Tourist information:
"Douceur de vivre" are the words that best describe life in La Rochelle. Here, the ocean surrounds you with its spray and invites you to travel while the white stone facades of the city play with light so as to create an ever-changing scenery. La Rochelle is open to the world and the world has left its mark over the years. We may find here architecture from the most distant lands.
History of La Rochelle is closely related to its ports. As early as the twelfth century, the city became an important port. Broad freedoms were given to La Rochelle by the Duke of Aquitaine who allowed the city to overcome the feudal guardianship.
Maritime trade will allow the city to get rich for centuries. The sixteenth century was marked by the siege by the troops of the King of France and the loss of the privileges of the city. Despite this, La Rochelle continued to grow thanks to trade with the New World.
The nineteenth century was a period less prosperous for La Rochelle, until the deep-water port of La Palice was built. In the twentieth century, it was still the port which prevented the city from being destroyed by the bombardments of World War II as it served as a submarine base for Germany.
Heritage of La Rochelle is extremely rich. The city has many museums. The main ones are the Museum of the New World, the Orbigny-Bernon Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Fine Arts.
The architectural heritage offers great opportunities to visit : the cathedral of La Rochelle dating from the eighteenth century, the Clock Tower which links the Old Port to the city, the House of Henry II or the Saint-Nicolas and of the Four Sergeants towers. The entire city is worth to visit...
