Located at the edge of the 222,000-acre Marais Poiteven National Park, the area known as Green Venice, the seaside town of La Rochelle contains a well-preserved historical center and harbor. The picturesque Vieux Port is one of the biggest yachting centers on Frances Atlantic coast, and the fortified old city is lined with timber-framed medieval houses and 18th-century stone townhouses. Just offshore from La Rochelle are three islands. Ile de Re, linked to land by a 2-1/2-mile bridge, has wonderful beaches, flowering villages, bicycles to rent and a bird sanctuary. Ile d'Aix, just 2 km long, is small enough to walk in a half day. Ile d'Oleron, also connected by a causeway and the largest French island after Corsica, offers an abundance of beaches, oyster farms and medieval ruins.
Tourist OfficePlace de la Petite Sirene - Le Gabut17025 La RochellePhone: 33 5 46 41 14 68Fax: 33 5 46 41 99 85
