Gare de La Rochelle, Railway station in La Rochelle, France
The La Rochelle railway station features a 45-meter clock tower and exterior decorations with marine motifs including shells, fish, and shellfish.
Built between 1910 and 1922 by architect Pierre Esquié, this station replaced an older structure from 1878 during the French state railways expansion.
The station ceiling displays the notable artwork 'Danseurs au ballon' created by local artists Emile Sourice and Nicus Georget.
The station connects travelers to major cities including Paris, Bordeaux, and Tours through TGV high-speed trains and regional TER services.
The station building dimensions were exceptionally large for a town of 30,000 inhabitants when it was constructed in the early 20th century.
Location: La Rochelle
Architects: Pierre Esquié
Official opening: 1878
Elevation above the sea: 5 m
Address: Place Pierre Semard, 17000 La Rochelle 17000
GPS coordinates: 46.15278,-1.14556
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:40
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.
Aquarium de La Rochelle
388 m
Tour Saint-Nicolas
695 m
Vieux-Port de La Rochelle
708 m
Tour de la Chaîne
759 m
Musée maritime de La Rochelle
464 m
Église Saint-Sauveur de La Rochelle
751 m
France I
509 m
La Rochelle rear range light
560 m
Temple protestant de La Rochelle
825 m
Musée des modèles réduits
834 m
Couvent des dames blanches
837 m
Porte Maubec, La Rochelle
709 m
Musée protestant
829 m
Église des Carmes
816 m
Bastion du Gabut
642 m
La grande roue - La Rochelle
401 m
Cloître des Dames Blanches
841 m
Slipway
588 m
Maison Léon
845 m
Admiral Duperré
820 m
Memorial to the Soldiers and Sailors of Charente-Inférieure
650 m
Chapelle de l'hôpital Saint-Louis de La Rochelle
808 m
La Rochelle front range light
625 m
Chapelle des Dames-Blanches de La Rochelle
837 m
Fortifications maritimes de La Rochelle
818 m
Maison, 4 rue des Merciers
858 m
Maison, 6 rue du Port
803 m
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