Fortifications maritimes de La Rochelle, Medieval maritime fortifications in La Rochelle, France.
The maritime defense system consists of three towers guarding the old port: Saint-Nicolas Tower, Chain Tower, and Lantern Tower, connected by thick stone walls.
Construction began in the 12th century when La Rochelle emerged as the main European Atlantic port, with additional fortifications built through the 17th century.
The towers contain numerous engravings made by imprisoned sailors during the 18th century, documenting maritime life through detailed ship illustrations.
Visitors can explore all three towers daily, accessing different levels through spiral staircases that lead to panoramic views of the harbor.
A metal chain stretched between Saint-Nicolas and Chain towers controlled ship access to the port by being raised or lowered through a pulley system.
Location: La Rochelle
Address: rue sur les Murs
GPS coordinates: 46.15588,-1.15518
Latest update: March 11, 2025 13:18
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.
Tour Saint-Nicolas
133 m
Vieux-Port de La Rochelle
121 m
Tour de la Lanterne
152 m
Tour de la Chaîne
67 m
Grosse Horloge
275 m
Commanderie de La Rochelle
405 m
La Coursive/Scène Nationale La Rochelle
106 m
La Rochelle rear range light
436 m
Prefecture hotel of Charente-Maritime
240 m
Hôtel de la Bourse
448 m
Clocher Saint-Jean de la Rochelle
93 m
Parc Charruyer
400 m
Plage de la Concurrence
436 m
Église des Carmes
119 m
Bastion du Gabut
181 m
Porte des deux moulins de la rochelle
301 m
Hôtel Leclerc, La Rochelle
324 m
Hôtel particulier, 15 rue Verdière, La Rochelle
205 m
Maison Pillaud
301 m
Maison Léon
328 m
Musée du flacon à parfum
324 m
Admiral Duperré
272 m
Memorial to the Soldiers and Sailors of Charente-Inférieure
385 m
The Wave
393 m
Monument to Eugène Fromentin
311 m
La Rochelle front range light
223 m
Maison, 1 rue Chef-de-Ville (La Rochelle)
296 m
Maison, 6 rue du Port
417 mReviews
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