Sightseeing in La Rochelle - what to see. Complete travel guide

La Rochelle is a town in France located on the west coast of the Bay of Biscay in Poitou Charentes. The distance from La Rochelle to Paris estimates 470 kilometers. The number of population of this city estimates approximately 77 thousands of people.

There are no beaches in this town. The closest one to the city is located three kilometers west from the Old Port. It is called Les Minimes and is located on the embankment named Valen. Besides this there is lle de Re famous for its sand beaches. It is located 9 kilometers away from the town.

One of the main places of interest of La Rochelle is the Old Port in the center of the city. The port looks like a haven surrounded by the Old City. In the XIV century the port got two large towers built for protective purposes. These are La-Chaîne on west and Saint-Nicolas on east. When La Rochelle was in danger, between these towers were stretched chains that closed the entrance to the port. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

On the west from La-Chaîne you will see a fort wall. The wall ends with a Lanterne tower that is also known as the tower of «four sergeants». In 1822 this tower became the place of capital punishment of the sergeants of the garrison. They were killed because of their attempt to overthrow the newly rebuilt monarchy. The walls of the tower also have carvings made by imprisoned pirates in XVII century. Tourists are also offered to visit Musée d'Orbigny-Bernon.

If you go out from gates between the towers, you will see Rue du Palais that is also the main trading street of La Rochelle. East to this street is located another famous street of the town – Mercier. Both streets go parallel, so between them there are many old buildings. Many houses here are referred to the medieval period. They have hinged cornices made of slate and arcades that protect homes from rain. A large part of mansions were built in the Renaissance period. There are also stone buildings from XVIII century and gutters in the form of gargoyles. All these pieces of architecture art create that special atmosphere La Rochelle is famous for.

In the heart of the historic district, you can see the building of the old town hall. Its construction began in 1595 and lasted for 11 years. The town hall is a spectacular example of architecture in the Renaissance style. Not only the building itself, but also the defensive wall surrounding it has survived up till now. It has long lost its original value of the building of the city government. Now it houses one of the most prestigious and expensive hotel in the city. Lovers of history will be interested to spend a few days in it. While decorating this hotel, unique antiques were used.

You can continue your acquaintance with the history and culture of the past centuries by visiting the House-Museum of Henry II. This majestic 16th century mansion is now striking with its luxury. An interesting collection of historical exhibits is hidden within its walls. The atmosphere in this house was recreated as much as possible, like what it was in the times of the previous owners. Now the mansion houses ancient paintings and tapestries, incredibly beautiful dishes made of porcelain and crystal, as well as belongings of the former owners of the mansion.

The Museum of Natural History is located in an equally impressive historical building. It is one of the oldest in France. The museum exhibits occupies an area of ​​about 2,500 square meters. Here are the most diverse collections: rare samples of minerals, interesting ethnographic artifacts from various parts of the world, ancient research equipment and skeletons of ancient animals. This museum is very interesting to visit with the whole family. On its territory is a wonderful botanical garden, in which you can continue to get acquainted with the wonderful world of nature.

In the heart of the city is the beautiful Charrue Park. It will surely appeal to those who enjoy walking outdoors. This park is historic; in the 15th century fairs were held on its territory and in the 17th century it wielded the first cricket grounds in the city. During walks in the park, many beautiful old trees and rare plants can be seen. Some corners of the park are untouched by man and are ideal for secluded rest and admiring nature.