Fountain of the Coudre, Spring in the Bercé forest, Jupilles, France
The Fontaine de la Coudre is a stone spring set within the Bercé forest, near the village of Jupilles in northwestern France. It marks the source of the Dinan, a small tributary of the Loir river, and sits at around 460 feet (140 m) above sea level on a wooded slope.
The Bercé forest was once a royal forest, managed mainly to supply timber for the navy. The spring was a familiar stop for the workers and foresters who spent their days in the woods during that period.
The Fontaine de la Coudre sits within the Bercé forest, where outdoor celebrations and dances were once held around the spring. This tradition shows how closely the people of the region tied their social life to the natural spaces around them.
The spring is reached by following the Route Forestière des Trembles, a forest track that starts from Jupilles. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the ground can be damp and uneven along the way.
The name of the stream that begins here, the Dinan, is thought to mean "the divine valley." This suggests the spot was seen as something out of the ordinary long before it became a stop on a tourist route.
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