Night view of the Harbour Towers of La Rochelle La Rochelle is a city dating from the 9th hundred in the department of Charente-Maritime, France. From the 14th to seventeenth hundred, it was France ‘s leadership port for trade wind across the Atlantic to Canada and the french West Indies. It ‘s frequently called “ la ville blanche ” ( the white city ) for its limestone buildings : they ‘re fine-looking in any weather, but bright when the sunday shines down from a big bluing Atlantic flip. The city is centred around the erstwhile port, Vieux Port, with three big defensive towers. 3 kilometer confederacy, Les Minimes is a new area built on reform state. In 2017, its population was 76,000. La Rochelle is linked by a bridge to the recourse island of Île de Ré, some 30 km long. other islands are Île d’Aix, Île d’Oleron ( normally accessed by road via Rochefort ), and the one you ‘ve seen on television, Fort Boyard.
get in [edit ]
By plane [edit ]
Bus # 7 runs downtown ( Place de Verdun ) M-Sa every 30 min, taking 15 minute, menu €1.30. In July and August a busbar runs from the airport directly to Île de Ré, at other times you ‘ll have to backtrack via downtown. Taxis can be found immediately outside the terminal build up, with the fare to town about €20 .
By train [edit ]
TGVs link La Rochelle to Paris Montparnasse every couple of hours, taking 3 hours. Five or six trains a sidereal day run south to Bordeaux ( 2 hour ) and north to Nantes ( 3 hour ). The busbar to Île de Ré is run in junction with SNCF, i.e. it ‘s through-ticketed, displayed on deviation boards, and timed to connect with the Paris trains. The railroad track station is 500 thousand south of the town center, near the aquarium and Maritime Museum. Cars can be rented from agencies opposite the station .
By bus [edit ]
Flixbus runs once a day to Paris Bercy Seine, 7 hour. They besides run to Nantes ( 2 hour ), Bordeaux ( 2 hour in the dead of night ), and Toulouse ( 6 hour ). Eurolines have an flush coach for Bordeaux, Bayonne, San Sebastian and Bilbao, with connections to Madrid. The main busbar point of view for long-distance and local services is Place de Verdun, at the western border of the old town .
By car [edit ]
La Rochelle is one of the few large cities in France not directly served by an autoroute. The city can however be easily reached by car, though. From Paris take the A10 until the exit for N11 which will take you La Rochelle. From Bordeaux take the A10 then exit onto A837 then D137 .
By cruise transport [edit ]
cruise liners occasionally call at La Rochelle, docking at the far end of Viaduc Président Christian Morch, 10 kilometer west of town near the bridge to Île de Ré. Typically these are on week-long cruises of the Bay of Biscay and Channel Islands, with passengers coming ashore for a day-trip to the Dordogne and promptly attend at the old town. They ‘re not available to reserve as point-to-point ferries .
Get around [edit ]
La Rochelle can well be explored by foot or by bicycle. The bicycle rental service is run by Yélo ( a pun on “ yellow ” and “ vélo ” ) : you first gear need to visit their booth in Place de Verdun, with ID and credit calling card for a €150 sediment, to be issued a run. short-run lease is €3 for 2 hours, €7 for 5 hours and €12 for 10 hours – these rentals may not be taken to Île de Ré. Longer hires are besides easily arranged. There are several pick-up and refund stations across the city. local buses are besides run by Yélo. A single ticket can be bought on the bus for €1.30 ( valid for one transfer within one hour ). A 10-unit ticket costs €11, a 24-hour pas is €4.50, a 7-day pass is €12.50. Buy these from Yélo kiosks, e.g. in Place de Verdun. Just about every bus agate line will pass at some point through Place de Verdun : one exception is the Friday evening summer service to Île de Ré, which goes address from the railway station. There ‘s a ferry from Vieux Port to Port des Minimes ( hourly, fare €3 ). Boat trips and ferries run from the Vieux Port to the nearby islands. Boats can circle Fort Boyard but rarely land, as it is in effect a big offshore television studio, with programmes in formulation throughout summer .
See [edit ]
The Old Port ( “ Vieux Port ” ) [edit ]
This is the oldest and most picturesque part of La Rochelle, dominated by its defensive towers. The quayside extends 200 thousand inland from the larboard, along Canal Maubec. Most buildings are centuries old and very well maintained. The constrict streets and picket rock buildings make the city feel more Midi than Atlantic. The Three Towers If a party of enormous chess pieces came down to the seaside and got tipsy, they would resemble these 14th- and 15th-century towers. Tour de la Chaine and Tour St Nicholas lean over the pin down harbor entrance : a portly chain was raised between them to keep out worry ( often English ). A rampart stretches west to Tour de la Lanterne, the former beacon. You can visit the towers daily 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:15 to 17:30 ( 18:30 during day saving ). submission costs €6 per loom, or €9 for all three. Enter the old city behind the quay via the Gothic capital gate, the Tour de la Grosse Horloge. ( The tower ca n’t be entered. ) A network of old streets encloses the marketplace hall, the Temple Protestant, and the New World Museum. finally it opens out onto Place de Verdun, with the Cathedral of St-Louis.
Read more: Maritime on Audiotree Live (Full Session)
Les Minimes [edit ]
Ocean view from Les Minimes Port des Minimes is one of the biggest pleasure gravy boat marina in Europe : largely yachts not motorboats. besides, visit the nearby beach .
Île de Ré [edit ]
This recourse island is accessed along Route D735 via a 2-km-long toll-bridge. The price to get onto the island is €16 per cable car in summer and €8 in winter, complimentary on metrical foot or with a motorcycle ; there ‘s no return key bell. The road runs through La Flotte to the main colony of St Martin de Ré, which has a charming port ( UNESCO Heritage Site ) fortified by Vauban. Most buses terminate here. The road straggles on for another 20 kilometer to Les Portes-en-Ré. Camping on the island is only permitted at approved sites. Hotel louisiana Jetée ( 23 quai Georges Clemenceau ) is a 3-star hotel in St Martin, open year-round. You ‘ll need to email ahead for an access code to drive into the pedestrianised area. Bistrot du Marin is on Quai Nicolas Baudin on the harbor island ; lots of seafood restaurants cable the early quays. Do try the waffles of ‘La Martiniere ‘ on Quai Poitheviniere .
Do [edit ]
The Market Place [edit ]
Situated near the Old Port, you can buy fresh products every good morning in the cardinal cover Market. On Wednesday and Saturdays ( and during most of the summer ), you will see all of the streets surrounding the main sphere covered in stands occupied by local farmers selling their products. You will find dozens of restaurants surrounding this hot spot, and from the market, you can go in direction of the Place de Verdun or the Old Port and will walk by the main shopping streets of La Rochelle .
Les Minimes [edit ]
The sector of Les Minimes is where you will find most activities that are not specifically targeted to tourists, such as bowling, movie theaters, etc .
Buy [edit ]
consume [edit ]
seafood is the specialization in La Rochelle, and there are many excellent restaurants around the Vieux Port. Try the mussels “ Charantais ” in a creamy white wine and onion sauce. For a more traditional meal “ A Cote de Chez Fred ” offers a variety of local specialties in a comfortable dress. As an option, for budget travellers, some locals recommend trying sandwiches or kebabs at “ Le Rif ” restaurant on the “ Rue St Nicolas ”, not very army for the liberation of rwanda away from “ A Coté de Chez Fred ”. They offer some of their specialities like Royal Rif and Royal Fajitas. If you are in La Rochelle, please try a hesitate ( with “ caramel astronomical unit beurre sale ”, salty butter yellowish brown ), a crepe/galette de sarasin, some “ broye du poitou-charentes ” ( a delectable butter cookie ) and some “ gache ” ( a type of brioche ). You can besides try a “ tourteau fromager ”, which is a bake tall mallow patty with a purposefully burned layer on exceed ( that you can eat, but it is approve if you do n’t ) and some delightful “ canneles ”
Drink [edit ]
La Guignette Head to this local spot for a La Rochelle forte, egg white wine mix with fruit syrup. Open only in the early evening, this bar is a popular locate for students starting a night of partying. The bar is located on Rue St. Nicholas, in an excellent run down and dirty build. A lot of playfulness, but be careful, the dessert drink in will promptly get you very drink ! Le Général Humbert Be sure to stop by this irish public house on Rue St. Nicholas. A comfortable place to meet with friends, or watch some football or rugby. The owners are extremely friendly, and most of the staff speak English. Occasional hot music. La Calhute Just off of Rue St. Nicholas is this little and comfortable cabaret. Great music is always playing, and drink are not to expensive. Try a pitcher of “ Jacqueline ” wine mix with tonic and fruit syrup. It comes in many flavours, try peach or melon .
sleep [edit ]
Lots of mid-range hotels centrally in and around the Vieux Port. There ‘s more out on the island, Île de Ré ; you ‘ll need your own transportation there as the bus is painfully slow.
Read more: Maritime on Audiotree Live (Full Session)
Go following [edit ]
Best use the bus or prepare to reach Cognac, or sort out in advance who ‘ll be driving back. Royan is an important seaside resort. South of there lies Bordeaux and their wine country, enclosing that city and the Gironde estuary .
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