La Rochelle faience with Chinese decorations. La Rochelle and its region are served by the international La Rochelle - Île de Ré Airport, which has progressively developed over the last 5 years. The U-boat scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark were also shot in La Rochelle. In World War II, it was the location of a German submarine base and suffered from Allied bombing. Türme von La Rochelle Wenn du deinen Besuch von La Rochelle am Alten Hafen begonnen hast, hast du bestimmt die 3 emblematischen Türme gesehen, die den Ein- und Ausgang des Hafens markieren: Der Laternenturm, ein ehemaliger Leuchtturm, der auch als Gefängnis diente. Since 1991 the city has annually hosted the Marathon de La Rochelle, the second most popular marathon of France and an international-level race which featured 10,000 participants in 2010. This was a period of high artistic, cultural and architectural achievements for the city. Haustierfreundliche Unterkünfte kosten im Durchschnitt 95 € pro Nacht in La Rochelle. On the initiative of Gaspard de Coligny, the Calvinists attempted to colonize the New World to find a new home for their religion, with the likes of Pierre Richier and Jean de Léry. La Rochelle was the first French city, with Rouen, to experience iconoclastic riots in 1560, at the time of the suppression of the Amboise conspiracy, before the riots spread to many other cities. Log In. Route planen. This page was last edited on 29 January 2021, at 02:52. La Rochelle ist eine Stadt in Frankreich, die auf dem westlichen Ufer des Golfes von Biskaya in der Region Poitou-Charentes liegt. La Rochelle, city, Atlantic seaport and capital of Charente-Maritime département, Nouvelle-Aquitaine région, western France, situated on an inlet opposite Ré Island. Hôtel Kyriad La Rochelle Centre Ville. Das Herz der Stadt ist und bleibt daher der malerische "Vieux Port" ("Alter Hafen"). Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Das Hôtel Kyriad La Rochelle Centre Ville … La Rochelle liegt direkt am Atlantik. Opposite it stands the Tower de la Chaîne, so named because at night a big chain was strung between it and Saint-Nicolas Tower to close the port. Because of its western location, which saved days of sailing time, La Rochelle enjoyed successful fishing in the western Atlantic and trading with the New World, which served to counterbalance the disadvantage of not being at the mouth of a river (useful for shipping goods to and from the interior). The expedition however ended in a fiasco for England with the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Not Now. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [31][32] Many of these ceramics can be viewed at the Musée d'Orbigny-Bernon. Die Entfernung zu Nantes im Norden beträgt ungefähr 150 km, zu Bordeaux … [18] This led to numerous conflicts with the Catholic central government. La Rochelle’s modern industries include the manufacture of composite materials, chemicals, medical products, and railway rolling stock. Passwort vergessen? Am frühen Abend war es de… Info. Neues Konto erstellen. Anmelden. Der ViaMichelin-Stadtplan von La Rochelle: Nutzen Sie die bewährten Karten von Michelin und profitieren Sie von unserer mehr als 100-jährigen Erfahrung. With 75,735 inhabitants in 2017, La Rochelle is the most populated commune in the department and ranks fifth in the New Aquitaine region after Bordeaux, the regional capital, Limoges, Poitiers and Pau. Die Anzahl der Bevölkerung beträgt ungefähr 77 Tausend Menschen. The city, which has straight, regular streets, a large park, and shady promenades on the sites of its old fortifications, grew considerably after 1946, especially to the west. [42], Prefecture and commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, "Heavily potted plates with crude red and green Chinese figures were made in large numbers " in, "The industry only really started to flourish in La Rochelle towards the middle of the 18th century (...) new everyday vessels were decorated "au petit feu" with flowers and Chinese figures then in fashion. After abolitionist movements led by such people as Samuel de Missy, the slave trade of La Rochelle ended with the onset of the French Revolution and the war with England in the 1790s, the last La Rochelle slave ship, the Saint-Jacques being captured in 1793 in the Gulf of Guinea. Vidéo. [6] La Rochelle was the Templars' largest base on the Atlantic Ocean,[7] and where they stationed their main fleet. Its inhabitants are called "les Rochelaises" and "les Rochelais". Früher war La Rochelle der bedeutendste französische Hafen am Atlantik, was heute allerdings nur noch auf die Fischerei, nicht mehr auf den internationalen Handel, bezieht. The old town has been well preserved. Free private parking is available. Un spot chic et convivial sur le Vieux-Port. The inn serves a large South African breakfast in the dining room. [22] A fleet from La Rochelle fought a royal fleet of 35 ships under Charles, Duke of Guise, in front of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, but was defeated on 27 October 1622, leading to the signing of the Peace of Montpellier. The opening of the English market following the second marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152, the presence of the Knights Templar and the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, quickly made this small town the largest port on the Atlantic. C17infos. Messen in La Rochelle ab Februar 2022 haben folgende aktuelle Messetermine ergeben: Respire la Vie La Rochelle An early result of this was the burning at the stake of two "heretics" in La Rochelle in 1552. 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 on display (sadly rotting) at the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle. They also developed wine production, shipping its products throughout the Empire. The entrance to the old port is defended by two massive 14th-century towers. La Rochelle - Tor zum Atlantik & Hafenstadt im Département Charente-Maritime. During the 18th century, its style was greatly influenced by Chinese themes and Japanese Kakiemon-type designs. The city has more than 10,000 students each year. Many of the 16th- and 17th-century houses, built over arcades, are decorated with gargoyles and strange allegorical figures. La Pallice is a port of call for cruise ships and is the location of a specialized fishing port and its related processing activities. 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. Météo La Rochelle. [2], To this day, the city still possesses a rich historical fabric, including its Saint-Nicholas tower, and urban heritage. Haus-Nr. La Rochelle Agglo. The capital, Aunis, has become the most important coastal city between the Loire and Gironde estuaries. Hier erhalten Sie Informationen für Ihren Aufenthalt. Nonprofit Organization . La Rochelle Ensemble. [citation needed]. Together with the Excelia Group (La Rochelle Business School), they are the largest institutions of higher education of La Rochelle (7,000 and 3,500 students respectively). 75 waren hier. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/La-Rochelle, Western France Tourist Board - Cognac Country. Für Segler ist die Stadt schon deshalb eine gute Adresse. In 1196, wealthy bourgeois Alexandre Auffredi sent a fleet of seven ships to Africa seeking wealth. oder. Sie ist ein wichtiges Handel- und Schifffahrtszentrum sowie ein beliebter Touristenort mit vielen Sehenswürdigkeiten wie dem Porte de la Grosse Horloge. The English came to the support of La Rochelle, starting the Anglo-French War, by sending a major expedition under the Duke of Buckingham. The main activities of the city were in the areas of maritime commerce and trade, especially with England, the Netherlands and Spain. The large submarine pens built during World War II still stand there, although they are not in use. Jetzt nicht. Geben Sie Ihren gewünschten Mietzeitraum sowie weitere Suchkriterien ein und klicken Sie auf Suchen. It is in fact a "Door océane" by the presence of its three ports (of fishing, trade and yachting). Die Tour führt weiter durch das Marktviertel. [25], The period following the wars was a prosperous one, marked by intense exchanges with the New World (Nouvelle France in Canada, and the Antilles). Until the 15th century, La Rochelle was to be the largest French harbour on the Atlantic coast, dealing mainly in wine, salt and cheese. Auf Karte anzeigen. [citation needed] The name was first recorded in 961 as Rupella, from a Latin diminutive meaning 'little rock'. Eine vollendete Komposition aus Eleganz, Design und Komfort. This is the only deep water port of the French Atlantic coast; it is ranked as the sixth-most important port nationally. TV Channel. Mehr von Centre Universitaire de Français Langue Étrangère - La Rochelle auf Facebook anzeigen. Omissions? The University of La Rochelle was established in 1993. Corrections? See more of La Rochelle Info on Facebook. Nützliche Infos für Touristen, rund um die Stadt zu Sehenswürdigkeiten, Anreise, Verkehr [citation needed], Eleanor married Henry Plantagenet in 1152, who became king of England as Henry II in 1154, thus putting La Rochelle under Plantagenet rule, until Louis VIII captured it in the 1224 Siege of La Rochelle. Forgot account? [citation needed], Robert de La Salle departed from La Rochelle, France, on 24 July 1684, with the aim of setting up a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi, eventually establishing Fort Saint Louis in Texas. The nearby Île de Ré is accessible via a bridge from La Rochelle.[40]. While a new city has grown up round it, the historic centre of La Rochelle, standing on the edge of the Old Port and the floating harbour. Under Köppen’s climate classification, La Rochelle features an oceanic climate. Following negotiations by the French Navy frigate captain Meyer, the general German capitulation occurred on 7 May and French troops entered La Rochelle on 8 May. The fleet allegedly left laden with knights and treasures just before the issue of the warrant for the arrest of the Order in October 1307.[9][10]. [7] A popular thread of conspiracy theory originating with Holy Blood, Holy Grail has it that the Templars used a fleet of 18 ships which had brought Jacques de Molay from Cyprus to La Rochelle to escape arrest in France. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Harbour with Saint-Nicolas (left) and La Chaîne (right) towers, La Rochelle, France. Die Stadt befindet sich 470 Meter von Paris entfernt. La Grainetière. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. La Rochelle is a city on the central west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. During the Plantagenet control of the city in 1185, Henry II had the Vauclair castle built, remains of which are still visible in the Place de Verdun.[5]. Sehen Sie sich alle 1 Touren für Le Bunker de La Rochelle … Mit dem Fahrrad . La Rochelle . [citation needed], In 1809, the Battle of the Basque Roads took place near La Rochelle, in which a British fleet defeated the French Atlantic Fleet. Under Henry IV, and under the regency of his son Louis XIII, the city enjoyed a certain freedom and prosperity. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Protestants pillaged churches, destroyed images and statues, and also assassinated 13 Catholic priests in the Tower of the Lantern. La Rochelle armateurs (shipowners) became very active[26] in triangular trade with the New World, dealing in the slave trade with Africa, sugar trade with plantations of the West Indies, and fur trade with Canada. Layers of thick white rock, formed during period of relatively warm seas, alternate with highly fragile layers containing sand and remains of mud, formed during colder periods, and with layers containing various corals, that were formed during warmer, tropical times. Hotel in La Rochelle. The reason for the expulsions was that Catholics deeply resented a degree of revival of Protestant ownership of property within the city.[24]. 1, Parvis Fernand Braudel. The French and Spanish decisively defeated the English, securing French control of the Channel for the first time since the Battle of Sluys in 1340. The establishment of La Rochelle as a harbour was a consequence of the victory of Duke Guillaume X of Aquitaine over Isambert de Châtelaillon in 1130, and the subsequent destruction of his harbour of Châtelaillon. The rooms at La Rochelle Inn have satellite TV, a private bathroom, a tea/coffee maker and a seating area. La Rochelle, city, Atlantic seaport and capital of Charente-Maritime département, Nouvelle-Aquitainerégion, western France, situated on an inlet opposite Ré Island. With 75,735 inhabitants in 2017, La Rochelle is the most populated commune in the department and ranks fifth in the New Aquitaine region after Bordeaux, the regional capital, Limoges, Poitiers and Pau. After the short-lived attempt of France Antarctique, they failed to establish a colony in Brazil, and finally resolved to make a stand in La Rochelle itself. The countryside of the surrounding Charente-Maritime is very rural and full of history (Saintes). Am Golf von Biscaya liegt die französische Stadt La Rochelle in der Region Poitou-Charentes gegenüber der Île de Ré. The city, which has straight, regular streets, a large park, and shady promenades on the sites of its old fortifications, grew considerably after 1946, especially to the west. In the 15th century a third tower, the Tower de la Lanterne, a round base surmounted by an octagonal spire, was built as a lighthouse. For the first time in France, a city mayor was appointed for La Rochelle, Guillaume de Montmirail. The city supported the Protestant movement of William of Orange in the Netherlands, and from La Rochelle the Dutch under Louis of Nassau and the Sea Beggars were able to raid Spanish shipping.[19][20]. Newspaper. [22], In 1625, a new Huguenot revolt led by Duke Henri de Rohan and his brother Soubise led to the Capture of Ré island by the forces of Louis XIII. Es gibt ein umfassendes Radwegenetz in La Rochelle. ", La Rochelle touristic board at the "Pointe du Chay", Muséum d'histoire naturelle de La Rochelle, List of twin towns and sister cities in France, Communes of the Charente-Maritime department, "La Rochelle, port français sur l'Atlantique au XIIIe siècle", "La Rochelle classée troisième ville de France la plus agréable à vivre", "City on the Ocean Sea: La Rochelle, 1530–1650 : Urban Society, Religion, and Politics on the French Atlantic Frontier", "War Against the Idols: The Reformation of Worship from Erasmus to Calvin", "Fortress of the Soul: Violence, Metaphysics, and Material Life in the Huguenots' New World, 1517–1751", "The Pattern of French Colonial Shipping to Canada before 1760", "The French Atlantic: Travels in Culture and History", "The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts: Aalto to Kyoto pottery", "Données climatiques de la station de La Rochelle", "Normes et records 1961–1990: La Rochelle Aérodrome (17) – altitude 22m", "La Rochelle : le chantier nautique Amel ouvre ses portes et recrute", "How to reach us? [15] Further cases of Reformation iconoclasm were recorded in La Rochelle from 30 May 1562, following the Massacre of Vassy. [29][30] Bernard Palissy was born in the region and had some bearing in this development. La Rochelle Inn is located in peaceful Meerensee in Richards Bay and features 2 outdoor swimming pools, a tropical garden and a terrace. The rue des Merciers is typical of the old streets. The train station Gare de La Rochelle offers connections to Bordeaux, Nantes, Poitiers, Paris and several regional destinations. Info pratiques et locales à La Rochelle. Der Ketten-Turm, der zuvor als Eingangstor zum Hafen diente. 110993. [14] Pierre Richier became "Ministre de l'église de la Rochelle" ("Minister of the Church of La Rochelle") when he returned from Brazil in 1558, and was able to considerably increase the Huguenot presence in La Rochelle, from a small base of about 50 souls who had been secretly educated in the Lutheran faith by Charles de Clermont the previous year. Its Protestant ship-owning and merchant class prospered in the 16th century until the Wars of Religion devastated the city. Soubise conquered large parts of the Atlantic coast, but the supporting fleet of La Rochelle was finally defeated by Montmorency, as was Soubise with 3,000 when he led a counter-attack against the royal troops who had landed on the island of Ré.[23]. La Rochelle was founded during the 10th century and became an important harbour in the 12th century. In La Rochelle gibt es verschiedene Ferienunterkünfte, die es gestatten, Ihr Haustier mitzunehmen. From the harbour, boating trips can be taken to the Île d'Aix and Fort Boyard (home to the TV show of the same name). 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. Public Service. La Rochelle. Situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean the city is connected to the Île de Ré by a 2.9-kilometre (1.8-mile) bridge completed on 19 May 1988. Although at the same latitude as Montreal in Canada or the Kuril islands in Russia, the area is exceptionally mild throughout the year due to the influence of the Gulf Stream waters, the summers are relatively warm, and insolation is remarkably high, in fact, the highest in Western France including sea resorts much further in the south such as Biarritz. The old commercial harbour, too shallow for large ships, is now the centre of one of the largest yachting harbours along the French Atlantic coast, fostering important related economic activity (the design, building, and supply of boats). Contact : redac.larochelleinfo@gmail.com Nearby Île de Ré is a short drive to the North. Hier findet ihr eine große Auswahl an Lokalen, Einkaufsmöglichkeiten und Abendunterhaltung sowie berühmte historische Sehenswürdigkeiten wie die 3 Türme von La Rochelle. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. Other buildings of interest are the Gothic Porte de la Grosse-Horloge, the Renaissance Hôtel de Ville, and the 18th-century Hôtel de la Bourse. Inland is the country of Cognac and Pineau. Weiter unten auf dieser Seite können Sie alle Ferienhäuser in La Rochelle einsehen. La Rochelle seldom experiences very cold or very warm weather. Info pratiques et locales à La Rochelle. Salt evaporation ponds dating from the same period have also been found. The Allied siege of La Rochelle took place between 12 September 1944 and 7 May 1945. In 1402, the French adventurer Jean de Béthencourt left La Rochelle and sailed along the coast of Morocco to conquer the Canary islands.[12]. Residieren mit Charme, wohnen mit Raffinesse, in einer der besten Lagen Berlins im Grunewald: Für ein Leben voller Leichtigkeit bietet Villa La Rochelle luxuriösen Entfaltungsraum im Stil eines französischen Landhauses. Epicerie/Cave/Café. La Rochelle became one of the French centres for faience in the end of the 18th century. 4,848 talking about this. Richelieu, the king’s minister, besieged the town and built a vast sea wall to prevent English ships from relieving their allies. La Rochelle, Frankreich, Örtlichen Touristeninformation. Immobilien La Rochelle (17000) : 7 Häuser zum Verkauf. In weiten Teilen der Innenstadt ist der Autoverkehr nur beschränkt möglich. However, La Rochelle entered into conflict with the authority of the adult Louis, beginning with a 1622 revolt. [citation needed]. The bedrock of La Rochelle and surrounding areas is composed of layers of limestone dating back to the Sequanian stage (upper Oxfordian stage) of the Jurassic period (circa 160 million years ago), when a large part of France was submerged. In the 18th century the loss of Canada by the French further reduced La Rochelle’s trade. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. La Pallice is equipped with oil unloading equipment, and mainly handles tropical wood. [citation needed]. La Rochelle ist eine Küsten- und Hafenstadt am Golf von Biscaya, ungefähr auf der Hälfte der französischen Westküste. Änderungen vorschlagen. La Rochelle ist bekannt für seine umweltfreundliche Verkehrspolitik. Infos Strände La Rochelle Die Stadt La Rochelle verfügt über drei Strände, Chef-de-Baie, de la Concurrence und Des Minimes - Plage de Chef-de-Baie Der knapp 200 Meter lange Sandstrand liegt westlich des Alten Hafens hinter einem kleinen Fischerhafen und dem Handelshafen La Pallice. The city traces its origins to the Gallo-Roman period, attested by the remains of important salt marshes and villas. [28] In February 1794, the National Assembly legislated the Universal Emancipation decree, which effectively freed all colonial slaves. After 15 months’ siege, the town capitulated, three-fourths of its citizens having starved to death. | Destination Ile de Ré", "Actualité Transport > Le port de La Rochelle lance ses trains avec ECR", Komen breaks La Rochelle record with 2:07:13, Bibliography of the history of La Rochelle, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Rochelle&oldid=1003465745, Port cities and towns on the French Atlantic coast, Geography articles needing translation from French Wikipedia, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Occitan (post 1500)-language text, Pages using infobox settlement with image map1 but not image map, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2014, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity and snowy days 1961–1990). La Rochelle developed in the 12th century after the neighbouring town of Châtelaillon was destroyed by the dukes of Aquitaine. The remaining Protestants of La Rochelle suffered new persecutions, when 300 families were again expelled in November 1661, the year Louis XIV came to power. Fifty years later Eleanor of Aquitaine upheld the communal charter promulgated by her father. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. [citation needed] Roman villas have been found at Saint-Éloi and at Les Minimes. Département de la Charente-Maritime. Related Pages. [27], The city eventually lost its trade and prominence during the decades spanning the Seven Years' War, the French revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Actu La Rochelle. In 1571 the city of La Rochelle suffered a naval blockade by the French Navy under the command of Filippo di Piero Strozzi and Antoine Escalin des Aimars, a former protagonist of the Franco-Ottoman alliance. It was also chosen in 2018 for the location shooting of the German television series Das Boot (a sequel to the 1981 Classic). It underwent sustained development in the classic period, and maintained standing in the contemporary period because of its port La Pallice. The conflict ended with the 1573 Peace of La Rochelle, which restricted the Protestant worship to the three cities of Montauban, Nîmes and La Rochelle. Die alte Hafengebiet an den sonnigen Straßencafés zu entspannen, während durch das sanfte Plätschern der Wellen einlullen. It is also the location of the fishing fleet, which was moved from the old harbour in the centre of the city during the 1980s. Its urban activities are multiple and strongly differentiated. 2004 marked the 20th anniversary of this event. During the Renaissance, La Rochelle adopted Protestant ideas. Media/News Company. Jetzt geöffnet . During the Hundred Years' War in 1360, following the Treaty of Bretigny La Rochelle again came under the rule of the English monarch. He has been described, by Lancelot Voisin de La Popelinière, as "le père de l'église de La Rochelle" ("The Father of the Church of La Rochelle"). OFP La Rochelle is a freight railway serving the port. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Informationen und ein Radwegeplan finden sich … Its harbour opens into a protected strait, the Pertuis d'Antioche since the Middle-Ages. [citation needed]. Informationen zu La Rochelle Die Geschichte von La Rochelle ist aufgrund der Lage an der Biskaya hauptsächlich durch das Meer geprägt. Calvinism started to be propagated in the region of La Rochelle, resulting in its suppression through the establishment of Cours présidiaux tribunals by Henry II. To the North is Venise Verte, a marshy area of country, crisscrossed with tiny canals and a resort for inland boating. Following these events, Louis XIII and his Chief Minister Cardinal Richelieu declared the suppression of the Huguenot revolt the first priority of the kingdom. The pentagonal Saint-Nicolas Tower, the larger of the two, is an imposing fortress with crenellated walls and a keep. [33] The limestone thus formed is traditionally used as the main building material throughout the region. FINDE UNS. The French Socialist Party has held its annual summer convention (Université d'été) in La Rochelle since 1983. Die Hafenstadt La Rochelle (75.735 Einwohner, 2017) liegt am Atlantik im Golf von Biscaya, gegenüber der Île de Ré und ist ein wichtiges Schifffahrts-, Handels- und Fremdenverkehrszentrum. 09:00 - 12:15, 13:30 - 16:30. Wir empfehlen Ihnen, Touren für Le Bunker de La Rochelle frühzeitig zu buchen, um sich einen Platz zu sichern. A city of strong commercial tradition, its port was active from its origins. Klicken Sie auf die einzelnen Objekte, um zu den Häuserbeschreibungen zu gelangen. Die Hauptfassade wurde unter Heinrich IV. During the Second World War, Germany established a submarine naval base at La Pallice (the main port of La Rochelle). Preis ansteigend Preis absteigend Wohnfläche ansteigend Wohnfläche absteigend Von … (1999) city, 76,584; urban area, 171,214; (2014 est.) A German stronghold, La Rochelle was the last French city to be liberated at the end of the war. The growing persecution of the Huguenots culminated with the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in 1685. It slowly recovered its former prosperity but declined once more after 1685, when the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, depriving French Protestants of religious and civil liberty, led to massive emigration. The Romans subsequently occupied the area, where they developed salt production along the coast. The base is featured in the computer game Commandos 2: Men of Courage. La Rochelle is one of a number of provincial French cities that escaped the ravages of the 19th and 20th centuries, and have conserved their historic centres. [21] The city was finally besieged during the Siege of La Rochelle (1572-1573) during the French Wars of Religion, following the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in August 1572, and occurred at the same time as other sieges of Protestant cities such as the Siege of Sancerre. Der Hafen von Rochelle ist noch immer das Herz dieser im Mittelalter gegründeten Stadt. Sortieren. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. La Rochelle possesses a commercial deep water harbour, named La Pallice. The city is also an administrative, commercial, and tourist centre. Under the communal charter, the city obtained many privileges, such as the right to mint its own coins, and to operate some businesses free of royal taxes, factors which would favour the development of the entrepreneurial middle-class (bourgeoisie). Meanwhile, cannon shots were exchanged on 10 September 1627 between La Rochelle and Royal troops. The Knights Templar had a strong presence in La Rochelle since before the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who exempted them from duties and gave them mills in her 1139 Charter.