La Rochelle is a beautiful city right by the sea in the south west of France. If you are looking for a calm stay in a picturesque place with lovely pedestrian streets, a harbor, an old town, and delicious seafood, La Rochelle is all of that and so much more! Read on to find out the main reasons for visiting La Rochelle.
1. Seaside location
La Rochelle is particularly popular in the spring and summer. This seaside city attracts many tourists, and especially Parisians, who enjoy a getaway to the ocean. The climate here is very pleasant with mild winters and warm summers that are seldomly too hot.
Thanks to La Rochelle’s excellent location by the sea, you can enjoy sailing and various water sports while you’re here. Or if you’d rather sit back and simply enjoy the surroundings and the lovely sea breeze, maybe a boat trip is more your thing. There are plenty of different boat tours offered where you get to admire La Rochelle’s coast and white limestone cliffs, and even visit some of the islands nearby, including the famous Fort Boyard.
If you prefer to stay on land but like to sunbathe, there are three main beaches to visit; Plage de la Concurrence, Plage des Minimes, and Plage de Chef de Baie. And if you want to relax after a day full of activities, doesn’t a drink by the sea while admiring La Rochelle’s incredible sunset sound perfect?
2. The history
Thanks to La Rochelle’s rich history, there is a lot to discover in the city. One thing you can’t miss is the Old Port, or Vieux Port. Back in the days, La Rochelle was the largest harbor on the Atlantic coast! Take a stroll here along the quays and soak in the atmosphere that will take you back in time.
At the Vieux Port there are three towers to visit; the Saint Nicolas Tower, the Chain Tower, and the Lantern Tower. These impressive towers from the medieval times have fascinating stories to tell. There are also events and exhibitions organized here, so have a look and see what they have going on during your visit!
How about visiting the old town next? Take your time to explore the cozy streets, alleys, and squares. The entrance is at the impressive clock tower Porte de la Grosse-Horloge, so start your visit here.
If you have time and want to learn more about the history in the area, there are many villages close to La Rochelle that are worth a visit. One example is Saintes in the countryside with a history that goes back 2000 years, and it even has a Gallo-Roman amphitheater!
3. Sights and shopping
Can there be a better way to get an overview of a city than from above? Don’t think so! The great wheel La Grande Roue de La Rochelle gives you a fantastic view of the town and the Old Port. Hope you aren’t afraid of heights!
If you, however, prefer to discover La Rochelle with your feet safely on the ground, you can always start by taking a walk in the botanical garden Jardin des plantes de La Rochelle. And in case of bad weather, how about a visit to one of La Rochelle’s museums, like the natural history museum Muséum d’Histoire naturelle de La Rochelle, or the maritime museum Musée Maritime de La Rochelle? Another very popular thing to explore indoors is the Aquarium La Rochelle – just make sure you have enough time to see everything it has to offer!
If you feel like diving even deeper into La Rochelle’s history, consider visiting some of La Rochelle’s churches and cathedrals, like the Catholic church and national monument Cathédrale Saint-Louis, for example.
And if you are looking for a unique souvenir for someone (or for yourself!), you’ll be sure to find it in one of the charming shops of La Rochelle. Among the many local items, you can find everything from jewelry and bags to ceramics and posters.
If you are a fan of flea markets, then you should definitely check out Place de La Motte Rouge in the St-Nicolas district, close to the Old Port. The flea market welcomes visitors every Thursday and Sunday. Be on the lookout for treasures like glassware, books, silverware, and antiques. Happy shopping!
4. Seafood
As La Rochelle is located by the sea, there is naturally a lot of wonderful seafood to try. So get ready for delicious fish, oysters, mussels, shellfish, and crustaceans!
Ordering a seafood platter is always a good idea if you want to try a few different things at once. And if it’s your first time having oysters and you feel like you want to be prepared, read about how to eat oysters like the French here.
If you have a specific seafood restaurant in mind, make sure to reserve a table in advance, especially if you are in La Rochelle during the busiest tourist season in the spring or summer. Otherwise, you can also get some fresh seafood at one of the lovely markets!
5. Île de Ré
When visiting La Rochelle, be sure to take a trip to the idyllic island Île de Ré. The island is connected to the mainland by a 2.9 km long bridge, and you can either cross the bridge by car, bus, bike, or foot.
Île de Ré is a very popular tourist destination, just as La Rochelle on the mainland. The island is 30 km long and 5 km wide, and the most popular way to get around is by bike. You can always rent a bike on the island if you’d like! The bike lanes take you through beautiful landscapes to cozy villages and sandy beaches that surround the island. Reserve about two hours for a cycle tour from one end of the island to the other.
Besides enjoying the stunning nature, beaches, and the laid-back feeling in the charming villages, there are plenty of activities if you are looking for more action, such as water sports and horseback riding. On top of that there are many museums and sights to visit. Don’t miss the view from the lighthouse Phare des Baleines – just be prepared to climb up the 257 steps to the top!
6. Markets and local delicacies
Ready for some good vibes and local products? At the market Marché des Halles in the old town, you get all of that and more. Let yourself be swept away by the cheerful hustle and bustle inside the 19th century market hall, and discover all the fresh fish, fruit, and vegetables that the shopkeepers have ready for you. Wednesday and Saturday are great days to visit the market, as it then expands to the streets right outside of the market hall.
Another market to visit is Marché de la Pallice in the west of La Rochelle. The shopkeepers get ready for eager customers early every Sunday morning. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., so don’t show up too late, as the market is big and has both a food section and a section for other items, such a clothes and accessories!
When visiting these markets, try local delicacies such as the biscuit galette charentaise, the goat cheese Chabichou du Poitou, and the vegetable paté farci charentais. As for drinks, give the local Cognac and Pineau a go.
If you want to dive deeper into the local food culture of La Rochelle, check out this episode of Les Carnets de Julie above. To read more about Les Carnets de Julie, click here.
7. Many ways to explore the city
If you got to La Rochelle by car, you’ll be happy to know you can leave it parked, as there are many other convenient ways to get around and get to know the city!
By bike
Just as the island Île de Ré, mainland La Rochelle is perfect to explore by bicycle. There are several places where you can rent a bike, and there are even self-service stations which allow you to rent a bike any time of the day and return when you are ready with your tour.
The bike lanes will take you along the coast to see the beaches and ports of La Rochelle, or further away to the countryside. If you are a big fan of cycling, you might have heard of the 1,210 km long Vélodyssée path. This path passes through La Rochelle! Choose a cycle path to your liking (or try them all!), and enjoy the ride!
By foot
If you prefer a slower pace, La Rochelle is fantastic to explore by foot as well. The many pedestrian streets in the center are ideal for a calm stroll. Take your time to discover the arcades, the cobbled streets, and the charming atmosphere of the city. You can also walk along the coastal path, or visit some of the beautiful districts of La Rochelle, such as the colorful, former fishing district Le Gabut.
In addition, there are many parks to discover around the center of the city. Parc Charruyer, for example, is excellent for a nice walk. It even has an animal park, so during the walk of about two kilometers, you can take a break and check it out! And if you want to stay close to the sea, some of the parks also have a sea view.
By boat
Another way to get to know La Rochelle is by boat! To quickly get from one side of the the city to the other, hop on the shuttle, or passeur, at the Old Port. Then a few minutes later, hop off at Avenue Michel Crépeau, which is close to, for example, the beautiful Gabut district.
If you want to admire the city from the sea for a bit longer, take the sea bus from the Old Port to arrive in the Minimes district, more specifically at Port de Plaisance, around 20 minutes later. See the schedule (in French) here. Keep in mind that the schedule might change due to the tides.
For more time on the sea, don’t forget the option of taking a boat tour to the nearby islands!
However you decide to explore the wonderful city of La Rochelle, take your time to soak it all in, and enjoy your stay!
How to get to La Rochelle?
To get to La Rochelle from Paris, you can either take the train or the plane. The train trip takes around three hours, and the flight about 85 minutes. You can also consider going there by car, but keep in mind that simply getting out of Paris can be a hassle and take long due to traffic jams. Bon voyage!