La Rochelle tourism and travel guide

Hotels & holiday rentals

Places to visit nearby

Excursions & Activities

Car hire in France

Hotels & holiday rentals

Excursions & Activities

Visit La Rochelle: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: The historic town and monuments and the vibrant harbour area make La Rochelle one of our favourite towns in France

La Rochelle is situated in the Charente-Maritime department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Attractions in La Rochelle

The aquarium in La Rochelle features various parts, including a shark tank and many colourful sea creatures: La Rochelle aquarium

The harbour area in La Rochelle is the liveliest part of the town, with numerous restaurants, street entertainers, artists and the aquarium: La Rochelle harbour

The Natural History Museum in La Rochelle contains an eclectic mix of items collected by 19th century explorers: La Rochelle Natural History Museum

These three fortress towers protect the entrance to the harbour in La Rochelle: La Rochelle towers

Tourist classifications for La Rochelle include "secteur sauvegarde".

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to La Rochelle in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Popular places to visit nearby include La Rochelle towers at 0 km and La Rochelle aquarium at 0 km.

La Rochelle, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

La Rochelle Natural History Museum

Museum less than one km (direction east-south-east)

The Natural History Museum in La Rochelle contains an eclectic mix of items collected...

See La Rochelle Natural History Museum guide

La Rochelle towers

less than one km (direction east-south-east)

These three fortress towers protect the entrance to the harbour in La Rochelle...

See La Rochelle towers guide

La Rochelle aquarium

less than one km (direction east-south-east)

The aquarium in La Rochelle features various parts, including a shark tank and many...

See La Rochelle aquarium guide

La Rochelle harbour

less than one km (direction east-south-east)

The harbour area in La Rochelle is the liveliest part of the town, with...

See La Rochelle harbour guide

Chatelaillon-Plage

Seaside resort at 11 km (direction south-east)

The seaside resort of Chatelaillon-Plage has a long sandy beach and a friendly atmosphere...

See Chatelaillon-Plage guide

La Flotte-en-Re

Most Beautiful Village at 14 km (direction west)

The village of La Flotte-en-Ré is a pretty village on the Ile-de-Ré...

See La Flotte-en-Re guide

Ile-d'Aix

Island at 16 km (direction south)

Ile d'Aix is a small island, explored on foot or by bike, known for...

See Ile-d'Aix guide

Saint-Martin-de-Re

at 17 km (direction west-north-west)

On the north coast of Ile-de-Ré, the village of Saint-Martin-de-Ré is very pretty and...

See Saint-Martin-de-Re guide

Fouras

Seaside resort at 20 km (direction south-south-east)

While the beaches are the main highlight here in Fouras, be sure to also...

See Fouras guide

Ile de Re

Island at 20 km (direction west)

The Ile-de-Ré is an island with lots of sandy beaches and some attractive villages....

See Ile de Re guide

Marans

at 21 km (direction north-east)

Marans is a small town with a pretty section along the river in the...

See Marans guide

La Faute-sur-Mer

Seaside resort at 23 km (direction north-west), in the Vendee department

Here at La Faute-sur-Mer you can explore the nature reserve and peninsula - or...

See La Faute-sur-Mer guide

Rochefort

at 28 km (direction south-east)

Rochefort is an attractive 18th century town with a famous corderie, where ropes and...

See Rochefort guide

Ars-en-Re

Most Beautiful Village at 28 km (direction west)

Ars-en-Ré is one of the pretty villages to explore on the Ile-de-Ré...

See Ars-en-Re guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Charente-Maritime

Find La Rochelle hotels & holiday rentals

Reserve excursions near La Rochelle

Map of places to visit near La Rochelle

Markets in and near La Rochelle

Market days in La Rochelle: weekly market: every day;

• La Rochelle: market every day (0km)
• Aytre: market Friday (3km)
• Rivedoux Plage: market Monday and Friday (9km)
• Chatelaillon-Plage: market Tuesday & Friday & (10km)
• Saintes: market every day except Monday (13km)
• Le Bois-Plage-en-Re: market every day (18km)
• Fouras: market Tuesday & Friday (20km)
• Marans: market Tuesday (21km)
• La Couarde-sur-Mer: market every day - seasonal market only (21km)
• La Bree-les-Bains: market every day - seasonal market only (22km)

More information about La Rochelle, Poitou-Charentes

Tourist attractions near La Rochelle, France

What to do at La Rochelle? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting La Rochelle.

Aquarium

• Aquarium de La Rochelle (1km)

Grand sites of France

• Brouage Fortifications (35km)
• Marais Poitevin (42km)

Heritage sites

• Saint-Martin-de-Ré citadelle (Vauban fortifications) (17km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• La Flotte-en-Re (14km)
• Ars-en-Re (28km)
• Coulon (48km)

National Monuments

• Georges Clemenceau house (42km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Fontenay-le-Comte (43km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Eglise de Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (Maille) (35km)
• Abbaye Saint Pierre et Eglise de Saint Nicolas (Maillezais) (40km)
• Abbaye Royale (Nieul-sur-l'Autise) (47km)
• Eglise de Saint-Eulalie (Benet) (48km)
• Eglise de Saint-Savinien (Fenioux) (52km)

Remarkable gardens

• Jardins du phare de Chassiron (22km)
• Jardins de la Boirie (27km)
• Jardins de Chaligny (45km)
• Jardins du Bâtiment (45km)
• La Roche Courbon (47km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Forêt de Benon (29km)
• Baie de l'Aiguillon (29km)
• Hiers-Brouage (35km)
• Forêt de Saint-Trojan (37km)

Towns of Art and history

• Rochefort (28km)

Villages in bloom 4* (fr: ville fleurie)

• Marans (21km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Natur'Zoo de Mervent (50km)

Geography and distances

La Rochelle is in the west of France - it is the prefecture (capital) of the Charente-Maritime department (general information: La Rochelle is 399 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors will arrive by car typically from a channel ferry ports such as Saint Malo, Caen or Cherbourg, a drive af about 4-5 hours. For driving distances to La Rochelle from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 6 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Aytre, Lagord, Nieul-sur-Mer, Perigny, Puilboreau and Saint-Xandre.

This page in French: Visiter La Rochelle