The sources of the Touvre - Angoulême Tourism

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Le 12th January 2022

Second resurgence of France after the Fontaine de Vaucluse, the sources give birth to a river, the Touvre, whose wide and deep waters join the Charente River after a modest course of 10kms.

Originally, four springs (le Bouillant, le Dormant, la Font de Lussac and la Lèche) which spring from the depths at the foot of a steep rock, digging a green valley... form one of the most beautiful natural sites in the Pays d'Angoulême.

An exceptional natural site made up of resurgences,an interpretive trail, a church, the remains of a castle,a “Trotte-Renard” hiking circuit, washhouses, fish farming… all to spend a pleasant day with the family.

The 4 resurgences

> The Boiling is a 15 meter deep oval-shaped pit. The south side is formed by a steeply sloping and very silted scree cone. Material from the cone accumulates around a vertical shaft approximately 2.5 m in diameter and 5 m deep. It is through the opening of this well that the waterspout gushes out which rises to the surface, causing the famous bubbling. This vertical conduit in which circulates a very strong current is fed at its base by a horizontal corridor up to a depth of – 45 m.

> Sleeper is located in the extension of the Bouillant. It is a vertical and narrow break 50 m long and 20 m deep. A large cone of scree, coming from the hill of Touvre, descends from the north. The bottom is cluttered with branches and mud through which the water filters.

> Font de Lussac is relatively recent, it emerged during the 1755 earthquake in Lisbon. It is also one of the three best explored resurgences. It forms a pit 4.50 m deep for a length of 24 meters. It is cluttered with large blocks. The edges of the collapse are covered with lush vegetation. At the bottom of this basin open two wells descending to 13 m.

> La Liche was excluded from the Touvre network for years. However, studies carried out between 1975 and 1977 showed that it received a contribution from La Touvre.

For more information, do not hesitate to consult the website of the city of Touvre.

As unfathomable as they are mysterious, the springs inspired fears and naturally legends among the inhabitants of Touvre: Tolvère's thwarted love stories in love with the young Berger Bandiat, the legend Tamira...