Nice read. I’ve always thought that La Rochelle would be a nice place to live (always my criteria 😂). I’ve only wizzed through on our way to I’sle de Re and others. It was a long time ago and I loved it there. Felt oddly like home (the beaches).
After reading this, I would like to go and discover more. Thanks 😊
People seem to love living in La Rochelle, and it often shows up on those "nice to live in cities" lists. It was extremely pleasant with tons of bikes and bike paths.
As an aside, I found out when we went to Biarritz that French people who live next to the ocean look down a bit at the Mediterranean -- they call it "la piscine"! Did you know that?
Yes. It’s a very different atmosphere. My daughter lived in Biarritz for awhile and we discovered it a bit. Biarritz is Cape Cod and the Mediterranean is Miami 😂😂. I hope you get the reference.
Oh how nice, I hope you got to go there a few times at least. I wrote three entire articles about it on my main site; this was a selection of some places that struck me the most (the links are in this piece.) It's fun to look back on my travels undertaken over the past year and a half.
I enjoyed reading about all the fascinating things to see in La Rochelle. The name of the city got me wondering if there was a connection to New Rochelle, New York. (I admit, I only know of New Rochelle because it was where the Petrie family lived in the Dick Van Dyke Show…)
“In the late 16th century, thousands of French Huguenots (Protestants) escaped religious persecution by sailing to English colonial territories that were more welcoming to their faith. In 1688 thirty-three Huguenot families formed a settlement in Westchester County, and in honor of their former home La Rochelle, they named it New Rochelle.”
How interesting, thank you! I didn't exactly know this. If you had asked if I thought New Rochelle was related to La Rochelle, I would have said certainly -- but did not know the exact story of its being founded directly by Protestants from La Rochelle.
La Rochelle did undergo some of the harshest persecution of Protestants in France with that horrible siege.
yes, and it very recently dawned on me where the name of the state of Maine probably comes from, when I visited Angers (pronounced "awn-shay") a town that's in the French "département" called... "Maine-et-Loire" because of the local Maine & Loire rivers 😉😊.
Well, I just made that connection myself thanks to you. Then again, I’m not so good at that sort of link. It took me years to figure out that “dentiste” was connected to “dent.” In my French learning, “dent” had been a word I had to learn, and “dentiste” a cognate, and that was that.
I visited La Rochelle, many years ago now and too many to remember exactly when but I do recall being spellbound by those arches when they were lit up at night. I also remember a small exhibition of paintings by a local artist that I fell in love with and have never ever been able to trace since. I wrote her name on a piece of paper — no phones in those days — and immediately lost it. I still think about that artist today and often do a Google search just in case I throw in the necessary word to locate her.
Royan would be a big enough town for me to explore. I went there once with our daughters way back when, but we just stayed along the beach and went to the zoo, so I didn’t get much of a feel for it. I have to say it’s not high on my list. I’d probably prefer going to Rochefort.
We really enjoyed our visits in Rochefort to the Corderie Royale, la statue des Demoiselles de Rochefort and a nice Sunday market, and we saw a three masted boat fitted out for a 'climbing (accro-mats) activity. Our restaurant (les Étincelles I believe) made everything on site, except for the excellent bread.
Nice read. I’ve always thought that La Rochelle would be a nice place to live (always my criteria 😂). I’ve only wizzed through on our way to I’sle de Re and others. It was a long time ago and I loved it there. Felt oddly like home (the beaches).
After reading this, I would like to go and discover more. Thanks 😊
People seem to love living in La Rochelle, and it often shows up on those "nice to live in cities" lists. It was extremely pleasant with tons of bikes and bike paths.
As an aside, I found out when we went to Biarritz that French people who live next to the ocean look down a bit at the Mediterranean -- they call it "la piscine"! Did you know that?
Yes. It’s a very different atmosphere. My daughter lived in Biarritz for awhile and we discovered it a bit. Biarritz is Cape Cod and the Mediterranean is Miami 😂😂. I hope you get the reference.
Definitely! 😅
You have excellent details in this article Betty! I learned a few more things about this city where one of my daughters lived for 3 years.
Oh how nice, I hope you got to go there a few times at least. I wrote three entire articles about it on my main site; this was a selection of some places that struck me the most (the links are in this piece.) It's fun to look back on my travels undertaken over the past year and a half.
Such a great article! I’ve been there twice but after reading your post, I want to go there again! « Jamais deux sans trois »!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you! It is a great town.
This is one of my favorite reads by Betty Carlson!
Refreshing to get insight on historical context that should not be ignored while at the same time reading about the great things to see in the city.
Thank you Betty for sharing!
Thank you! There's a lot to see in La Rochelle, but it was fun to distil it into a shorter selection.
I enjoyed reading about all the fascinating things to see in La Rochelle. The name of the city got me wondering if there was a connection to New Rochelle, New York. (I admit, I only know of New Rochelle because it was where the Petrie family lived in the Dick Van Dyke Show…)
“In the late 16th century, thousands of French Huguenots (Protestants) escaped religious persecution by sailing to English colonial territories that were more welcoming to their faith. In 1688 thirty-three Huguenot families formed a settlement in Westchester County, and in honor of their former home La Rochelle, they named it New Rochelle.”
You probably already know this!
How interesting, thank you! I didn't exactly know this. If you had asked if I thought New Rochelle was related to La Rochelle, I would have said certainly -- but did not know the exact story of its being founded directly by Protestants from La Rochelle.
La Rochelle did undergo some of the harshest persecution of Protestants in France with that horrible siege.
yes, and it very recently dawned on me where the name of the state of Maine probably comes from, when I visited Angers (pronounced "awn-shay") a town that's in the French "département" called... "Maine-et-Loire" because of the local Maine & Loire rivers 😉😊.
Well, I just made that connection myself thanks to you. Then again, I’m not so good at that sort of link. It took me years to figure out that “dentiste” was connected to “dent.” In my French learning, “dent” had been a word I had to learn, and “dentiste” a cognate, and that was that.
p.s. the source for my info: https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2022/04/the-curious-names-of-westchester-countys-villages-and-towns.html
Hi Betty, thank you for another great post!
I visited La Rochelle, many years ago now and too many to remember exactly when but I do recall being spellbound by those arches when they were lit up at night. I also remember a small exhibition of paintings by a local artist that I fell in love with and have never ever been able to trace since. I wrote her name on a piece of paper — no phones in those days — and immediately lost it. I still think about that artist today and often do a Google search just in case I throw in the necessary word to locate her.
Gorgeous weather were having this day... 🙄 xx
I would love to think so Betty… ever the optimist I am!!
Yes, they are especially gorgeous at dusk or lit up at night.
Your artist story is intriguing! I wonder if that mystery will every be solved...
great article about La Rochelle, Betty! I was wondering if nearby Royan is a big enough town for you to explore? it's also lovely.
Royan would be a big enough town for me to explore. I went there once with our daughters way back when, but we just stayed along the beach and went to the zoo, so I didn’t get much of a feel for it. I have to say it’s not high on my list. I’d probably prefer going to Rochefort.
oh yes Rochefort definitely, with the famous shipyard where they built a replica of Lafayette's ship. 🙂
We really enjoyed our visits in Rochefort to the Corderie Royale, la statue des Demoiselles de Rochefort and a nice Sunday market, and we saw a three masted boat fitted out for a 'climbing (accro-mats) activity. Our restaurant (les Étincelles I believe) made everything on site, except for the excellent bread.