Bar André
about 80 minA brasserie on the Old Port since 1947, at the foot of the two towers, serving seafood platters and oysters.
Bar André has been a brasserie on the Old Port since 1947, says its own site, with a terrace at the foot of the two towers and a counter. The listing calls it a casual eatery with exposed stone walls and nautical decor serving seafood, meat plates and wine. Reviews mention seafood platters, oysters, mouclade and seafood sauerkraut. Open every day for lunch and dinner on the listing.
What to do there- Share a seafood platter
- Order the mouclade
- Eat oysters
- Sit on the terrace at the foot of the two towers
Arsenal and La Genette5 Rue St Jean du Pérot, 17000 La RochelleBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Chain Tower
about 35 minThe smallest of the harbour towers, from which a chain once closed the port entrance, with an exhibition inside.
From the Chain Tower a heavy chain was worked in the 14th century to close the harbour entrance between the two towers, says the official page; the chain is still visible at its foot. Inside are a great hall with a star-shaped floor and exhibitions through the year; the listing mentions an audio-guided exhibition on emigration to Canada. Same ticket and October to March hours as the Lantern Tower (9.50 euros for both).
What to do there- See the old harbour chain at the foot of the tower
- Look for the star-shaped floor of the great hall
- See the stairs that lead nowhere
- Follow the audio-guided exhibition on emigration to Canada
Arsenal and La Genette17000 La RochelleBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Charruyer Park
about 45 minThe largest park in the city centre, 40 hectares of green strip with a small animal park, open 24 hours.
Parc Charruyer is the largest park in the city centre, 40 hectares over nearly 2 km, says French Wikipedia. The city's page for the Concurrence beach places it next to the Lantern Tower, with its animal park. The listing calls it a green strip with paved trails and a small zoo, open 24 hours. Reviewers mention animals, peacocks, a family walk and the nearby beach.
What to do there- Visit the animal park
- Look for the peacocks
- Walk the paved trails down the length of the park
- Picnic near the beach
Arsenal and La GenetteChem. des Remparts, 17000 La RochelleBest: morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Christopher Coutanceau
about 120 minA gastronomic seafood restaurant on the Concurrence beach facing the Atlantic, open Tuesday to Saturday.
Christopher Coutanceau's restaurant sits on the Concurrence beach facing the Atlantic and is open Tuesday to Saturday, says its own site. The listing gives short service windows: dinner 7:30 to 8:45 pm Tuesday to Saturday, and a 12:15 to 12:45 pm lunch Thursday to Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Reviews mention a sea view, a signature menu, a food and wine pairing and a 10-course menu.
What to do there- Choose the signature menu
- Ask for the food and wine pairing
- Dine with a view of the sea
Arsenal and La GenettePlage de la Concurrence, 17000 La RochelleBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Concurrence Beach
about 60 minThe town beach in the city centre next to the Lantern Tower, supervised in July and August.
The Concurrence beach is in the city centre, near the Lantern Tower and the Charruyer park, says the city's page. The beach is supervised in July and August, with a rescue post open 11 am to 7 pm, and is smoke-free. The Google listing shows no hours, so none are published. Reviewers mention proximity to the city centre and the old port, a fine sand beach and shellfish.
What to do there- Swim in July and August while the beach is supervised
- Walk along the sea from the old port
- Sunbathe on the fine sand
Arsenal and La Genette1 Prom. de la Concurrence, 17000 La RochelleBest: late morning, afternoon, golden hourOn the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
La Kase
about 80 minA bistro in a pedestrian street near the Chain Tower with creative seafood cooking; closed Monday and Tuesday.
La Kase is a bistro at 13 rue de la Chaîne serving creative, home-made cuisine of seafood and exotic flavours in a pedestrian street, says its own site, with a terrace. Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, closed Monday and Tuesday. A weekday lunch menu at 21.50 or 26.90 euros is listed. Reviews mention accras, house rum, tuna tartare and pavlova.
What to do there- Order the accras
- Try the house rum
- Have the weekday lunch menu
- Finish with a pavlova
Arsenal and La Genette13 Rue de la Chaîne, 17000 La RochelleBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Lantern Tower
about 45 minA medieval lighthouse at the harbour mouth, later a prison, with prisoners' graffiti inside and a view from the top.
The Lantern Tower is a former medieval lighthouse that, says the official page, Rabelais mentioned; in the 17th century it became a prison and the page counts more than 600 graffiti left by prisoners. One ticket (9.50 euros) covers this tower and the Chain Tower. Hours from October to March: 10 am to 12:45 pm and 2 to 5:30 pm, last entry 45 minutes before closing; closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December. Longer hours from April.
What to do there- Climb to the top for the view over the harbour
- Read the prisoners' graffiti on the walls and stairs
- See the stained glass lighting the staircase
Arsenal and La GenetteRue sur les Murs, 17000 La RochelleBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Les Flots
about 100 minA seafood restaurant beside the Chain Tower with a view of the Old Port, open every day for lunch and dinner.
Les Flots is in a former tavern at the foot of the Chain Tower, says its own site, and serves a gourmet, creative cuisine inspired by the sea and the seasons, with a view of the Old Port. It is open every day of the year: lunch 12:15 to 2 pm, dinner 7:30 to 9:30 pm (to 10 pm on Friday and Saturday); the listing agrees. Reviews mention mise en bouche and langoustine.
What to do there- Choose a tasting menu of seafood
- Ask for a wine pairing
- Look over the Old Port from your table
Arsenal and La Genette1 Rue de la Chaîne, 17000 La RochelleBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.