La Rochelle and surroundings

Top 5 visits

The Towers of La Rochelle

La Rochelle’s emblematic monuments, the Tour de la Lanterne, Tour de la Chaîne and Tour Saint-Nicolas, reveal part of the city’s history. Temporary exhibitions are held on a regular basis.

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum of La Rochelle is located in the heart of the Jardin des Plantes. With 10,000 objects displayed on 5 levels, it offers a fabulous journey to the heart of naturalist and ethnographic collections brought back from all over the world by great travelers and collectors.

The Museum Maritime

With exhibits on land and ships afloat, the Musée Maritime de La Rochelle is an invitation to plunge into the heart of a fascinating marine world. The best way to retrace La Rochelle’s maritime history.

Croisières Inter-Iles

Leaving from La Rochelle, take to the open sea and sail to Fort Boyard, Ile de Ré, Ile d’Oléron or Ile d’Aix. In summer, catamaran trips are organized at dusk – a must!

Guided Tour of La Rochelle

By bike, on a segway, at dusk, following in the footsteps of a musketeer or discovering the flavours of La Rochelle, there are a thousand ways to discover our beautiful city. Let yourself be tempted!

Must-sees in Charentes

During your stay in Charente or Charente-Maritime, in addition to visiting the Aquarium La Rochelle, we invite you to discover:

Arsenal des Mers

Located some thirty kilometres from La Rochelle, the Arsenal des Mers in Rochefort offers the opportunity to experience the maritime adventure through 350 years of history.

Zoo de la Palmyre

An hour’s drive from La Rochelle is the Zoo de la Palmyre. Discover one of the most renowned zoological parks in Europe and meet its 1600 mammals, birds and reptiles in the heart of an 18-hectare pine forest.

Antilles de Jonzac

Ready for a serene break in water at 32°C? The Jonzac Antilles offer a tropical break in Charente-Maritime.

Cité de la Bande Dessinée

Less than 2 hours drive from La Rochelle, you will discover the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée (International City of Comics). Original comic strip plates, drawings and derived objects form an exceptional collection unique in Europe, preserved and exhibited in Angoulême.

3 family activities to do

La Vallée des Singes

The Valley of the Monkeys is a place of knowledge dedicated to primates. With more than 450 monkeys, the Valley fascinates young and old alike.

Le Château des Enigmes

In Pons, not far from La Rochelle, visit a magnificent Renaissance castle listed as a Historic Monument through a treasure hunt on the theme of pirates.

Marais Poitevin

Less than an hour’s drive from La Rochelle, take a boat trip to discover the fauna and flora of the Marais Poitevin.

3 activities to do alone or in pairs

Les Bassins des Lumières

Situated in the former submarine base of Bordeaux, the Bassins des Lumières allow you to rediscover the iconic works of renowned painters in a unique building. After Klimt and Klee, Monet, Renoir and Chagall took over the place.

Le Train de la Rhune

Discover a magnificent 360° panorama from the most mythical peak in the Basque Country. Approximately 10 kms from Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz, a collector’s rack and pinion train takes you in 35 minutes to an altitude of 905 metres.

La Cité internationale de la tapisserie

Aubusson tapestry is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie showcases exceptional know-how and collections.