Musée maritime de La Rochelle, Maritime museum in La Rochelle, France.
The museum displays a fleet of nine historical vessels in the Old Port basin, including three ships open for public exploration.
The France I meteorological frigate served as a weather observation station for 27 years until satellites replaced its functions in 1985.
The museum preserves forty small pleasure boats and organizes regular conferences about maritime themes in its dedicated auditorium.
Visitors can access guided tours of the ships both at the dock and during sea excursions throughout the operating season.
The red ketch Joshua, built in 1962, completed a solo world tour and survived being torn away by a cyclone in 1982.
Location: La Rochelle
Inception: 1986
Official opening: 1988
Website: http://museemaritimelarochelle.fr/contenu/,Accueil,131
GPS coordinates: 46.15060,-1.15069
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:44
La Rochelle documents over seven centuries of French maritime history through its medieval fortifications and Renaissance architecture. The old port is guarded by three stone towers from the 14th and 15th centuries - the Saint Nicolas Tower, the Tour de la Chaîne, and the Lantern Tower - which once controlled access to the sea. The Great Clock Gate from 1476 connects the harbor front to the old city streets. The city center preserves buildings from the 16th through 18th centuries, with arcaded passages along Rue du Palais and Rue des Merciers. The Fontaine des Pilori dates from the 16th century, while the City Hall features Renaissance facades from 1595. The Musée du Nouveau Monde examines La Rochelle's transatlantic trade connections. The Les Minimes marina now serves more than 5,000 boats, making it one of the largest yacht harbors on the French Atlantic coast. The modern Passerelle Nelson Mandela, opened in 1993, carries pedestrians across the main harbor. Beyond the city center, the bridge to Île de Ré extends roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) across the Bay of Biscay.
La Rochelle and its surroundings offer families a range of activities along the French Atlantic coast. The city itself holds several attractions, including the aquarium with over 12,000 marine animals, medieval towers at the Old Port, and various museums such as the Maritime Museum and the New World Museum. Visitors can walk through the historic center with its Grosse Horloge and Saint-Louis Cathedral or explore the beaches at La Concurrence and Minimes. Port des Minimes provides access to boat trips, while parks like Charruyer Park offer green spaces for relaxation. The region extends to the offshore islands of Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron with their beaches and the Phare des Baleines lighthouse. Inland, attractions include La Palmyre Zoo with over 1,600 animals, Zoodyssée in Chizé, and Court d'Aron floral park in Saint-Cyr-en-Talmondais. History enthusiasts can visit the Corderie Royale and naval museum in Rochefort, while Fort Boyard stands as a recognizable landmark off the coast. Natural areas like Pierre Brune park near Mervent and the Rompsay Canal round out the offerings with walking trails and water activities.
Aquarium de La Rochelle
298 m
Tour Saint-Nicolas
614 m
Gare de La Rochelle
464 m
Tour de la Lanterne
760 m
Tour de la Chaîne
652 m
Grosse Horloge
868 m
Église Saint-Sauveur de La Rochelle
890 m
La Coursive/Scène Nationale La Rochelle
774 m
France I
106 m
La Rochelle rear range light
705 m
Musée des modèles réduits
455 m
Clocher Saint-Jean de la Rochelle
775 m
Église des Carmes
747 m
Bastion du Gabut
519 m
Porte des deux moulins de la rochelle
827 m
Hôtel particulier, 15 rue Verdière, La Rochelle
851 m
La grande roue - La Rochelle
549 m
Maison Pillaud
900 m
Slipway
124 m
Maison Léon
884 m
Passerelle Nelson Mandela
783 m
Admiral Duperré
835 m
Memorial to the Soldiers and Sailors of Charente-Inférieure
757 m
The Wave
612 m
Maison, 1 rue Chef-de-Ville (La Rochelle)
899 m
La Rochelle front range light
603 m
Fortifications maritimes de La Rochelle
681 m
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