Page 409 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

starved to death. The walls and fasci nating Bunker de la
were destroyed and the city’s Rochelle is well worth a visit.
privileges withdrawn. The Con structed in secret for
glory of La Rochelle is the old World War II subma rine com­ STAY
harbour, which is surrounded manders, it has remained in
by stately buildings. It is now its original con dition for more
the biggest yachting centre than 70 years. Hôtel Le Sénéchal
on France’s Atlantic coast. On Next to the Vieux Port is the Near the beach, this
either side of its entrance are huge Aquarium La Rochelle. charming hotel has
Tour de la Chaîne and Tour Transparent tunnels lead rustic rooms and a lush
St-Nicolas. A huge chain used through tanks with diffe rent courtyard with a pool.
to be strung between them to marine biotopes, including ! B4 ⌂ 6 rue Gambetta,
ward off attack from the sea. sharks and turtles. Île de Ré ∑ hotel-le-
La Rochelle’s cobbled streets senechal.com
and arcades can be congested Tours de la Chaîne, ¡¡¡
in high summer. To get an over­ St-Nicholas, and Lanterne
view, climb the 15th­century "= ⌂ Rue des Murs, Le Port
Tour de la Lanterne. Its inner # Hours vary, check website Château
walls were covered in graffiti ¢ 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec Cordeillan-Bages
by prisoners, mostly mariners, ∑ tours-la-rochelle.fr Set within a vineyard,
from the 17th to the 19th modern rooms are spa-
century. The most common Muséum d’Histoire cious, and the restaurant
motif is ships. Naturelle has a Michelin star.
The study of the acclaimed " ⌂ 28 rue Albert Premier ! C5 ⌂ Route des
18th­century French naturalist # Hours vary, check website Châteaux, Pauillac
Clément Lafaille is preserved ∑ museum-larochelle.fr § 33 5 56 59 24 24
in the regularly updated ¡¡¡
Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Musée du Nouveau Monde
complete with shell collection " ⌂ 10 rue Fleuriau Château de Saint-
and dis play cabinets. The # Hours vary, check website Loup
town’s relation to the New ∑ museum-larochelle.fr
World is treated in the moving A restored castle with
large rooms featuring
Musée du Nou veau Monde. Bunker de la Rochelle
Emigra tion, commerce and " ⌂ 8 rue des Dames period furnishings.
the slave trade § 05 46 42 52 89 # 10am– ! C4 ⌂ 1 rue Jacques de
are explained 6pm daily ¢ 30 Dec–mid-Feb Boyer, St-Loup-sur-
through old Thouet ∑ chateau
maps, pain­ Aquarium La Rochelle desaint-loup.com
tings and "-= ⌂ Bassin des Grands ¡¡¡
arti facts. Yachts, quai Louis Prunier
The atmo­ # Hours vary, check website
spheric ∑ aquarium-larochelle.com

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