La Rochelle, France: what to see and do
On the Atlantic coast, La Rochelle serves as the chief town of the Charente-Maritime department, 466 km south-west of Paris. Its origins date to the 11th century, and both England and France contested control of the town.
Things to do in La Rochelle
La Rochelle Aquarium contains 3 million litres of seawater and 600 different species. The town hall, known as the Hôtel de ville, reached completion during the reign of King Henri IV.
La Rochelle old port
Three towers survive from the medieval defences that protected La Rochelle from the sea. Among the towers protecting the harbour entrance is the Tour Saint-Nicolas, which was built in the 14th century.
A self-guided walking tour of La Rochelle old town and port has a duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It includes access to an interactive mobile experience, 13 self-guided challenges featuring clues and stories, historical material for every stop along the route, and a self-paced format.
The city through history
Edward III, king of England, received La Rochelle in 1360 when the town was ceded to him. In 1568, the town rejected royal rule and established itself as a Huguenot stronghold. A siege by land and sea followed in 1627, when a dyke measuring 1,500 metres isolated La Rochelle from the outside world. Under mayor Jean Guiton, the starving town capitulated in October 1628.
The villages of the Île de Ré
A 138 km cycle path network links the ten villages of the Île de Ré. The bridge opened on 19 May 1988 after about 15 months of work. In Ars-en-Ré, the church has a black-and-white bell tower that is over 42 metres high.
Saint-Martin-de-Ré received UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2008 for its fortifications, designed by Vauban, who served as engineer to Louis XIV. Prisoners bound for the penal colony passed through the citadel of Saint-Martin-de-Ré on their journey.
Fort Boyard, the Île d'Aix and the Île d'Oléron
Napoleon revived the Fort Boyard project in the Pertuis d'Antioche in 1801; building work started in 1804 and ended in 1857. The fort was intended to block the passage between the Île d'Aix and the Île d'Oléron, and was used as a military prison in 1870 and 1871. On the Île d'Aix, the house that accommodated Napoleon later became a museum devoted to him, welcoming the public from 1928.
The viaduct serving the Île d'Oléron stands on 45 piers and is about 3 km long and 10.90 metres wide. Work on this bridge started in 1964, with its inauguration taking place on 21 June 1966.
The marine nature park
Off Charente-Maritime, the marine nature park borders over 1,300 km of coast and 113 communes across Vendée, Charente-Maritime and Gironde. The Pertuis marine nature park also reaches into six estuaries, one of which is the Gironde.
Frequently asked questions
Where is La Rochelle?
La Rochelle lies on the Atlantic coast and is the chief town of Charente-Maritime, 466 km south-west of Paris.
What remains of the medieval sea defences?
The city's three towers are surviving parts of its medieval maritime defences.
What does the walking tour include?
The self-guided tour includes an interactive mobile experience, 13 challenges with clues and stories, historical material for each route stop, and a self-paced format.
How many species are in La Rochelle Aquarium?
The aquarium houses 600 different species in a total of 3 million litres of seawater.
Why does Saint-Martin-de-Ré have UNESCO status?
Its fortifications, built from plans by Vauban, engineer to Louis XIV, earned Saint-Martin-de-Ré UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2008.
