# Things to see in La Rochelle (France): 37 places and when to go

> La Rochelle is a town in France with around 77,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 37 places in and around it, mainly History (13), Wildlife (8), Food and drink (8). The best known are La Rochelle Cathedral, La Rochelle station and Notre-Dame-de-Ré abbey. The best time to come is March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 15 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 27. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-rochelle/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** France · 46.1667, -1.15
- **Population:** About 77,000
- **Places:** 37 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/historia/) (13) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/fauna/) (8) · [Food and drink](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/gastronomia/) (8) · [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/naturaleza/) (7) · [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/espiritual/) (4) · [With kids](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/familia/) (3)
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Also possible:** November to February.
- **Nearest airport:** BOD Bordeaux, 153 km as the crow flies

## What to see in La Rochelle

The places in and around La Rochelle, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [La Rochelle Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/cathedrale-saint-louis/): Cathedral located in Charente-Maritime, in France · 645 m
- [La Rochelle station](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/gare-de-la-rochelle/): Railway station in La Rochelle, France · 1.6 km
- [Notre-Dame-de-Ré abbey](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/ancienne-abbaye-notre-dame-de-re-dite-des-chateliers/): Abbey located in Charente-Maritime, in France · 12 km
- [La Rochelle submarine base](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/base-de-sous-marins-de-la-pallice/): History · 4.7 km
- [Fort de La Prée](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/fort-de-la-pree/): Fortress at La Flotte, Charente-Maritime, France · 11 km
- [Fort Énet](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/fort-enet/): Island in Charente-Maritime, France · 18 km
- [Aquarium de La Rochelle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/aquarium-de-la-rochelle/): Public aquarium in France · 1.5 km
- [Ernest Cognacq Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/musee-ernest-cognacq/): Museum in France · 17 km
- [The Chain Tower](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tour-de-la-chaine/): Historic site in La Rochelle, France · 1.3 km
- [Lantern Tower](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tour-de-la-lanterne/): Lighthouse in Charente-Maritime, France · 1.3 km
- [Saint Nicolas Tower](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tour-saint-nicolas/): Tower in La Rochelle · 1.2 km
- [Citadel of Saint-Martin-de-Ré](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/citadelle-et-fortifications/): Fort in La Rochelle, France · 17 km
- [Église Sainte-Catherine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/eglise-paroissiale-sainte-catherine/): Church located in Charente-Maritime, in France · 14 km
- [Fier d'Ars](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/fier-d-ars/): Bay · 27 km
- [Phare de Chauveau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/phare-de-chauveau/): Lighthouse in Charente-Maritime, France · 10 km
- [Réserve naturelle nationale de la baie de l'Aiguillon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-naturelle-de-la-baie-de-l-aiguillon/): Protected area · 13 km
- [Chef de Baie](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chef-de-baie/): Beach · 5.1 km
- [Maison de la Vinatrie](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/maison-a-pan-de-bois-dite-de-la-vinatrie/): House in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, France · 17 km
- [Minimes Beach](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/plage-des-minimes/): Beach in La Rochelle, France · 3.3 km
- [Réserve naturelle nationale de Lilleau des Niges](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-naturelle-de-lilleau-des-niges/): Protected area in France · 28 km
- [Réserve naturelle nationale de Moëze-Oléron](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-naturelle-de-moeze-oleron/): Protected area in France · 27 km
- [Réserve naturelle régionale du marais de la Vacherie](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-naturelle-du-marais-de-la-vacherie/): Protected area in France · 26 km
- [Arrêté de protection d'habitat naturel de la Vallée du Curé](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/arrete-de-protection-d-habitat-naturel-de-la-vallee-du-cure/): Protected area · 17 km
- [Bières de Ré](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/bieres-de-re/): Brewery · 13 km

And the other 13, by what you come to do:

- **Food and drink**: [Brasserie Autrement](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/brasserie-autrement/), [Casse cou](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/casse-cou/), [Frichti et tire-bouchon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/frichti-et-tire-bouchon/), [La Barbette](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-barbette/), [La Beun'aise](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-beun-aise/), [La Rieuse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-rieuse/), [Science Infuse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/science-infuse/)
- **Temples**: [Ancienne église Saint-Nicolas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/ibis/)
- **With kids**: [Parc Animalier Charles-Édouard Beltremieux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/parc-animalier-charles-edouard-beltremieux/), ["Warrior Game"](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/warrior-game/)
- **Nature**: [Pointe D'Arçay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-biologique-dirigee-de-la-pointe-d-arcay/)
- **Hot springs**: [Spa Nuxe](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/spa-nuxe/), [Thalasso Spa Marin](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/thalasso-spa-marin/)

## When to go to La Rochelle

The best time to visit La Rochelle is **March to October**; also possible: November to February. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 8 h 49 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 06 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 36 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 20 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 46 |
| June | Best time | 15 h 33 |
| July | Best time | 15 h 14 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 58 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 18 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 39 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 10 |
| December | Possible | 8 h 27 |

In June there are 15 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 27. In June, 37 of the 37 places are at their best.

When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to La Rochelle

The nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD, Bordeaux), 153 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=46.1667%2C-1.15)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.1667%2C-1.15)

## Other towns nearby

- [Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/saint-pierre-d-oleron/): 13 places · 28 km
- [Avenue Camille Pelletan](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/avenue-camille-pelletan/): 13 places · 29 km
- [Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/saint-hilaire-la-palud/): 8 places · 35 km
- [Le Bernard](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-bernard/): 22 places · 38 km
- [Les Mathes](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/les-mathes/): 10 places · 52 km
- [Vouvant](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/vouvant/): 15 places · 54 km

And all of France, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in La Rochelle?

The best known: [La Rochelle Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/cathedrale-saint-louis/), [La Rochelle station](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/gare-de-la-rochelle/), [Notre-Dame-de-Ré abbey](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/ancienne-abbaye-notre-dame-de-re-dite-des-chateliers/), [La Rochelle submarine base](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/base-de-sous-marins-de-la-pallice/), [Fort de La Prée](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/fort-de-la-pree/). In all, 37 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit La Rochelle?

March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 15 h 33 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 27.

### How do you get to La Rochelle?

The nearest main airport is Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD), 153 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.1667%2C-1.15) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with La Rochelle as the destination and these 37 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).