La Rochelle

The New World Museum gathers collections of art and historical artifacts of La Rochelle. At this unique museum you can follow the past of the city through many different objects such as paintings, ancient maps and nautical objects, art pieces and sculptures.

The Maritime Museum is located in the heart of La Rochelle. Here you will find everything concerning the shipping and fishing industry and the maritime history of the city. At this museum you can also go on guided tours and ask questions to former sailors.

From La Rochelle you can go on a boat that takes you to beautiful Ré, Aix and Oléron islands, viewing or stopping by the famous Fort Boyard on the way. Many organized or private tours as well as nautical activities such as sailing are available. One company who takes you to Fort Boyard including Aix and Oleron Island is Croisières Navipromer:

If you don’t feel comfortable on a boat, you may want to rent a bike and go to the Ré Island on an excursion. The island is linked to La Rochelle with a 3-kilometres toll bridge. Enjoy the empty beaches, sensational Atlantic sunsets and delicious seafood on this beautiful island! Don´t miss the lighthouse called "Whales Lighthouse" and enjoy the breathtaking view on the top.

This Roman Catholic cathedral is a national monument of France since 1906 and can be found in the city centre and is definitely worth a visit. Cathedrale St-Louis is truly majestic and inside you can find many masterpieces, beautiful stained glass and side chapels.

In 1941, the La Rochelle Bunker was built by the German occupants in secrecy. Today the bunker is a museum that traces back to the period of the Second World War in La Rochelle. In the museum you can see photos, videos, military artefacts and much more.

The Museum of Fine Arts (Beaux-Arts in French) of la Rochelle has a rich collection of art works. The beautiful museum is located in the centre of town and is well worth a visit. Here you can find art works by Eugene Fromentin, William Bouguereau and Camille Corot.

If you are feeling adventurous, contact Altitudes Parachutisme. They are located right next to the airport and offers both solo and tandem skydiving. This will for sure be an experience, combining amazing view over the spectacular coast as getting an adrenaline rush!

The Musée des Automates is a small museum, showing 300 automated dolls from the last two centuries including life-size figures and a full-size re-creation of a street in Montmartre with shops displaying automatons in motion in their windows. In the second museum, Musée des Modèles Réduits, next door, they display models of boats, trains and cars.

Take a ride in the big wheel and enjoy a panorama view of La Rochelle. Day and night, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and its surroundings. Just make sure to bring the camera with you and take some beautiful shoots of the city.

Visit the traditional Latin Mass chapelle, similar to its bigger sister in Paris. This church is small, quiet and rarely full of tourists and is conveniently located in the centre of La Rochelle. A place where to get some peace of mind while admiring the interior, especially the stained glass windows.