The square in front has a statue of Jean Guiton, the Huguenot mayor of La Rochelle during the siege of the city by Louis XIII the 1620s. Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de La Rochelle: Musée des Automates/ Musée des Modèles Réduits. You wouldn’t know it on street level, but Rue des Dames in the old quarter is the site of a sizeable Nazi underground bunker. It was built in 1941 to provide a refuge for German U- Boat commanders during air raids, and covers 280 square metres with several compartments, including an underground restaurant. What are the top attractions to visit in La Rochelle? Chef de Baie is the best, but also furthest from the centre, at around 15 minutes away. While the largest and most popular of them all is Plage des Minimes, soft golden sand, edge by a small promenade and La Rochelle’s Grand Route, ferris wheel. Centre of attention is the enormous shark tank, with 1.5 million litres and terraced seating giving everyone a chance to view these beasts. Lets explore the best things to do in La Rochelle: La Rochelle’s harbour is the first thing to see when you arrive, not just because it’s gorgeous, but it demonstrates the close relationship the city has always had with the ocean . You’ll take a seat, and they bar will give you a tray, which you can fill with seafood and bring back to be prepared. A trip to La Rochelle doesn't have to break the bank. The city has never really conformed with the rest of France: It was a Huguenot stronghold in the Wars of Religion, is firmly protestant today and has always set its gaze on the ocean. Please check you have entered your email address correctly before continuing. Hidden in a lovely courtyard along Rue des Augustins, Maison Henri II is a renaissance house built in 1555. Old port of La Rochelle. There are railways and cars on show, but most engaging of all is the nautical section, with remote-controlled recreations of historic battles, and antique model boats. 2,392 reviews. It holds three million litres of water and is home to more than 12,000 marine animals. © 2020 Expedia, Inc, an Expedia Group Company. The streets around the town hall, like Rue du Palais and Rue des Merciers have rows of gorgeous 17th-century houses with turrets on the corners and long arcades on the lower floors. The name of the house has nothing to do with the king, but refers to its style. In the nine different zones you’ll encounter some 600 marine species in large tanks and terrariums. Defending the opening to the harbour for five centuries, Saint-Nicolas is the taller of the two towers. An interesting historical side-note is that the original owner, Hugues Pontard, who was La Rochelle’s public prosecutor, died of the plague in 1565 and his son François became mayor of the city at just 27. Browse our top attractions and figure out what to do in La Rochelle! The fourth level of the tower was a prison from the 17th to the 19th century, and could accommodate more than 100 captives. The top attractions to visit in La Rochelle are: What are the best outdoor activities in La Rochelle? Passing below the Gross-Horloge you’re entering the town via the main waterside opening in La Rochelle’s medieval walls. Your post-lunch wander could start in the harbour and continue along this green avenue with elms and pine trees. (deployads = window.deployads || []).push({}); 15 Best Things to Do in La Rochelle (France), 15 Best Things to Do in Centre-Val de Loire, 15 Best Things to Do in Bordeaux (France). One of the many cool things about La Rochelle’s Aquarium is how it immerses you into the underwater world, beginning with a simulated submarine dive to the depths. The cobblestone streets behind the Old Port, worn down by centuries of walkers, deserve a leisurely saunter. You’ll also happen upon lots of little niches, passages and chambers , as well as enlightening historical curiosities like the original oak stakes used in the foundations. This museum’s building is also a historical monument,  a “hôtel particulier” from 1775 built in the neoclassical and rococo style. It has a bewildering labyrinth of connecting spiral stairways, built so one could be used for reinforcements if the others were blocked off by attackers. There’s a dark side too, in the gallleries on slavery, and the realisation that the museum’s lavish home was built by a plantation owner. With you will be in the company of Rochelais families also out for some peace and fresh air next to the ocean. These defences were unnecessary by the 18th century as the city expanded. Also memorable is the 360° underwater tunnel in which you can see thousands of jellyfish from below. La Rochelle Grosse Cloche - If you're thinking of exploring the history of the region through its landmarks, stick this one on your sightseeing list. Musée des Automates/ Musée des Modèles Réduits. The city isn’t traditionally known as a beach destination, but there are three just a few minutes in the car from the Old Port. The breakwater here keeps the currents and  wind at bay, and there’s a large grassy patch to the rear of the beach. Another monument that imbues the old port with historical splendour is a majestic gate on the west side of Quai Duperré. more, Top Things to Do in La Rochelle, France - La Rochelle Attractions. Then take a seat under the awnings of one of the many quayside restaurants have a delicious seafood lunch as the little sailboats come and go. Admission ticket from €9.50. The island connects to La Rochelle by bridge, and is a dream in the summer, with rural lanes, picturesque harbours and long golden sandy beaches. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. The courtyard has a dinky French garden, with flowerbeds in square boxwood frames. Those towers are open to visitors and brim with 600 years of history. La Rochelle’s harbour is the first thing to see when you arrive, not just because it’s … The best outdoor activities in La Rochelle according to Tripadvisor travellers are: What are the most popular things to do in La Rochelle with kids? The interior has exhibitions about the archaeology and history of the Aunis province, to which La Rochelle once belonged. It’s a glorious place too, with a gallery on the ground floor and a stunning loggia just above. La Rochelle’s state-of-the-art Aquarium is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Rising from the middle of the gate is an octagonal belfry, which was added in 1746. The mansion’s elegant salons are a fitting environment in which to view 17th-century maps, paintings and tapestries that give you a window on the sudden wealth being generated for La Rochelle in South America, the Caribbean and the colonies in North America known as New France.