La Rochelle Historic Port

La Rochelle, the principal city of Charente-Maritime in Nouvelle Aquitaine, is one of the best-preserved medieval port cities on France's Atlantic coast, with a remarkably intact historic core radiating from the Vieux Port (Old Harbor). The harbor entrance has been guarded since the 14th century by three medieval towers: the Tour Saint-Nicolas on the north quay, the Tour de la Chaîne directly opposite on the south quay—connected by the great chain that closed the port to enemy vessels—and the slender Tour de la Lanterne, the tallest of the three, which served simultaneously as lighthouse, dungeon, and cannon tower. All three towers are open to visitors and contain exhibitions on their history; the Tour de la Lanterne preserves graffiti carved by English and Dutch prisoners centuries ago. The Vieux Port basin is lined with seafood restaurants and yacht berths, and the covered arcaded streets of the old town—the longest network of arcaded medieval streets in France after Berne—shelter pedestrians from rain and sun. La Rochelle is famous as France's bicycle capital, with an extensive free-bike system called Yélo and over 100 km of dedicated cycle paths. The city's Aquarium, one of the largest in Europe, is a popular family destination adjacent to the old port. The Musée Maritime occupies historic vessels moored in the Bassin des Chalutiers, including a submarine and a former trawler. La Rochelle's history is also marked by the devastating siege of 1627–1628 during the Wars of Religion, when Cardinal Richelieu starved the Huguenot city into surrender, a story told in the city's history museum.