After La Palmyre we moved to a caravan site about 3 miles out of La Rochelle. We enjoyed La Rochelle so much last time we wanted to visit again. There is lots of history here and it goes back to the 10th Century. Much of the architecture dates from the 18th Century when there was considerable trade in salt and wine with England, Flanders and the Baltic countries at that time.
The Chain Tower with the St. Nicholas Tower behind.
The Lantern Tower – is 70 metres high with an octagonal Gothic spire. It has served as both a lighthouse and a prison. Hence the presence of some 600 graffiti left by British, Dutch and Spanish military prisoners. The Lantern Tower is the last medieval lighthouse of the Atlantic coast.
Bikes For Hire – has Boris had a hand in this?
More modern graffiti.
The indoor market
Coffee not a regular occurrence because it was quite expensive.
The ‘porches’.
The harbour at very low tide.
Generation Generation by Bruce Krebs
Plaque attached to La Rochelle town walls
Port du Plomb close to the campsite.
Port du Plomb
Submarine pens, built by the Germans during the second world war.
Île de Ré
We were very close to the Île de Ré and so had a day out there. It is very flat hence a cyclists’ paradise.
Street music - I don’t know how he got his piano there
The Phares des Baleines lighthouse – 51 metres high
Clocher d’Ars - built in the 15th Century. The black and white steeple helped in ship navigation.
Now onto Le Mans
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