishing jetty with 2 educational fishing nets allows you to learn how to fish with a net.
94 meters of difference in height
  • Start altitude : 15 m
  • End altitude : 15 m
  • Maximum altitude : 20 m
  • Minimum altitude : 1 m
  • Total positive elevation : 94 m
  • Total negative elevation : -94 m
  • Max positive elevation : 10 m
  • Min positive elevation : -11 m