Located on the right bank of the Charente River, 10 km east of the Bay of Biscay and 126 km north of Bordeaux, the town of Rochefort was established as a naval base in the 17th century upon the request of Louis XIVs Minister of the Navy, Jean-Baptiste Colbert. Laid out in a grid pattern, the town centers on the place Colbert and its 18th-century fountain. Rochefort is also renowned as the home of naval officer and writer Pierre Loti; his former house (141 rue Pierre-Loti) is now a museum, where visitors can explore the exotic rooms decorated with souvenirs brought back from Lotis travels abroad.
Tourist OfficeAvenue Sadi-Carnot17300 RochefortPhone: 33 5 46 99 08 60Fax: 33 5 46 99 52 64