La Rochelle is a city in France. La Rochelle - a seaside town in France

22.12.2020

The name of the program

Price

The duration of training is 3-4 years. Available specialties are listed below:

International Business Studies (International Business). It is conducted in two languages (French and English) and lasts 4 years. Students devote 2 years of study to studying at the university, a year of internship in foreign companies (six months of internship in each), and a year of studying at a foreign partner university (in total, the university cooperates with 26 universities around the world). Opportunity to obtain a double diploma from a partner university under the double degree program (14 universities in different countries world: England, Germany, Finland, Spain, China, etc.) Specializations in the 4th year to choose from: o Marketing (English) o International management (English) o Supply and logistics (English) o Finance and cost control (French or English) Tuition fee: 9,750 euros for 1 year. Admission to the program: successful completion of high school (certificate of complete secondary education).

Tourism Studies ( international tourism). It is conducted in two languages (French and English), lasts 3 years (the training period includes 5 months of practical training). Last year training divides the total flow of students according to specializations: hotel, resort or event management.
La Rochelle Tourism Business School is the only tourism school in France that has received international certification from the UN Tourism Council for the high quality of its educational programs - TedQual. An undeniable advantage is given to students by the opportunity to study in a tourist city like La Rochelle.
Beginning - January 2016 and September 2016. Opportunity to obtain a double degree from a partner university under the double degree program. Specializations in the 3rd year to choose from: o Management in the field of tourism (English) o Management in the field of hospitality, hotel management (English or French) o Management in the field of event organization (French) o Management in the field of sports tourism(French) o Restaurant management (French). Double diploma in conjunction with the Ferrandi School of Restaurant Management (Paris).
- Recreation and entertainment (English or French) – only for students admitted directly to the 3rd year. The first semester is studying in La Rochelle, the second semester is studying at the University of Delaware, Florida. Next is an internship at Disneyworld in Florida.
Tuition fee: 8,100 euros for 1 year. Admission to the program: successful completion of high school (certificate of complete secondary education).

Business Studies (Theory and Practice of Business). Taught exclusively in French. The course is designed for 3 years of study, it is possible to take it in France or abroad, at partner educational institutions.
Beginning - September 2016 Specializations in the 3rd year to choose from:
o Communications management
o Entrepreneurship
o Management in banking and finance
o Real estate management
o Relationship Marketing
o Management in the technical field
o HR Management
o Web Marketing
o Wines and spirits
o Management in the audio-visual field
o Financial management
o International business (in English or Spanish), etc.
Tuition fee: 8,100 euros for 1 year.
Admission to the program: successful completion of high school (certificate of complete secondary education).

Training in all programs begins in September, but applications close on February 15, so you need to take care of the package of necessary documents in advance.

Requirements for applicants:

School certificate of complete secondary education or IB diploma
Completed application
Motivation letter.

The duration of training is 1-2 years, with students spending about 5 months of the course on internships and practical training in France or in another country.

Specialties available for study:

Management (ESC Program). Taught in English and French. The duration is 3 years, which includes a one-year internship (in France or abroad).
Audit Management and Consultancy (Audit and consulting). Taught in French.
Sustainable Development Strategy. Taught in French.
Industrial Management. Taught in French.
International Strategy Policies Management. Taught in English and French.
International Logistics and Supply Chain Management (International logistics and supply chain management). Taught in French.
Event Management. Taught in French.
Tourism Management (International Tourism). Taught in English and French, it is possible to obtain a master's degree or MBA.

Training programs begin in October. The exceptions are International Strategic Policies Management (it starts in January) and Tourism Management (two start dates: January and October). Please note that applications can only be submitted until February 15, so you need to take care of the necessary documents in advance.

The cost of the program is not included medical insurance. There is also an additional charge for Internet access, a multimedia library and an ISC student card = 410 euros/year.

Requirements for applicants:

Bachelor's degree
Certificate confirming a high level of English/ French(must correspond to the language in which training is planned - check in the program descriptions above)
Completed application
Motivation letter
For applicants to the MBA program - at least 2 years of work in a specialized field corresponding to the chosen field of study.

 All year round

The school houses The Institute of French Studies (IEF), whose teachers have extensive experience teaching foreign students. The Institute of French Studies has been operating in La Rochelle since 1931 and is certified by the French Foreign Language Quality Label (FLE).

At the French Language Institute you can take courses:

General French

Business vocabulary

Specialized vocabulary

Advanced training for French language teachers

Courses run all year round

Minimum number of weeks - 2 weeks in June and July

Minimum number of weeks – 4 weeks throughout the rest of the year

Minimum age – from 17 years

Preparing for the DELF and DALF tests

TEF (French Evaluation Test) Test Center

The school also offers specialized advanced training courses for French language teachers.

Business Foundation program

The school offers a Preparatory Program, which can be taught over 1 or 2 semesters. The program is aimed at improving knowledge of the French language, studying academic terms in French, and also provides classes on introduction to business.

In addition, studying under the program helps you adapt to study and life in France.

Beginning of semesters: September, January.

Summer course in management (SummerSchool)

June 27 - July 15, 2016

IN business schoolLaRochelle You can take a course in business and management with a choice of specialization. Course duration: 3 weeks. Language of instruction: English.

The course curriculum includes:

36 hours of classes in one of the specializations:
Brand management of luxury goods and luxury clothing / Luxury and Fashion Brand Management
Leadership in the global world and doing business in international markets / Global Leadership and International Business
Tourism and Hospitality Management
9 hours of French lessons
Visiting companies, meeting with experts and working on a business case.

Included in cost:

Training according to the curriculum, educational materials
Accommodation in a studio apartment in a student residence or with a host family
Welcome cocktail
Excursion with English-speaking guide
Weekend in Paris

Upon completion of the course, a Certificate is issued equal to 9 credits according to the European ECTS credit system.

The cost of the course is 2550 euros. Students from the school's partner universities receive a 10% discount on the course.

 All year round

Specializations of the MBA course in the second year of study:

1. International business (“international business strategy”, “marketing of the premium business segment”, “supply and supply chain management”) - program in English.

2. Sports and tourism (“management in the field of hospitality and event organization”) - program in English.

3. Finance (“audit and management control”, “management, banking and real estate”) - program in French.

4. Sustainable development ("sustainable development strategies") - program in French.

Features of the MBA program

Duration - 1 or 2 years.

Group size is 20-25 people.

Language of instruction: English, French.

Start of training in September.

Features of training:

1st year: from mid-September to April (internship from May to September).

2nd year: 1st semester - from October to December (internship from January to mid-June), 2nd semester - from mid-June to the end of July.

Admission requirements

Copy of the passport;

A copy of a diploma of completed higher education (bachelor);

Motivation letter;

Personal interview in English/French (25 min);

Oral test of knowledge of English/French;

International certificate confirming knowledge in English: TOEFL from 70; IELTS from 6.0; TOEIC from 725; CAE from 52; CPE - Grade C. Or the results of exams on knowledge of the French language: CERF - B2; DELF - DELF 2; TEF - 541-698;

Availability of GMAT, CAT, GRE, PAT exam results or their equivalents;

Experience from 2 years.

Cost of education:

2-year program - 25,000 €.

1 year program - 14,500 €.

La Rochelle was founded in the 10th century. In the 12th and 13th centuries it was an important city in the network of the Knights Templar, who built a large port in it. To this day, in La Rochelle there is a rue des Templiers, a street of the Templars. Until the 15th century, the city remained the largest port in France in Atlantic coast. Trade was carried out primarily in wine and salt.

During the Renaissance, La Rochelle openly accepted the ideas of the Reformation and from 1568 became the center of the Huguenots, which gave the city a short period of prosperity and peace. In 1622, the Duke of Guise destroyed the La Rochelle fleet, which was under the command of Jean Guiton.

After the soldiers of La Rochelle took action against the royal French troops on September 10, 1627, King Louis XIII ordered the siege of La Rochelle, which ended with its capture in 1628, as well as a new persecution of the Huguenots, which reached its highest point in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. Many Huguenots fled the country and founded in 1689 North America city of New Rochelle. During the colonial era, La Rochelle played an important role in trade between Africa, North America and Europe.

During World War II, the Germans built a submarine bunker near La Rochelle, which remains to this day. Due to strong resistance from the invaders, La Rochelle became the last liberated city in France. The German commandant surrendered only at midnight on May 8, 1945.

Old Port (Vieux-Port de La Rochelle) - The Old Port of La Rochelle, located in the center of a narrow bay, with its three characteristic towers can be called the emblem of the city. It was thanks to this port that the city acquired great strategic importance in the Middle Ages - first during the Hundred Years' War, and then after the discovery of America.

The history of the Old Port began in the 12th century, when, thanks to his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine, King Henry II of England received Aquitaine (including La Rochelle) into his possession. From that moment on, La Rochelle became a commercial port, serving the needs of the maritime trade in wine and salt. During the Hundred Years' War, La Rochelle changed hands several times until it finally became part of French territory in 1372. Meanwhile, advances in engineering have led to more large ships with a significantly larger displacement, and the port of La Rochelle, located on the shore of a bay with a deep and flat bottom, turned out to be ideally suited to the new conditions. With the discovery of America, a new stage began in the history of the port: in the 17th and 18th centuries it was through La Rochelle that most of colonial traffic from New France.

Now the Old Port is the busiest place in the city. To the left of the entrance to the harbor is Dame Square (Cours des Dames), a 19th-century square lined with outdoor cafes, restaurants, antique shops and souvenir shops. From Dam Square stretches the Duperret embankment, named after the famous Admiral Duperret, a native of La Rochelle, who commanded the French fleet in 1830 during the capture of Algeria. The promenade also has many cafes with terraces, offering beautiful views of the port and its towers. Also, many picturesque narrow streets branch off from the Duperret embankment leading to the very heart of historical center cities.

However, the main attractions of the Old Port of La Rochelle are its three towers - parts of the medieval fortifications that survived the city's capitulation in 1628. Two of them - the massive Donjon of Saint-Nicolas (Tour Saint-Nicolas) and the round Chain Tower (Tour de la Chaine) flank the narrow entrance to the port, and the Lantern Tower (Tour de la Lanterne; also called the Tower of the Four Sergeants or Lantern Tower) is located a little further away.

Today, the Old Port of La Rochelle has not lost its importance for commercial and tourist shipping. It now consists of three harbors, with 18 berths for large ships and 320 berths for small watercraft.

Great Clock Tower (Grosse Horloge) - The Great Clock Tower once served as the city gate and was part of the fortress wall separating the Old Port from the city. The tower was originally built at the beginning of the 12th century - at the same time that the medieval city was surrounded by the first fortress wall. Then it was called Parro or Perro, since behind it there was a quarter with that name. In the Middle Ages, the tower gate consisted of two arched openings: the larger one was intended for the passage of carts and carriages, and the smaller one for pedestrians. Already in the second half of the 17th century they were combined into one large arch, which we can see now.

In 1478, a bell tower with a clock was added to the tower, inside which there was a bell that rang every hour. This bell tower lasted for several centuries and was replaced in 1746 by the present elegant structure in the Louis XV style, decorated with pilasters, vignettes and draperies that support putti. The bell now in the tower is one of the heaviest bells in the region, weighing more than two tons.

The large clock tower has the status historical monument since 1978. Now in the tower itself there is Archaeological Museum, and the belfry that crowns it is closed to the public.

Cathedral Saint Louis (Cathédrale Saint-Louis) - The Catholic Cathedral of Saint Louis was built in the mid-18th century, however, its plan was created in the late 17th century by the royal architect Jacques Gabriel. This was preceded by the defeat of Protestant La Rochelle in a conflict with Richelieu in 1628 and the annexation of the city to the Catholic diocese of La Rochelle-Sainte in 1648. Construction of the cathedral began in 1742, it was led by the son of Jacques Gabriel, Ange-Jacques, one of the founders of French neoclassicism of the 18th century, who worked in Versailles, the Louvre, Paris, and also created the ensemble of the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux. The Cathedral of Saint Louis was consecrated already in 1784, although it was not completely finished by this time.

The pompous facade of the Cathedral of St. Louis is decorated with numerous columns and pilasters and is crowned with a triangular pediment, flanked by inverted consoles in the form of scrolls. The interior of the cathedral, much more restrained, is almost devoid of decoration. The space under the dome was painted in the 19th century by the Larochelle artist William Bouguereau, a prominent representative of academicism of the Empire era.

Attached to the cathedral is a 14th-century Gothic bell tower, preserved from St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, which was burned by the Huguenots in the 16th century. This bell tower has long been the most tall building La Rochelle.

Now the Cathedral of Saint Louis is the current cathedral of La Rochelle. The cathedral and bell tower of St. Bartholomew have had the status of a historical monument since 1906.

Streets of La Rochelle:

The mansion of Henry II is located on rue des Augustins just 200 meters from the Old Port. The building was built in 1555 by order of Hugo Pontard, whose son François was at one time the mayor of La Rochelle.

The Renaissance-style facade is decorated with numerous pilasters, graceful arches and carved cornices, so that the building can rightfully be called the most unusual building in the whole city.

However, in reality the building is not a mansion. The facade, consisting of two rows of galleries, is just a screen. What can easily be mistaken for a typical city mansion of this time is a decorative extension of the right tower - the only living space of this building. In the tower on the second floor there was Pontar’s office.

Now this unusual building is open to the public. The mansion is also surrounded by a small garden with exotic plants.

La Rochelle Town Hall is located on the square of the same name (place de l’Hotel de Ville). It is an early 17th century Renaissance-style building, surrounded by an imposing fortified wall built in the 15th century. The entrance to the rectangular courtyard opens through a double portal (one, narrower, arch of this portal is intended for pedestrians, the other for carts), made in the Flamboyant Gothic style, above which is the coat of arms of La Rochelle.

The main building was built in 1606 during the reign of Henry IV. Its first floor is occupied by a covered gallery, on the vaults of which you can see the monograms of Henry IV and his wife, Marie de Medici. The facade is also decorated with four allegorical sculptures depicting the four cardinal virtues with their attributes. Prudence is depicted with a mirror in her hands, Justice with a scepter and a scroll of laws, Strength tramples the head of a lion with her foot and carries a fragment of a column on her shoulder, and Temperance is depicted mixing wine with water. The facade of the town hall is crowned by a small bell tower, inside of which there is an enameled faience statue of Henry IV.

To the left of the main town hall building is an elegant late 16th-century pavilion, the façade of which is decorated with fluted pilasters and a frieze of mascarons. The right wing was added already in the 19th century - it is made in an eclectic style close to the neo-Renaissance.

On the square in front of the town hall there is a statue of the mayor of La Rochelle, Jean Guiton, who led the heroic resistance of the city during the siege of 1627 - 1628.

La Rochelle, which had always been a stronghold of Protestantism, with the death of Henry IV found itself defenseless against the harsh policies of Cardinal Richelieu, aimed at centralizing France and suppressing the Huguenot minority. Feeling a constant threat from the state, the townspeople sided with the English in the conflict of 1627, hoping that the Protestant English would be able to help them defend the freedoms of self-government and religion that Richelieu had encroached on. This uprising led to the siege of La Rochelle, which lasted 14 months and ended with the unconditional surrender of the city, which suffered huge losses. According to the peace treaty, La Rochelle lost all its privileges, the right to territorial and political self-government and the right to have fortifications around the city. It is worth noting that it is against the backdrop of the siege of La Rochelle that the action of Dumas’s novel “The Three Musketeers” unfolds.

Now the city hall is located in the town hall building, which has the status of a historical monument since 1861.

The architecture of ancient La Rochelle is very beautiful, a large number of houses of the 17th-18th centuries have been preserved:

The hotel where I stayed was also located in an old house:

And this was the view from the window of my room.

On this day we visited as many as 4 cities: Vannes, Nantes, La Rochelle and Rochefort. The last time, however, we arrived late in the evening, so we almost immediately went to the hotel. Basically. this was originally planned, since there is nothing particularly interesting in Rochefort.
But Vannes (South Brittany) is worthy of special attention, it’s absolutely beautiful! Ancient streets, half-timbered houses, fortress walls... Everything you need! The city is small, about 50 thousand people live here, but this only makes it more comfortable and nicer. If you're in Brittany, don't miss it! This is one of the most beautiful cities for our entire trip. What can I say, see for yourself!

Hermine Castle (Château de l’Hermine). Isn't it a miracle?

The old town is surrounded by a fortress wall, which has been well preserved since the Middle Ages

Despite its small size, there are quite a lot of tourists here.

The woman opened her mouth from such beauty.

How I love these old half-timbered houses!

And now I will personally introduce you to Monsieur Vannes and his wife... There they are, on the facade of the house... now let’s come closer...

The sculpture is made of granite and painted; experts attribute it to the 16th century. It's just a pity that the hands weren't preserved. Of course, in fact, this couple does not bear the surname Vann at all; that’s what romantic residents of the city called them 300 years later.

We have a busy itinerary planned for this day, so unfortunately we are forced to leave Vannes and move on. And how I wanted to walk around it for at least a couple more hours! But our busy schedule doesn’t allow it, and we move to Nantes, which is about 110 km from Vannes. The city is also interesting, there is where to walk and what to see, although after Vannes it looked a little pale. This is enough Big City, sixth largest in France, former capital Brittany, which is no longer formally part of it.

Probably the most interesting attraction in Nantes is the castle of the Dukes of Breton (Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne), built by the last two rulers of independent Brittany, Francis II and his daughter, Duchess Anne, who was born here in 1477.

As it should be, in the heart of the city - gothic cathedral, which houses the tomb of the Dukes of Breton. Against this background is our rental car, in which we drove more than 2000 km across France, Fiat 500L. By the way, I unexpectedly really liked the handling and dynamics (I had never driven a turbodiesel before)

On the way to the hotel, we stop for a couple of hours in La Rochelle, which before that I associated exclusively with Dumas’ novel...
In the distant past there was a fairly large fishing village here, but due to its favorable location it will soon turn into seaport. Its heyday dates back to the 11th century, when it received the title of the largest shopping center Atlantic coast.
Currently, the city has managed to maintain its port status.

In the Old Port, three towers of the fortress wall, built in the 14th century, have been preserved, and are now recognized as objects World Heritage UNESCO. There used to be a chain between the two towers in the photo, which could be used to block the entrance to the port for unwanted guests.

The embankment in the Starm Port of La Rochelle is a walking area, there are many cafes and restaurants where you can have a delicious lunch.

We had booked a hotel in the town of Rochefort, neighboring La Rochelle (30 km), where we are going for the night. An equally busy day awaits us tomorrow!

The ship stops not near the city itself, but about 10 kilometers from it.
There is a free shuttle from the ship to the city. I still don’t understand who provides and pays for these shuttles, i.e. in some ports they cost $15 per day, and in others they are free. So here, in La Rochelle, although these buses were free, everything was organized much better than in other places! Well, just wonderfully organized!
Firstly, all the girls - guides who help both when boarding the ship and in the city - wore a uniform - it was obvious who to ask for a map of the city or the bus departure time. And they even spoke English))). In the city, there was always one of the buses at the shuttle parking lot - i.e. While you’re waiting, you can sit instead of standing (there are a lot of elderly people on the ship, not to mention the fact that everyone feels tired after walking around the city for many hours). Well, they left one after another - so there was essentially no need to wait. Then, when the ship sailed, all these girl guides, there were about 10-12 of them, stood on the pier and waved their handkerchiefs)))...
By the way, I wouldn’t be surprised if the city pays for this service - cruise tourists are considered very beneficial for the city’s economy)))

And now - the city.

The city left a very, very pleasant impression.
Well, firstly, it seemed to me somehow real, not packed to capacity with tourists. No, it was not empty, not at all - there were a lot of people in restaurants and shops, but they were clearly of French origin, which is very pleasing)))...
I also liked the local streets - so clean and cozy - there are many restaurants everywhere, which really brightens up the life of our brother-tourist - you can sit here, then there)))...

The city of La Rochelle has quite an interesting history.
This time I didn’t read almost anything at all without traveling, although I found some information and even printed it out. But I just read it now - this is how it happens...

This citadel, consisting of two towers, once blocked the entrance (for ships) to the city, to its inner harbor.
The Saint-Nicolas Tower has a characteristic slope. The reason for this is in the pile supports on which this structure rests: over the past centuries they have sagged a little, which slightly knocked the tower down. The massive octagonal Chain Tower housed a drawbridge that allowed the chain to be extended from the Saint-Nicolas Tower, blocking the entrance to the port. They say that it was with these chains that Gargantua was kept in the cradle. On the ground floor of the La Chene tower there is now a small exhibition introducing the history of the local Protestant community, and there is an observation deck on the roof.

The city was the main Atlantic port of France for quite a long time - this was facilitated by its successful geographical position- in particular, protection from the westerly winds by the island of Re.
Ships with salt and wine departed from here. Salt was probably mainly mined on the island of Re.
At least there is a lot of it in local shops...

And from there (from the island of Re) a lot of expensive potatoes are sold.
At first I couldn’t understand what kind of prices they had for potatoes, but then I remembered that the potatoes there were somehow special and very valuable. Somehow, I still doubt that I personally could feel the difference, hmm... Well, potatoes and potatoes)))...

So.
Let's go back to history).
Those. I’ll just post a few quotes here).
«... one of the largest residences of the Templars was located in La Rochelle, and seven “Templar roads” converging in the port city led here from all corners of the country, providing quick and convenient access in case of sudden need. The main road leading from Paris was properly protected and equipped with special points for the quick change of horses. ... When Philip the Fair began a hunt for the knights of the Order on October 13, 1308, it was here, in La Rochelle, that the Templars managed to transport their treasures. Here ships were already waiting for them, ready at any moment to set sail from the inhospitable shores of France. What happened very soon.»

And further...
“La Rochelle is one of the first places in France where the ideas of the Reformation penetrated: by openly accepting the ideas, the city became the citadel of the Huguenots, the “Atlantic Geneva.” In 1570, at the end of the third religious war, the city (one of four in the country) received the status of a fortress in which Protestants were allowed to settle. Here they were guaranteed freedom of religion, which gave the city a short period of prosperity and peace. After St. Bartholomew's Night in 1572, La Rochelle became a center of Protestant resistance. In 1573, the Duke of Anjou besieged the city, but failed to take it, since the English fleet under the command of Montgomery captured Belle-Ile. In the end, La Rochelle surrendered honorably.
The signing of the Edict of Nantes brought several decades of peaceful life to La Rochelle. However, the townspeople's commitment to Protestantism, close trade and cultural ties with the British (the Duke of Buckingham set up a fortified camp on the island of Re) and after the soldiers of La Rochelle marched in battle against the royal French troops on September 10, 1627, King Louis XIII ordered a siege La Rochelle. Cardinal Richelieu personally supervised the operation.
The city was taken into a blockade ring, for which purpose along all of it land borders 12 km long fortifications were erected, and a dam was poured into the sea (architect Meteso), blocking the entrance to the port. Fifteen months of painful famine forced the city to submit. Richelieu entered La Rochelle on October 30, 1628, and two days later Louis XIII appeared there. 23,000 people died during the siege. 5,000 survivors were spared, although rebel leaders, including Mayor Jean Guiton, were forced to leave the city for several months. The trade of the port was destroyed and the fortifications were razed.

New persecution of the Huguenots began, culminating in the repeal of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. Many Huguenots fled the country and founded the city of New Rochelle in North America in 1689.
Like any ancient port city, La Rochelle is famous for its captains, explorers and pioneers. In the 15th century, ships with colonists sailed from here to Canada, and Jean de Bettencourt went to discover Canary Islands. A native of La Rochelle, Delasalle became in 1681 the first European to walk from the headwaters of the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. R. Gallier, the first European to return alive from Timbuktu, also lived here.
Shipowners from La Rochelle made large profits trading with Canada and Louisiana, and most of all with the West Indies. They made their fortune through tripartite trade, including the sale of cloth and the purchase of slaves in West Africa, transporting and selling slaves to America and profitably returning home with large cargoes of colonial goods.
In 1890, a new deep-water port was built in La Pallisa, the operation of which did not depend on the level of tides.”

Honestly, I don’t even remember where I got the quotes from, so I can’t give a link, but I don’t attribute the authorship to myself either)))...

So, as you can see, it’s not a completely simple town - there are also interesting moments in its history.

By the way, regarding the last statement - that the port was made “deeper”... Hmm...
There are some incredible ebbs and flows there. We noticed this on the island of Re, and here too.
Moreover, in a fairly short time, the water either disappears or appears again.
Look here.
First this photo.
Full of so-so water...

There are even fish swimming...

Now look here!

And the difference in the photo is only a couple of hours...
And you know. I was very interested in one question - where do the fish go during low tides??? The fact is that we watched the tide on the island of Re and saw fish swarming in the shallow water there, and it felt like they were “climbing out of the mud.” Well, you couldn’t see them floating along with the water!!! I don’t even know what to think - maybe there are some special fish there?
And all sorts of mussels, oysters, and snails were also stuck on the walls there... They also somehow adapted and do not die without water...

And about oysters and other reptiles)))...
We went to the local market there.
Here are their prices, maybe someone is interested (or relevant).

Look how nice the prices are here))).

And more from the market...

I saw an interesting flower there - it looks a lot like a rose, but it’s not a rose...

But this, it seems, is the Great Clock Tower.
“It once served as the city gate and was part of the fortress wall separating the Old Port from the city. The tower was originally built at the beginning of the 12th century - at the same time that the medieval city was surrounded by the first fortress wall. Then it was called Parro or Perro, since behind it there was a quarter with that name. In the Middle Ages, the tower gate consisted of two arched openings: the larger one was intended for the passage of carts and carriages, and the smaller one for pedestrians. Already in the second half of the 17th century they were combined into one large arch, which we can see now.

Passing under the tower gates, you find yourself on rue de Palais - the main shopping street of La Rochelle. There are many interesting medieval houses here and in the neighboring streets. You can really feel from them that the city had a rich past - the pavements are still in perfect order, only polished over the years to a shine...

And a lot of arches!
These are great guys - in the heat you can walk under them in the shade, and in bad weather you can escape the rain!!!
Why aren't they building this in all cities???!!!

We went to different shops there - there are some interesting ones, by the way)...
There was delicious nougat here (although it seemed a little expensive, but we bought it anyway).

I also bought myself some amazing sparkling soap there with a pleasant sea scent!
(I usually don’t buy such nonsense)))))

We were surprised, for the umpteenth time, it was theirs, French!!! addiction to canned sardines!
And the prices for them, of course, are some kind of delicacy, hee hee...
Well, where have you seen such specialized stores with canned fish???
I personally - ANYWHERE else!)))

And even these stores come across - I will never understand this, who buys in these stores? This Danish mastodon has already spread in all cities and countries and their trade, by the way, is very flourishing! The crisis had a special impact in this case - people apparently began to buy things cheaper... And they don’t care about quality (((...

And another one of the towers closer...

La Rochelle (France) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of La Rochelle with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of La Rochelle (France)

La Rochelle is a city in western France in the New Aquitaine region. This old port with a picturesque harbor that is still surrounded by medieval fortifications and imposing towers. La Rochelle is a beautiful old city, soaked in salty sea air. It has a charming historic center full of old buildings. A walk through the old streets of La Rochelle is a journey through different historical eras, from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age.

Geography and climate

La Rochelle is located on the Bay of Biscay Atlantic Ocean. The city is located in the center of the French Atlantic in the southwestern part of the country. La Rochelle has a temperate maritime climate (oceanic) with cool summer and mild winter.

Practical information

Population - 75.7 thousand people.
Area - 28.43 km².
Currency - euro.
Language - French.
Visa - Schengen.
Time is Central European UTC +1.
La Rochelle's gastronomy is famous for its excellent fish and seafood dishes. In the vicinity of the old port (Vieux Port) there are many fish restaurants where you can try dishes local cuisine(for example, mussels in white wine and creamy onion sauce).
In bars and restaurants in La Rochelle you can try an interesting cocktail - white wine with fruit syrup.

Story

La Rochelle was founded in the 10th century. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the city was the base of the Templars, who built a large port here. Until the 15th century, La Rochelle was largest port French kingdom. During the Reformation, the city supported the Huguenots. A brief period of prosperity lasted half a century. The local fleet was then destroyed by Charles I of Lorraine. In 1628, La Rochelle was taken by royal troops and the Huguenots had to leave it.

La Rochelle was an important port during the colonial era. During the Second World War it was built here naval base Germans.

Attractions

La Rochelle has a charming Old city, which has preserved many magnificent ancient buildings, dating from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age. In the heart of the historical center is the town hall, founded in the 13th century. Its building is a striking example of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. La Rochelle Town Hall is one of the oldest in France. The current building was built between the 15th and 19th centuries.

Not far from the town hall, on the small street Bis Rue des Augustins, there is a luxurious 16th-century mansion open to the public.

A little further north is the beautiful old street Grand Rue des Merciers, where you can see medieval half-timbered houses.

Old port. On the right is the tower of St. Nicholas, on the left - Chain Tower

The Old Port is the oldest and most picturesque part of the city. Most of the buildings and structures here are hundreds of years old, but they are still in very good condition. Narrow streets and light stone houses give this place a Mediterranean charm.

The old port was founded in the 13th century. The surviving towers date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. The tallest is the tower of St. Nicholas. It was designed as a defensive fort. The powerful and round tower is called the Chain Tower. In the Middle Ages, a chain was attached to this tower, which blocked the mouth of the harbor.

The lighthouse tower (Tour de la Lanternay) is located slightly away from the entrance to the harbor. It was built in the 15th century and is a magnificent medieval structure with a high spire, on top of which a massive torch was placed. During the Reformation, the tower was used as a prison for the Huguenots. In the 17th century, pirates (corsairs) were imprisoned here. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the tower was used as a garrison prison. Now it is a historical monument.

An interesting place for the curious is the Aquarium, which contains about 600 species of various creatures from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas

The clock tower (Great Clock) is a gate that separated the old port from the city. They were built in the 12th century during the construction of the first medieval walls. Initially, this structure had two arcades for the passage of pedestrians and carts, but in 1672 they were combined into one. In the 15th century the gate was topped with a bell tower. This design acquired its current form after 1746.

A 15th-century Gothic bell tower that belonged to St. Bartholomew's Church, where elections for the city's mayor were held every year. The church was destroyed in 1568 during the religious wars.

Notre-Dame-de-Cougnes is a Catholic church with a tall Gothic bell tower. It was founded in the 12th century as a small chapel. During the Reformation, the church was destroyed and rebuilt in 1653.

The Cathedral of Saint Louis is the main Catholic church of the city of La Rochelle. It is an impressive building in the style of classicism architecture. Construction of the church began in 1752 and was completed only 115 years later.

The Church of Saint-Sauveur is an imposing religious structure in the style of Louis XIII architecture, built in the late 17th century on the foundations of medieval churches.

The Natural History Museum is a fascinating museum built in the 18th century. Is one of the best places in France to experience the world natural history. On an area of 2300 sq. m. presents an amazing collection of almost 10,000 objects found by naturalists and ethnographers from around the world.
The New World Museum, housed in an 18th-century mansion. Contains magnificent exhibitions revealing the world of shipowners and their enormous wealth.
Museum of Fine Arts, which displays about 900 paintings and drawings from the 15th to 20th centuries.
Maritime Museum at the docks. It features a fleet of eight ships that visitors can tour.
Protestant Museum - rich collection historical information about the struggle of the Huguenots, starting from the period of the Reformation.