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La Rochelle is a town and commune of western France, and a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean (population 76,584 in 1999). It is the préfecture (capital) of the Charente-Maritime département(17). The city is connected to the Île de Ré (island) by a 2.9 km bridge, completed in 1988. Its harbour opens into a protected strait, the Pertuis d'Antioche.
History
La Rochelle was founded during the 10th century, and became an important harbour from the 12th century. In 1137, Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine essentially made La Rochelle a free port. Fifty years later, and for the first time in France, a city mayor was named for La Rochelle, Guillaume de Montmirail. Until the 15th century, La Rochelle was to be the largest French harbour on the Atlantic coast, dealing mainly in wine and salt.
The Siege of La Rochelle
During the Renaissance, La Rochelle adopted Protestant ideas, and from 1568 became a centre for the Huguenots, initiating a period of freedom and prosperity until the 1620s. The city finally entered in conflict with the central authority of the King Louis XIII, when cannon shots were exchanged on September 10th 1627 with Royal troops. This resulted into the Siege of La Rochelle in which Cardinal Richelieu blockaded the city for 14 months, until the city surrendered and lost its mayor and its privileges. The growing persecution of the Huguenots culminated with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. Many Huguenots emigrated, founding such cities as New Rochelle in the vicinity of today's New York in 1689.La Rochelle and the New World
The following period was a prosperous one, marked by intense exchanges with the New World (Nouvelle France in Canada, and the Antilles). La Rochelle became very active in triangular trade with the New World, dealing in the slave trade with Africa, sugar trade with plantations of the Antilles, and fur trade with Canada. This was a period of high artistic, cultural and architectural achievements for the city.The city eventually lost its trade and prominence during the decades spanning the Seven Years' War, the French revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. During that period France lost many of the territorial possessions it had in the new World, and also saw a strong decrease in its sea power in the continuing conflicts with Britain, ultimately diminishing the role of such harbours as La Rochelle.
19th century
In 1864, the harbour of La Rochelle (area of the "Bassin à flot" behind the water locks), was the site for the maiden dive experiments of the first mechanically-powered submarine in the World, Plongeur, commanded by Marie-Joseph-Camille Doré, a native of La Rochelle.Second World War
During the Second World War, Germany established a submarine naval base at La Pallice (the main port of La Rochelle), which became the setting for the movie Das Boot. A German stronghold, La Rochelle was the last French city to be freed at the end of the War.The U-Boat scenes in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark were also shot in La Rochelle.
Today
The city has beautifully maintained its past architecture, making it one of the most picturesque and historically rich cities on the Atlantic coast. This helped develop a strong tourism industry.
La Rochelle possesses a commercial harbour in deep water, named La Pallice. The large submarine bunker built during WWII still stands there, although it is not being used. La Pallice is equipped with oil unloading equipment, and mainly handles tropical wood. It is also the location of the fishing fleet, which was moved from the old harbour at the center of the city during the 1980s.
La Rochelle also maintains strong links with the sea by harbouring the largest marina for pleasure boats in Europe at Les Minimes, and a rather rich boat-building industry.
The Calypso, the ship used by Jacques-Yves Cousteau as a mobile laboratory for oceanography, and which was sunk after a collision in the port of Singapore (1996) is now displayed (actually, and sadly, rotting) at the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle.
One of the biggest music festivals in France, "FrancoFolies," takes place each summer in La Rochelle, where Francophone musicians come together for a week of concerts and celebration. 2004 marked the 20th anniversary of this event.
La Rochelle is the setting for the best-selling series of French language textbooks in the UK, titled Tricolore. The central character, Martine Domme, lives with her family at the fictional address of 12, Rue de la République.
Tourism
La Rochelle's main feature is the "Vieux Port" ("Old Harbour"), which is at the heart of the city, picturesque and lined with seafood restaurants. The city walls are open to an evening promenade. The old town has been well-preserved. From the harbour, boating trips can be taken to the Île d'Aix and Fort Boyard. Nearby Île de Ré is a short drive to the North. The countryside of the surrounding Charente-Maritime is very rural and full of history. To the North is Venise Verte, a marshy area of country, criss-crossed with tiny canals and a popular resort for inland boating. Inland is the country of Cognac and Pineau.
Climate
Although at the same latitude as Montreal in Canada or the Kuril islands in Russia, the area is quite warm throughout the year due to the influence of the Gulf Stream waters, and insolation is remarkably high, on a par with the French Riviera on the Mediterranean Southern coast of France.
Famous people born in La Rochelle
- Aimé Bonpland (1773-1858), botanist.
- William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 19th century painter.
- Général Jean-Loup Chrétien, the first non-American/non-Soviet cosmonaut to walk in space.
- Marie-Joseph Camille Doré, captain of the Plongeur in 1863-1864.
- Guy-Victor Duperré
- Jean-Pierre Élissalde, former rugby player, French international, currently coaching the Japanese national rugby team
- Jean-Baptiste Élissalde, son of Jean-Pierre Élissalde, rugby player, playing as a scrumhalf in the Stade Toulousain and in the French XV
- Jean-Pierre Favreau, photographer.
- Eugène Fromentin, writer-painter.
- Bernard Giraudeau, actor, movie and play director .
- Jacques Grollet, explorer of the Mississippi.
- Jean Guiton, mayor during the Siege of La Rochelle.
- Guy Laroche (1923-1989), fashion designer.
- Melissa Lauren, porn star.
- René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur one of the great scientists of the 18th century.
- Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux, a 17th century French writer.
Famous people who lived in La Rochelle
- Alcide d'Orbigny, 18th century botanist.
- Oscar Dahl, uncle of author Roald Dahl, who owned a fishing business
Gallery
External links
- City council website
- La Rochelle News
- La Rochelle Attractions
- Visiting La Rochelle (English with PDF map and photos)
- Webpage about the fortifications
Communes of Charente-Maritime | Préfectures | Coastal towns in France | port cities
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