Sights in La Rochelle
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Defensive Towers
To protect the harbour at night in times of war, an enormous chain was raised between the two 14th-century stone towers at the harbour entrance to La Rochelle, giving rise to the name Tour de la Chaîne (Chain Tower). There are superb views from the top and a whizz-bang new permanent exhibit about the Canadian voyagers.
Across the harbour it’s also possible to climb the 36m-high, pentagonal Tour St-Nicolas.
So named because of its role as the harbour’s lighthouse (lit by an enormous candle), and one of the oldest of its kind in the world, the conical 15th-century Tour de la Lanterne is also referred to as Tour des Quatre Sergents in memory of four local sergeants, two o…
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Aquarium
La Rochelle’s number-one tourist attraction is this state-of-the-art family-friendly aquarium. A visit begins by descending in a clunky old ‘submarine’ to the ocean floor, where you step out into a tunnel of fluoro jellyfish waving their tentacles in time to the classical music that wafts through the aquarium. Other highlights include the huge open ocean aquarium full of UFO-like rays and fearsome sharks, the jungle area with its tree-level walkways and ponds full of teeth-gnashing piranhas, the elegantly dancing seahorses, timid turtles and the bizarre half-newt, total fish mudskippers. The aim is to educate visitors to the wonders of the world’s waters and the threats o…
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Towers
La Rochelle's three defensive towers can be visited individually, or on a combined ticket.
To protect the harbour at night in times of war, an enormous chain was raised between the two 14th-century stone towers at the harbour entrance, giving rise to the name of Tour de la Chaîne ('chain tower'). There are some informative exhibits on the history of the local Protestant community, and superb views from the top.
Across the harbour it's also possible to climb the 36m-high, pentagonal Tour St-Nicolas.
So named because of its role as the harbour's lighthouse (lit by an enormous candle), and one of the oldest of its kind in the world, the conical 15th-century Tour de la Lante…
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Islands
Several islands are scattered around La Rochelle, including the nearby Île de Ré as well as a trio further offshore. The car-free, crescent-shaped Île d'Aix (pronounced 'eel dex'), 16km due south of La Rochelle, has some blissful beaches. Between the Île d'Aix and Île d'Oléron is the fortress-island Fort Boyard, built during the first half of the 19th century and these days best known (in France at least) as the location for the 'adventure' TV show of the same name, which is filmed here each summer. When the weather's clear, you can see La Rochelle in the distance.
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Toy Museums
A treat for kids (and kids-at-heart) is the Musée des Automates (Automation Museum), a small theme-park-style display showing 300 automated dolls from the last two centuries, including a near-life-size re-creation of bygone Montmartre in Paris, right down to the Moulin Rouge and the funicular railway. Trainspotters will love the equally appealing Musée des Modèles Réduits (Scale Model Museum) next door, with miniature cars, computer-automated naval battles and a tootling model railway. Both museums are wheelchair accessible.
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Musée Maritime Neptunea
Moored at Bassin des Chalutiers are the two ships comprising the Musée Maritime Neptunea: the meteorological research vessel France 1, and Angoumois, a chalutier (fishing boat). A land-based extension of the museum on the adjacent dock incorporates a section dedicated to Jacques Cousteau, and a re-creation of the city's ancient fish market.
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Temple Protestant
The austere Temple Protestant was built in the late 17th century, though it became a Protestant church only after the Revolution. After the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572, many surviving Huguenots took refuge in La Rochelle before the city was besieged in 1627 by Louis XIII's forces under the command of Cardinal Richelieu.
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Musée Maritime
Moored at Bassin à Flot are the meteorological research ship France 1, a chalutier (fishing boat) and a tug, which together make up the Musée Maritime. If you think your job is tough, just wait until you see what the crew on these sorts of boats have to put up with on the average working day.
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Hôtel de Ville
Flanked by a 15th-century Flamboyant Gothic wall and a resplendent 17th-century Renaissance-style courtyard, the Hôtel de Ville has guided tours in French at 3pm daily in June and September, 3pm and 4pm daily in July and August, and on weekends during the rest of the year.
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Musée des Automates
Musée des Automates is a small theme-park-style display with good wheelchair access showing 300 automated dolls from the last two centuries, including a near-life-size re-creation of bygone Montmartre in Paris, right down to the Moulin Rouge and funicular railway.
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Musée des Modèles Réduits
Trainspotters will love the Musée des Modèles Réduits, with miniature cars, computer-automated naval battles, and a tootling model railway. In July and August, children under 10 can ride aboard a little train.
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Tour de la Grosse Horloge
The gateway to the old city, Tour de la Grosse Horloge is a steadfast Gothic-style clock tower, with a 12th-century base and an 18th-century top. For safety reasons, it’s not possible to enter.
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Musée du Nouveau Monde
La Rochelle’s role as a departure point for North America is interpreted at the 18th-century mansion housing this museum.
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Réserve Naturelle Marais d’Yves
An easy 15km drive south of La Rochelle, the Réserve Naturelle Marais d’Yves has a free nature centre, where you can pop in and peer through telescopes to watch some of the 192-hectare reserve’s 250 bird species amid the wetlands. Depending on the season, you might see flocks of over 20,000 birds fill the sky on their migratory path. The website lists various guided walks and cycle rides through the wetlands (available in English), where you’ll also learn about the area’s 750 species of frogs, flowers and insects.
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