La Rochelle, 6th French seaport and medieval citadel

Resulting from the reunion of the 3 former regions, Aquitaine (5 departments), Limousin (3 departments) and Poitou-Charentes (4 departments), the Nouvelle Aquitaine region is located in the south-west of France.

Bordered to the north by the Pays de la Loire and Center-Val de Loire regions, to the west by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie regions, New Aquitaine is the largest region in France (metropolitan and overseas combined) .

Poitou -Charente regroups the departments of Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Deux-Sèvres (79) and Vienne (86); Limousin is made up of 3 departments, Corrèze (19), Creuse (23) and Haute-Vienne (87) while Aquitaine includes Dordogne (24), Gironde (33), Landes (40) , Lot & Garonne (47) and Pyrénées Atlantique (64).

The biggest city, regional capital is Bordeaux, 6th city of France with a strong student population; there are 5 universities (Bordeaux, Limoges, La Rochelle, Pau and Poitiers) and several Grandes Ecoles in the region.

Economically, agriculture, viticulture with the vineyards of Bordeaux and Cognac and shellfish farming (1st region in France), half of the national oyster production of which comes from the Marenne-Oléron basin, participate in the development of the region, as well as the industrial sector linked to the aeronautical and space industry, the parachemical and pharmaceutical industry and industrial ceramics (Limoges). Tertiary financial and insurance activities (Niort is ranked 4th in France for mutual insurance companies) are also important, as are the image, digital and design sectors, as well as tourism. On the coast, many companies of boat construction of pleasure (La Rochelle) and of board sports including surfing, are established.

A multi-faceted city, La Rochelle is a coastal city that offers many historical, cultural, educational and sporting activities.

Called the « White City » because of the white stone with which the houses are built, the « city » of La Rochelle offers a very varied landscape between low coasts, sheer cliffs and sandy coasts as well as an architectural mix linked to the various influences from beyond the seas.

A fishing village founded in the 10th century, the city dominated maritime trade until the 15th century, but it lost its independence under the siege of Richelieu in the 16th century. Despite this, it continues its economic development until today thanks to the proximity of the ocean and maritime trade.

Capital of the Charentes Maritimes, La Rochelle is distinguished by the presence of 4 ports adapted to each of its activities (Commerce, yachting, fishing and tourism):

• The Old Port, guarded by the Tour de la Chaîne (whose function was to tighten the chain, fixed by a ring in the Saint-Nicolas tower on the other side, so as to prevent access to the port by blocking the channel between the two towers, also served as a powder magazine), the Tour St Nicolas (originally built on stilts and the interior of which is composed of three large superimposed octagonal rooms, two of which are vaulted) and the Tour de la Lanterne (the larger, overhung by an octagonal spire of which four of the eight sides are pierced with tri-lobed flamboyant-style windows) which can be visited in the labyrinth of their stairs. It leads to the old town where there are mansions, Renaissance residences including the Town Hall dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, with a Gothic-style surrounding wall, and old half-timbered houses in the streets pedestrian streets lined with arcades where there are many shops but also the market district which offers a multitude of flavors to discover. Not far from the Old Port, in the city center, the La Rochelle aquarium offers enthusiasts of the marine world the discovery of the fauna and flora of the seas and oceans of the world. in La Rochelle, opposite the Old Port. Opened in 1988, it covers an area of ​​8,445 m², exhibits 12,000 animals of 600 species distributed among 82 aquariums. Each year, it welcomes more than 800,000 visitors.
• The Port des Minimes entirely dedicated to yachting, hosts nautical competitions and offers the possibility of renting a sailboat or a yacht. It is also the starting point for sea cruises to the islands of Ré, Oléron and Aix or the famous Fort Boyard. Protected from the swell by the islands of Aix, Oléron and Ré, the La Rochelle lake hosts many sailing schools for discovery or advanced training courses for young and old but also for initiation to sailing. boat practice. A large choice of nautical activities (kayak, canoe, paddle, jet-ski, towed buoy …) are available to visitors.
• The large seaport of La Rochelle Pallice, resulting from the transformation of the autonomous port, which has become the city’s commercial port, ranks 6th among the major seaports of France in terms of tonnage of goods, 1st European port for the import of logs and the leading French port for the import of forest products and paper pulp, it represents more than 85% of the region’s maritime transport trade. From a furnished terrace, you can observe the infrastructure of the commercial port.
• The fishing port and its fish market, installed in Chef de Baie – La Rochelle since 1994, provides numerous services to users: parking port for vessels of the local fleet, service port for foreign vessels, rental of fish trade workshops, bus station,…. Today, it has become a true multi-service platform for professionals in the local fishing industry. In addition, we discover the profession of deep-sea fisherman while learning the basics of the trade while enjoying the morning fishing.

The city has many museums including that of Fine Arts, the New World museum devoted to the history of relations between La Rochelle and the Americas, the maritime museum, the natural history museum and the Orbigny-Bernon museum. exhibiting collections of earthenware, engravings and paintings. To immerse yourself in the war of 39-45, the Bunker offers 300 m² of exhibition on the history of La Rochelle during the Second World War. .
To relax, the beaches of La Rochelle: Plage de la Concurrence, Plage des Minimes and Plage du Chef de Baie Many events animate the city during the year: the International Sailing Weeks in May and June (canceled); the La Rochelle International Film Festival (No competitions, but the discovery of films from all walks of life, no less than 200 films to be seen in 10 days) at the end of June-beginning of July and the famous musical event of the Francofolies (around one hundred concerts by French-speaking artists in 5 days) in July; the Grand Pavois, (canceled this year following the pandemic), an international afloat boat show where every year no less than 100,000 professional and amateur visitors come to admire 750 boats in September, or the Jazz festival between the two towers (musicians from all walks of life and of international, national or regional reputation, all driven by the desire to offer the best of their talent. Paid concerts alternate with free concerts, conferences, master classes, dance workshops as well as educational activities for secondary school students from Charente-Maritime) in October.

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VERONIQUE YANG

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