Visiting La Rochelle
Top Five Museums and Historic Sites
A maritime city shaped by the ocean for centuries, La Rochelle boasts a rich and vibrant heritage. From its medieval towers and ramparts to its historic arcades, World War II bunker, maritime museum, and many other historic landmarks, the city reveals the story of great maritime adventures alongside the everyday lives of its inhabitants through the centuries.
Top Pick #1
Visit the Old Port Towers
You can’t miss La Rochelle’s iconic towers: Saint-Nicolas Tower, Chaîne Tower, and Lanterne Tower. They have guarded the entrance to the port since the Middle Ages and remain the city’s unmistakable symbols.
The Chaîne and Lanterne towers are open to visitors, offering the chance to explore La Rochelle’s maritime and defensive history while enjoying exceptional views over the port and the ocean. The Saint-Nicolas Tower is currently undergoing restoration to prevent it from leaning, in a way reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
These towers represent key elements of La Rochelle's identity.
Tower entrances are included in the La Rochelle Océan Pass.
Top Pick #2
Discover La Rochelle’s Bunker
Beneath the streets of the city centre lies an impressive German bunker from the Second World War, still largely intact today. Through period objects, reconstructed rooms, and personal testimonies, it helps visitors better understand La Rochelle’s strategic role during the Occupation, immersing them in a powerful atmosphere and offering a unique perspective on this chapter of European history.
Included in the La Rochelle Océan Pass.
Top Pick #3
Explore the Maritime Museum
Located by the Trawler Basin, the Maritime Museum immerses visitors in La Rochelle’s naval and port history. The visit unfolds both on the dock and aboard historic vessels open to the public, including the France I, a former weather ship, as well as a trawler and a tugboat. Together, they tell the story of sailors’ lives and the evolution of the port over the decades.
In summer, visitors can even enjoy a drink and share tapas by the quayside. It’s a lively, accessible site, perfect for both maritime history enthusiasts and families.
Included in the La Rochelle Océan Pass.
Top Pick #4
Step Back in Time at the Musée du Nouveau Monde
Housed in an elegant 18th-century mansion, the Musée du Nouveau Monde explores the historical ties between La Rochelle and the Americas. Maritime trade, major voyages of exploration, cultural exchanges, and colonial history all help shape this unique museum in France.
It is also among the first French museums to address a port’s involvement in the slave trade, with collections related to the transatlantic slave trade and slavery in the Caribbean colonies. A rich and thought-provoking visit, it offers deeper insight into La Rochelle’s international role over the centuries and sheds light on this complex chapter of its history.
Included in the La Rochelle Océan Pass.
Top Pick #5
Discover the Natural History Museum
Housed in a former bishop’s palace, the Natural History Museum, with its collections from around the world, takes visitors of all ages on a journey through science, nature, and discovery. Its galleries feature taxidermy specimens, fossils, ethnographic objects, and rare collections, offering a fascinating glimpse into the natural world.
One of the oldest museums in France, it is an ideal stop for a family-friendly cultural visit.
Included in the La Rochelle Océan Pass.
And to Go a Little Further…
If you have a little more time, head to Esnandes to discover the fortified Saint-Martin Church, overlooking the Bay of Aiguillon. Blending Romanesque art with defensive architecture, this unique site tells the story of La Rochelle’s coastline. Next door, the Mussel Farming Museum offers an immersive insight into the world of bouchots and mussel cultivation, an iconic tradition of the region.
A few kilometres from La Rochelle, the Château de Buzay offers a glimpse of 18th-century elegance, with its classical architecture and history closely linked to the city’s great shipowners.
Make the most of your visit
La Rochelle Océan Pass
Enjoy access to many must-see sites, transport included, to explore La Rochelle, the surrounding islands, Rochefort, and the Marais Poitevin - all with a single pass and no need to buy multiple tickets.
