La Rochelle is one of France's most beautiful and historically rich coastal cities. A visit to Aquarium La Rochelle pairs perfectly with exploration of the city's many outstanding cultural and natural attractions.
The Old Port & Medieval Towers
The beating heart of La Rochelle is its magnificent Old Port, the Vieux-Port, which has defined the city since the Middle Ages. Framed by the iconic medieval towers that once guarded the harbour entrance, the port is today a vibrant space filled with fishing boats, yachts and cafes. The three towers — the Tour Saint-Nicolas, the Tour de la Chaîne, and the Tour de la Lanterne — are open to visitors and offer spectacular panoramic views over the city and harbour.
The Tour de la Lanterne, also known as the Lantern Tower, served as both a lighthouse and a prison during its long history, and the walls of its upper storeys are covered with graffiti left by prisoners over centuries, creating a hauntingly beautiful historical record. Each tower tells a different story of La Rochelle's maritime past, and all three are worth climbing despite the steep spiral staircases. The combined ticket for all three towers offers excellent value and can be purchased at any of the tower entrances.
The Arcaded Old Town
La Rochelle's historic city centre is distinguished by its extraordinary network of covered arcades, or couverts, which line the main shopping streets and allow pedestrians to walk in shade and shelter even in rain or strong sunshine. These arcades date back to the medieval period and give the city a uniquely Gascon character that sets it apart from other French Atlantic coast cities. The Grande-Rue des Merciers is the most famous arcade street, lined with historic half-timbered buildings, independent boutiques, bakeries and cafes. The covered market, the Marché Central, is another highlight.
Natural History Museum
The Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de La Rochelle is one of the oldest and most interesting natural history collections in France, housed in a beautiful eighteenth-century town house near the city centre. Its collections span geology, palaeontology, zoology and ethnography, with particularly impressive displays of shells, minerals and regional marine fauna that complement the aquarium experience perfectly. The museum's historic building and garden are themselves worth visiting, and the collections offer a fascinating scientific counterpoint to the living exhibits of the aquarium.
Maritime Museum
La Rochelle's outstanding Musée Maritime celebrates the city's long and distinguished naval and maritime history, with an impressive collection of historic vessels moored along the waterfront as floating exhibits. Visitors can board and explore several historic ships, including a submarine, a trawler and a lightship, gaining a vivid sense of life at sea throughout different eras of French maritime history. Indoor galleries complement the floating exhibits with collections of navigation instruments, ship models, sailors' personal effects and archival photographs documenting La Rochelle's role as one of France's most important Atlantic ports.
The Island of Ré
Just a short drive or cycle ride across the Île de Ré bridge from La Rochelle, the Île de Ré is one of the jewels of the French Atlantic coast. Famous for its pristine white sandy beaches, salt marshes, vineyards and picture-postcard villages, the island is a perfect destination for a half-day or full-day excursion from the city. Cycling is the ideal way to explore the island, and bicycle hire is widely available on both sides of the bridge. The village of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, with its seventeenth-century fortifications designed by Vauban, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth exploring.
La Rochelle: A City for All Seasons
With its combination of maritime heritage, beautiful architecture, excellent restaurants, cycling culture and Atlantic coastline, La Rochelle offers a genuinely outstanding destination for visitors at any time of year. The city's compact and largely pedestrianised historic centre makes it easy to explore on foot, while the aquarium provides a perfect anchor attraction around which to build a memorable day or weekend visit.
Visitor Tips for La Rochelle