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La Rochelle
La Rochelle, beauteous and mutinous
The fortified town of La Rochelle has built its splendour on and around the ocean.
The cultural and architectural heritage of this one-time fishing village sheds light on its maritime vocation: the towers on the lookout over the entrance to the ancient port, the large clock, the Renaissance abodes of the one-time ship-owners, the arcaded shop-lined streets, the museums ... and the giant aquarium.
A rebel at heart in the crevices of its time-chiselled stones, the capital of French Protestantism is suffused with its glorious past. It is when promenading along the port of the Minimes, a mere cable length (or two) from the isle of Ré, that one is most impressed by the maritime calling of La Rochelle.
With its numerous yachts and schooners, the most venerable European port of the Atlantic seaboard brings together the comeliest sail boats in the world.
Not just a magnificent city replete with history, La Rochelle is above all a great place to live. Stroll down the paved streets of the old town, discover the shops along the arcades, explore the port and relish a seafood platter at an outdoor table face to the two towers.
And also: Seaside > La Rochelle
Aquarium of La Rochelle
Just a stone’s throw from the Vieux Port of La Rochelle, in a marine environment created with three million litres of seawater, the Aquarium provides an ample sampling of the flora and fauna of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the tropics.
More than a mere visit - a journey to the seabed.
Immersed in 65 tanks, the visitor is invited to explore the world's sea and ocean beds. It takes a dive of several hours to journey from the La Rochelle coast to the Indian Ocean. With 6 times as much water, the principles of the aquarium remain the same:next to the large shark tank, small aquariums showcase the beauty of a microscopic world. And in its layout, the aquarium leaves room for imagination and meditation:rest and observation areas dot the itinerary, while background sound and lighting effects further enthral.
NEW for 2009 - Discover a room dedicated to regional and tropical jellyfish, species that have been reproduced in the Aquarium. There is an educational flavour to this too, as biodiversity and the new technologies used in the Aquarium are taught to parents and children alike.
More information
| Charente | Charente-Maritime | Deux-Sèvres | Vienne |
