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Rochefort

Visit Rochefort, Poitou-Charentes

Rochefort is a town on the Atlantic Coast to the south-east of La Rochelle, in the Charente-Maritime department of the Poitou-Charentes. The town developed around its military harbour when Louis XIV, in the 17th century, had an important naval base built here on what was previously a region of swamps and marshes.

Exploring Rochefort

The town itself was built up around the harbour and naval buildings as a carefully planned 'new town' and the straight lines of houses remain much as they were originally laid out.

The Arsenal and Corderie of Rochefort

The large 17th century buildings that include the arsenal and the corderie are on the banks of the Charente river and have been fully renovated as a tourist attraction in recent years and are the main reason to visit the town - the ensemble of buildings is now a listed Historic Monument. The gardens around the buildings have also been restored. The main parts to the site are:

- The Corderie Royale, a substantial building built in 1670 that was once the centre of the docks in the town and also the centre of ropemaking for ships across France, until ropes on ships were finally replaced by chains. At the corderie you can learn about the history of the site and also about the techniques involved in ropemaking

- The arsenal and the port of Rochefort itself, which was a very important location for making naval warships from 1690 until the 19th century. The grand buildings provide an elegant backdrop to the attractive harbour which is now used as a pleasure port

- Le Chantier d'Hermione, where a splendid 18th century ship, the Hermione, is being meticulously recreated, and you can see the impressive work in progress. The 'original' Hermione set off in 1780 for America, carrying Lafayette en route to help the Americans in their struggle for independence.

Other attractions

The largest maket in the region is found in the market halls of Rochefort and along the Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle every tuesday, thursday and saturday morning.

A Marine Museum in the town explains more of the history of how Rochefort developed - it is situated in the Hôtel de Cheusses and the Hôtel de la Marquise d’Amblimont.

The town also has an important thermal spa centre.

To explore the region around the town, you can follow a path for several kilometres along the banks of the Charente river. There are other paths that enable you to explore the unique natural environment of the marshes near Rochefort.

Tourist classifications for Rochefort: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*; Listed town of Art and History;

Suggested places to visit near Rochefort, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Surgeres 24km; Mornac-sur-Seudre 26km; La Rochelle 28km; Ile d'Oleron 29km; La Palmyre 29km; Saintes 33km; Royan 36km; La Flotte-en-Re 39km; Marans 41km; Saint-Martin-de-Re 42km; Meschers-sur-Gironde 43km; Le Verdon-sur-Mer 45km; Ile de Re 45km; Talmont 46km; Marais Poitevin 49km; Soulac-sur-Mer 49km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Rochefort

Rochefort tourism: sights and attractions nearby

La Roche Courbon - remarkable garden (19km) : Jardins de la Boirie - remarkable garden (26km) : Eglise de Saint-Savinien (Fenioux) - religious monument (29km) : Jardins du phare de Chassiron - remarkable garden (33km) : Upper Church et lower Church de Saint Eutrope (Saintes) - religious monument (33km) : Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes (Saintes) - religious monument (34km) : Baie de l'Aiguillon - site of natural beauty (41km) : Eglise de Saint Germain (Varaize) - religious monument (42km) :