17 June 2018:
La Rochelle, France:
At the Nexus of History

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

La Rochelle is not the first city of France, nor the second or even third or fourth.

But the city, population 80,000 today, has seen more than its share of history over time.

Ancient Celtic and Gallic peoples, the Romans, the Franks, the French, the Germans, the Americans.

Today it includes some lovely sights and interesting places to visit, and it is one of the most visited cities for tourists in the country.

This ancient area was the home of Eleanor of Aquitaine, as well as at the center of the Wars of Religion that pitted Catholics against Protestants of various stripes, including the Huegenots.

Much of the city’s trading economy was devastated in the Wars of Religion.

After the wars, though, La Rochelle became a base for trade with the New World, this time to Nouvelle France in Canada—today’s Quebec and the Maritime provinces, as well as the Antilles in the Caribbean.

On this visit, Silver Wind docked at the nearby commercial port of La Pallice. I went with guests on a tour first to the beautiful Ile de Ré, a barrier island just offshore, connected to Europe by a 2-kilometer causeway bridge.

It was a quiet Sunday on the resort island, but the grand market was open. The oysters, fish, and vegetables were displayed with typical French style.

ILE DE RÉ

LA ROCHELLE

We then continued to the city of La Rochelle, a nearly intact Middle Ages port. The inner harbor is closed off by a set of towers; at various times in history a chain was stretched across the narrow mouth to block invaders and pirates.

I also visited the Saint-Saveur church in town, admiring several centuries-old ex votos left there by sailors, many of whom departed from here for New France, now Canada.

All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

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