 |
| La Rochelle has become one of our favorite destinations. |
During our recent trip to La Rochelle, the weather was clear and cold. Now that we're fairly frequent visitors to this beautiful city on France's west coast, thanks to having family living there now, we're less likely to sightsee. However, this trip we visited the city's maritime fortifications. We also took a lovely walk along new paths through an urban marsh, le marais de Tasdon.
The Towers of La Rochelle
 |
| An artist's view of the port of La Rochelle in the 18th century |
 |
| A 21st-century view of La Rochelle's port |
La Rochelle's most recognizable landmarks are its three towers. In 1372, after being bounced back and forth between France and England rule, the city became autonomous. La Rochelle's port was strengthened by the construction of two towers: Tour Saint-Nicolas and Tour de la Chaîne, the Chain Tower. These two towers became the symbol of a renewed alliance with France's King Charles V. Soon afterwards, La Tour de la Lanterne, the Lantern Tower, completed the trio.
 |
| Tour Saint-Nicholas in La Rochelle |
According to the website tours-la-rochelle.fr, all three towers were built to be lived in, but two of them, Saint-Nicolas and Chaîne, were used as prisons for Huguenots, foreign sailors, and military prisoners. Lanterne was used to disarm boats entering the harbor and as a lighthouse.
 |
| Looking across the La Rochelle's harbor from one of its towers |
A visit to the towers includes climbing a lot of stairs, with the lots of great views along the way. The walls of many rooms are etched with intricate graffiti of former occupants.
 |
| La Rochelle's other two towers as viewed from Tour de la Lanterne |
 |
| This engraved sea scene was likely created by a sailor held captive in the Lantern Tower in La Rochelle. |
 |
| A colorful view from one of La Rochelle's towers |
 |
| Port Neuf can be seen in the distance from La Tour de la Lanterne in La Rochelle. |
The towers are open every day (closed the first Monday of the month) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:15-5:30 p.m. (6 p.m. in the summer). One ticket (9.50€) allows access to all three towers.
Le marais de Tasdon
 |
| The Tasdon marsh is located two kilometers from the center of La Rochelle. |
The Tasdon marsh is a network of paved paths and footbridges through an area of La Rochelle that had been salt marshes since the Middle Ages. In the 1930s, the marsh became a cattle grazing area. In 1962, the area was cut off from the sea with the construction of the Moulinette dam, and then was partially filled in when a new neighborhood was constructed.
 |
| More than 150 species of birds can be found at Tasdon marsh in La Rochelle, although we saw hardly any at all on our walk. |
This wetlands area has seen a lot of changes in recent years, with a focus on the environment. I asked a friend who lives in La Rochelle if she walks at le marais de Tasdon, and she said she had never heard of it. This could be why we saw few other walkers on the crisp sunny day of our stroll there.
 |
| A friendly walker waves at us up in a watch tower at Tasdon marsh in La Rochelle |
 |
| We saw few birds on our winter walk in La Rochelle's Tasdon wetlands, but we did spot this goat. |
