La Rochelle - seaside resort on the Atlantic coast

La Rochelle is a beautiful port city in the west of France on the Atlantic coast. During the holidays, many go to this seaside resort for a day. The old ports’ large towers are very impressive. From here you can visit the old port and then go through the gate into the old town. La Rochelle has many sights, museums and even a bunker from the 2nd world war that you can visit. There are several beaches where you can sunbathe, swim and jet ski. You can visit La Rochelle by foot, but also by segway or in other ways.

Old port of La Rochelle

The old port of La Rochelle is seen as one of the most beautiful urban sights in France due to the imposing towers that in earlier times ensured the surveillance of the port. You can walk on the quays around the harbor. The Quai du Carénage, the Quai Duperré and the Cours des Dames are well-known. During the summer the quays are lively and touristic with terraces, street artists and street shows. The terraces give a beautiful view of the harbor. During the evening, the harbor and the towers are illuminated giving a beautiful relfection of the lights onto the water.

Climb the towers during your holiday

At the entrance from the sea to the old port are three striking towers:

• Tour Saint Nicolas
• Tour de la Chaîne
• Tour de la Lanterne

The towers were built in the Middle Ages and are now historical monuments. You can visit the three towers with one ticket. From the top of the towers you have a beautiful view over the city and the harbor.
The Tour Saint Nicolas and the Tour de la Chaîne are located at the entrance to the port. In the past, a chain was  attached between the two towers at night to prevent enemy ships from entering the harbor at night. The Tour Saint Nicolas, named after the patron saint of sailors, is the tallest tower with a height of 42m. It is a large fortification with a labyrinth of spiral staircases that are connected to each other on the inside. This used to be built to ensure that reinforcements could still come if other stairs were blocked by attackers.
The Tour de la Lanterne was also built to defend the city. In addition, it served as a prison. Up to 100 prisoners could be locked up on the fourth floor. At 38metres altitude there is an outdoor terrace with a view over the city.

Porte de la Grosse Horloge

From almost anywhere in the old port you can see the Porte de la Grosse Horloge, the majestic gate that forms the border between the old port and the old town. This entrance gate is located at the intersection of the Quai Duperré and Cour des Dames. Unfortunately, you cannot actually enter this monument. This gate was originally part of the defense of the city but became redundant in the 18th century when the city became bigger and bigger. The bell tower that was built on top of the gate in 1746 has a large bell that weighs 2200kg. During the evening, the Porte de la Grosse Horloge is illuminated.

Saint Louis de La Rochelle Cathedral

Saint Louis cathedral is located near Maison Henri II in the old town. From the outside it doesn't seem like much special, but from the inside it certainly is. The cathedral has beautiful paintings and many stained glass windows which depict all kinds of scenes. This cathedral used to be the Great Temple of the Protestants in La Rochelle but later became a Roman building.

Charruyer Park

In the middle of La Rochelle is Charruyer Park, a beautiful park with an area of 40ha and a length of 2 km. The park is great for hiking or cycling and also has a children's playground and a small zoo.

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