La Rochelle travel guide — La Rochelle tourism and travel information

La Rochelle travel guide

about La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a city of western France, and a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the préfecture (capital) of the Charente-Maritime département(17). The city is connected to the Île de Ré (island) by a 2.9 km bridge, completed in 1988. Its harbour opens into a protected straight, the Pertuis d'Antioche.

La Rochelle geography

La Rochelle is a city of western France, and a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the préfecture (capital) of the Charente-Maritime département(17). The city is connected to the Île de Ré (island) by a 2.9 km bridge, completed in 1988. Its harbour opens into a protected straight, the Pertuis d'Antioche.

La Rochelle history

La Rochelle was founded during the 10th century, and became an important harbour from the 12th century. In 1137, Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine essentially made La Rochelle a free port. Fifty years later, and for the first time in France, a city mayor was named for La Rochelle, Guillaume de Montmirail. Until the 15th century, La Rochelle was to be the largest French harbour on the Atlantic coast, dealing mainly in wine and salt.

During the Renaissance, La Rochelle adopted reformist ideas, and from 1568 became a center for the Huguenots, initiating a period of freedom and prosperity until the 1620s. The city finally entered in conflict with the central authority of the King Louis XIII, when cannon shots were exchanged on September 10th 1627 with Royal troops. This resulted into the Siege of La Rochelle in which Cardinal Richelieu blockaded the city for 14 months, until the city surrendered and lost its mayor and its privileges. The growing persecution of the Huguenots culminated with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. Many Huguenots emigrated, founding such cities as New Rochelle in the vicinity of today's New York in 1689.

The following period was a prosperous one, marked by intense exchanges with the New World (Nouvelle France in Canada, and the Antilles). La Rochelle became very active in triangular trade with the New World, dealing in the slave trade with Africa, sugar trade with plantations of the Antilles, and fur trade with Canada. This was a period of high artistical, cultural and architectural achievements for the city.

The city eventually lost its trade and prominence during the decades spanning the Seven Years War, the French revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. During that period France lost many of the territorial possessions it had in the new World, and also saw a strong decrease in its sea power in the continuing conflicts with Britain, ultimately diminishing the role of such harbours as La Rochelle.

During the Second World War, Germany established a submarine naval base at La Rochelle, which became the setting for the movie Das Boot. A German stronghold, La Rochelle was the last French city to be freed at the end of the War.

Near cities to La Rochelle

• Niort travel guide 130 km
• Chatellerault travel guide 150 km
• Saumur travel guide 160 km
• Chinon travel guide 160 km
• Limoges travel guide 190 km
• Angers travel guide 190 km
• Tours travel guide 200 km
• Rennes travel guide 220 km
• Le Mans travel guide 230 km
• Blois travel guide 250 km

Near webcams to La Rochelle

• La Flotte en Ré webcam 13 km
• Bourcefranc webcam 35 km
• Les Sables d'Olonne webcam 59 km
• St-Palais Sur Mer webcam 60 km
• Royan webcam 62 km
• Lacanau webcam 130 km
• Jonzac webcam 150 km
• La Baule webcam 160 km
• Arcachon webcam 170 km
• Le Mans webcam 230 km

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La Rochelle travel services

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La Rochelle travel books

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