Beautiful for its towers, its arcades and its old harbour; rebellious for its history as a besieged Protestant city: La Rochelle is best discovered on foot, between stone and ocean. This guided tour tells you the story of the city of shipowners, privateers and Huguenots, from the Tour de la Chaîne to the arcaded streets of the old town.
The old harbour and its three towers
The Tour Saint-Nicolas, the Tour de la Chaîne and the Tour de la Lanterne have guarded the harbour entrance since the Middle Ages. They bear witness to the power of a merchant city that traded with the New World as early as the 16th century and became one of the great ports for salt and wine.
The rebellious city: the siege of 1627-1628
A Protestant stronghold, La Rochelle held out for thirteen months against the armies of Louis XIII and Richelieu. The story of this siege, of the dyke built across the bay and of the surrender of a starving city still shapes the identity of La Rochelle, between independence and openness to the world.
Arcaded streets, shipowners' mansions and the market
Under the arcades of the Rue du Palais and the Grande-Rue-des-Merciers, the shipowners' private mansions and the half-timbered houses tell of the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. We end in the market district, the living heart of the city.
Practical information
Duration: about 2 hours. Tour for individuals, families, groups, agencies and tourist offices, in English, French or Spanish. Contact me to organise your discovery of La Rochelle.
