Premiere Classe La Rochelle Sud-Angoulins

A city to walk in!

by Norali

If possible, drop your car down.. La Rochelle center is meant to be discovered by bike or on foot.

Your walk will likely includes interesting spots.

Le Vieux Port, the basins and yachts berthed in them.

Le Vieux Port and the Quartier Gabut. This area used to be for housing and shopping. Lately, it became a place with eateries, terrasses. Interesting nightlife as well. The setting of the houses is interesting in Gabut. The buildings painted in different bright colours remind of the North of Europe.

Le Vieux Port and the towers. Tours St-Nicolas, de la Chaîne et de la lanterne... They deserve some visit since some houses museums, historical pieces of collection.

The quays are nice place to wander along water. Quay Duperré has nice terrasses from where you can see the manoeuvers of the yachts and boats entering the docks... with views on the three towers. Le Quartier ancien

From quai Duperré, access the Quartier ancien via la Porte de la Grosse Horloge. For centuries, it used to be the entry of the city.

Then take your right, Grande Rue des merciers. One of greatest arteries in the city. Always look up in the air. Buildings are from different styles. Either dating back to the XV and XVII centuries, either Middle age lumber plastered facades, with slate shells them(picture), either Renaissance houses with carved stone facades, all of that is there. The arches at pavement level just protect shops from the rain. Stroll till you reach Rue de l'Hôtel de ville at your left, then Place de l'Hôtel de ville.

At Hôtel de ville, enter the gate to admire its architecture. XVI century and Renaissance settings. Turrets and arches. Photographers' heaven with its belfry. Some plaques to inform you about the building.

From this place, admire the impressive post office. You wouldn't think of a post office.

I saw the mayor of La Rochelle on his bike. It's true that we were just a day after "La journée sans voiture". Also, it's true that the city promotes the clean transportation.

Leave the Hôtel de ville, either by following Rue de la grille then continue with Rue des merciers, either take Rue Saint-Yon, street packed with shops too. Clothing shops as well as antiques boutiques.

Anyway, you will reach la Place du marché. A place edged by Rue St Yon, Rue de la forme, Rue Thiers and another one I don't recall. Watch locals in their daily activities. Don't miss specific buildings around.

Perpendicular to Rue St Yon, you have streets like Rue Fleuriau, where to find Musée du Nouveau Monde, some antiques shops.

Place de Verdun is the place where the ancient palace stood. Now, it's a place where coaches and buses end up. Under this place is the main parking.

Finally, it's a city edged by a huge park. You may chill out in this park. With its 2km length and 200m width, enough place to rest or just chat amongst greenery.

For perfume lovers...

by Norali

Musset's "Peu importe le flacon, pourvu qu'on ait l'ivresse" is not any topical in this museum.

It's neither any topical in the perfume industry since one knows about the importance of those design *containers* in the perfume purchase. Well, I like perfume and would buy the fragrance I like. Though, I appreciate it when the bottle is well-designed, in tune with the fragrance, with what I sought in the perfume.

Musée du flacon à parfum is for us, perfume lovers. Go there to find an amazing collection of perfume bottles, miniatures, powder boxes, labels. Some pieces date back to 1920, from great names: Lalique, Dali... Something unforgettable. A kind of museum of perfume, but for the eyes.

Thinking of it, where else than La Rochelle, who had a tradition of spices trading, would you find this kind of museum? Besides, its location near the Old Harbour contributes in keeping this feeling of travelling in murky depths of time.. amongst the French perfume tradition.

Go there. We are in the third millenium... You find there other perfume bottles from other countries.

33 rue du Temple - 17000 La Rochelle

L'ile de Ré

by Bixente

The island of Ré stretches out over 30 km, from Sablanceaux to the lighthouse, Phare des Baleines.
Its present geography is, in fact, partly due to the work of nature and partly due to the conservation work carried out by man for the consolidation of four islands. Ré, closer to the mainland is the largest, Loix is a peninsula away from the main axis and is isolated by salt marshes. Ars is linked to Ré by the channel of Martray, only a hundred metres wide. Les Portes peninsula, with the woods of Trousse-Chemise, is at the end of the island.

The bridge is easily accessible from La Rochelle, direction La Pallice.
Before going on the bridge, why not stop at the belvedere on the left and get a full panaromic view of the bridge and the island ?

The construction of the bridge began in 1986 after several years of controversy and legal battles in the courts. The elegantly constructed arc-shaped bridge is 3 km long and was opened in 1988.