Top 10 things to do in Rochefort

Rochefort is a city of art and history that is a pleasure to visit. Located in Charente-Maritime, between Saintes and La Rochelle, it is bordered by the Charente, offering landscapes between ports, green spaces and small cobbled streets. Escape for a weekend to Rochefort, a lively and cultural city of character with a renowned sweetness of life.

Photo opening of the article: Marc / AdobeStock

1. The Museum of Old Trades in Rochefort

Discover a fascinating and unusual journey through a 1900 building. During a 3-hour visit, over nearly 1,000 m2 and 3 floors, immerse yourself in the Museum of Old-Fashioned Trades, in the atmosphere of yesteryear through public schools, old-fashioned bistros or the hat shop. Hidden like a treasure, admire a private collection of antique objects picked up by an enthusiast, Jean-François Bourbigot.

2. The Royal Rope Factory in Rochefort

It offers a magnificent glimpse of the power and pride of the French Navy during the reign of Louis XIV. At 374 meters long, this exceptional building forms part of the incredible heritage of the Rochefort Maritime Arsenal, and remains the longest factory in Europe. Dive into a maritime history of ropes and sails, which at the time were manufactured by the Corderie Royale for warships.

3. The Arsenal des Mers in Rochefort

This is an adventure not to be missed. For a day at the Arsenal des Mers, become a topman, engineer, captain or ship's carpenter and take the helm for an extraordinary expedition along the banks of the Charente. A must-see in Rochefort, enjoy unforgettable experiences at the top of the mast climber, or during an evening full of emotion in summer with the Oceana Lumina night show. You will never have loved sailing so much.

4. The Naval Aeronautical Museum of Rochefort

It is the only one in France dedicated solely to this theme. Free visits on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons allow you to observe collections of aircraft, engines and equipment, made available by the French Navy and the Air and Space Museum. With 1,500 models, museum pieces and a library containing a thousand volumes, it is over 4,000 m2 of space that ANAMAN volunteers preserve and restore the equipment of the time.

5. The Transporter Bridge in Rochefort

Experience a unique journey over the Charente River. A true architectural feat, the Rochefort Transporter Bridge is an improbable path built between two banks in 1900, after 27 months of work. With its incomparable aesthetic, it can be called the exceptional "iron lady of Charente-Maritime", like the Eiffel Tower.

6. Rochefort city center

On a route of almost 5 km, crisscross the alleys and walk along the checkerboard streets to discover many treasures. Arsenal, private mansions and stone buildings, the one and a half hour walk is quickly swallowed up. Make a stop under the covered market to enjoy the market, a building constructed in 1672 by Colbert to supply the population.

7. The theatrical guided tour in Rochefort

Organized in summer by the tourist offic , it is a fun and educational way to discover Rochefort through a period character, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Hero of two worlds, he tells you about the city in the Age of Enlightenment, during the Monarchy, the Empire, and finally its restoration. Street theater and guided tour, there is a desire for freedom in listening to him.

8. The marina in Rochefort

It is a peaceful place and a very pleasant place to walk in the cool summer evenings. A pretty little sheltered port, it welcomes many boats all year round that you can observe while listening to the incredible and melodious sounds of the wind against the masts. Sit on a bench for a quiet break, or take a walking path.

9. Water activities in Rochefort

The town offers accessible leisure activities that are very popular with Rochefort residents and holidaymakers. Canoeing, paddleboarding, optimist, dinghy sailing, pirogue rides or sailing cruises - you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to having fun. Grab your paddles and sails and let's go for a seaside escape.

10. The Rochefort Begonia Conservatory

It is open to visits of up to 9 people maximum in the greenhouses. With the largest collection in the world, more than 1,500 botanical and hybrid begonias are preserved as an exceptional historical treasure. Low creeping plants from Mexico, tuberous from Chile or colorful foliage from New Guinea, experience a unique and fragrant plant journey to the heart of begonias, a herbaceous plant discovered by Charles Plumier and given to Michel Bégon who gave it its name.

Bonus: The Pierre Loti House

After many years of closure for a major renovation, the Pierre Loti House in Rochefort has finally reopened its doors. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich world of the writer-traveler. More than just a home, this house (or rather these houses) is a true time machine, where each room evokes the adventures and passions of Julien Viaud, alias Pierre Loti.

The restoration work has made it possible to recreate with remarkable fidelity the eclectic atmosphere and the accumulation of souvenirs brought back from the four corners of the world. The reopening of this emblematic place is a major event for Rochefort's heritage and invites everyone to a fascinating motionless journey, in the footsteps of a man whose imagination knew no bounds.

The town of Rochefort has some well-hidden secrets. You are now the confidants of the Rochefortais who have told you their story. Continue your excursion in Charente-Maritime to Saint-Nazaire-sur-Charente and visit Fort Lupin, built to protect boats, or set off to explore Île Madame by bike.

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