Description : The resort and surrounding area
The resort
Lying at the far end of a bay, opening onto the Pertuis sea, sheltered by the Ré, Aix and Oléron islands, La Rochelle is a coastal city with four harbours:
- The "Vieux Port" (old harbour) with its mediaeval towers formerly overseeing sea traffic.
- The deep-water "Port de Commerce" (commercial port).
- The "Port de Plaisance des Minimes": the largest yachting marina on the Atlantic coast.
- The "Port de Pêche" (fishing harbour) equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
La Rochelle also boasts a considerable cultural heritage: half-timbered, slate-roofed mediaeval houses, carved stone façades, shipbuilders' mansions, etc.
-Visit the town with its arcaded streets, cathedral, big clock, town hall, St Sauveur church, etc.
- Many museums: Automaton Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Maritime Museum, etc.
- The La Rochelle Aquarium (over 10,000 species from seas and oceans the world over in more than 3 million litres of sea water: a journey of some 2½ hours through the bottom of the ocean). Open all year round.
The surrounding area
- Excursions to the islands: Ile de Ré, Ile d'Aix, Ile d'Oléron, and Fort Boyard.
- Rochefort, to visite the “Corderie Royale” (royal rope factory) and the “Chantier Hermione” (30 km).
- The oyster beds, Marennes (56 km), Royan and La Palmyre Zoo (74 km) and Brouage (50 km), "Green Venice" and Mervent Forest, Poitevin marshes, etc.
Sports and leisure
- Water sports: La Rochelle Sailing School in the Minimes harbour, 1.5 km away.
- Tennis: "Tennis Club Rochelais" at the Bouffeny stadium, 8 km away.
- Swimming pool: public pool 2 km away.
- Horse-riding: "Société Hippique Aunis La Rochelle" in La Jarne, 3 km away.
Golf: “Golf de la Prée” (18 holes) in Marsilly, 10 km away
- Fitness: "Le Rochelois"club 7 km away.
Events
- November: the Automn Rally, the “La Rochelle Marathon” and the Atlantic Arts Fair
- December: the Book and Poetry Fair.
- March: the Poets’ Fair.
Shops and Services
200 metres to shops and services; 1 km to the supermarket.