Perhaps the most attractive town on this section of the coast, La Rochelle has a maze of old arcaded streets with wooden framed houses, passageways with arches and mansions to wander round and admire.

Capital of the Charente-Maritime Département and an important port, La Rochelle was established during the 12th century and soon became the home base for the fleet of the Knights Templar.

Eleanor of Aquitaine granted the town a charter in 1199 which effectively created a free port and trade with England, Flanders and Spain soon followed.

For many years La Rochelle was a Protestant stronghold and this was the case till 1628 when an army led by Cardinal Richelieu entered the town after a long siege and re-stablished the supremacy of the Catholic Church.