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Fort Lupin is a strategic fortification located on the south bank of the Charente estuary, about 4 km from its mouth, in the commune of Saint-Nazaire-sur-Charente (Charente-Maritime). Built between 1683 and 1689 according to the plans of Vauban, it was part of the defensive system of the Rochefort arsenal, created under Louis XIV to secure maritime approaches. Its location allowed the control of the water supply of the royal ships at Fontaine Saint-Nazaire, a key supply point for the fleet.

The initial project dates back to 1666, entrusted to the engineer La Favollière, before being redesigned by Vauban. The work, begun between 1683 and 1685, included a central tower, barracks for 48 men, and 22 flares for a razing fire against enemy ships. The fort was protected on the ground side by an ice, a covered road and a water ditch. In 1698, changes were made after the use of explosive bombs during the siege of Genoa (1684), adapting the structure to the new techniques of war.

Ranked a historic monument in 1950, Fort Lupin was sold by the state in the same year and is now a private property. It is a unique example of Vauban's second system on the Atlantic coast, combining architectural innovation and defensive function. Its architecture reflects the maritime stakes of the 17th century, where Rochefort played a central role in French naval power.

Historical sources, including the archives of the National Navy, retain a rival project of François Ferry, finally ruled out. The final plans, attributed to Vauban, show an adaptation to the local constraints: shooting diving from the tower and protection against enemy landings. The fort also illustrates the evolution of siege techniques, with its post-1684 design to withstand incendiary bombs.

Today, although private, Fort Lupin remains a major testimony of French military heritage. Its location near the Royal Fountain of Saint-Nazaire and in front of Fort Lapointe (northern river) underscores its role in a coordinated defensive device. The elements protected since 1950 include the glacis, the covered road and the remains of the enclosure walls, bounded by the Charente in the north.

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