La Rochelle - Citizendia

For other uses, see La Rochelle (disambiguation).

Coordinates: 46°03′34″N 1°09′05″W / 46.059444, -1.151389

Administration
Commune of La Rochelle
Location

Country	France
Region	Poitou-Charentes
Department	Charente-Maritime
Arrondissement	La Rochelle
Canton	Chief town of 9 cantons
Intercommunality	Communauté d'agglomération de La Rochelle
Mayor	Maxime Bono (2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation	0 m–28 m (avg. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. France is divided into 26 regions or régions (in French of which 21 are in continental Metropolitan France, one is the island of Corsica, Poitou-Charentes is an administrative region in central western France comprising four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division Charente-Maritime is a department on the west coast of France named after the Charente River. The 100 French departments are divided into 342 arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts. The arrondissement of La Rochelle is an arrondissement of France located in the Charente-Maritime département, in the Poitou-Charentes The cantons of France are territorial subdivisions of the French Republic's 341 arrondissements and 100 departments. The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. 4 m)
Land area^¹	28. 43 km²
Population^² (2004)	78,000
- Density	2,744/km² (2004)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	17300/ 17000
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0. As of January 1, 2008, 64473140 people live in the French Republic. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume The INSEE code is a numerical indexing code used by the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE to identify various entities including communes Postal codes were introduced in France in 1972, when La Poste introduced automated sorting. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open
² Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. C D E

La Rochelle is a city and in western France, and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo Cantabrian Sea redirects here Not to be confused with Biscay Bay Newfoundland and Labrador or Biscayne Bay. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime département. Charente-Maritime is a department on the west coast of France named after the Charente River. In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division

The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a 2. Île de Ré (formerly also Île de Rhé; in English Isle of Rhé) is an Island off the west coast of France near La Rochelle, 9 km bridge, completed in 1988. A bridge is a Structure built to span a Gorge, Valley, Road, railroad track, River, Body of water Its harbour opens into a protected strait, the Pertuis d'Antioche. The Pertuis d'Antioche (" Sluice of Antioch " is a Strait on the Atlantic coast of Western France, located between the two

History

Antiquity

Coin of the Santones, 1st century BCE, Cabinet des Médailles. The Santones (Latin santones, modern French Santons) were a tribe of ancient Gaul located in the modern region of Saintonge and around the The Cabinet des Médailles, or Cabinet de France, more formally known as Le département des Monnaies Médailles et Antiquités de la Bibliothèque Nationale, is

The area of La Rochelle was occupied in Antiquity by the Gaul tribe of the Santones, who gave their name to the nearby region of Saintonge and the city of Saintes. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western The Santones (Latin santones, modern French Santons) were a tribe of ancient Gaul located in the modern region of Saintonge and around the Saintonge is a small region on the Atlantic coast of France within the département Charente-Maritime, west and south of Charente Saintes may refer to the following places Saintes Belgium Saintes Charente-Maritime, a commune of France in the Charente-Maritime department The Romans then occupied the area, where they developed salt production along the coast as well as wine production, which was then reexported throughout the Empire. Roman villas were found at Saint-Éloi and at Les Minimes, as well as salt evaporation ponds dating to the same period. Les Minimes is the largest Marina in France for pleasure boats Salt evaporation ponds are shallow man-made Ponds designed to produce Salt from Sea water.

Foundation

La Rochelle was founded during the 10th century, and became an important harbour from the 12th century. In 1137, Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine essentially made La Rochelle a free port and gave it the right to establish itself as a commune. Communes in Europe in the Middle Ages were sworn allegiances of mutual defense (both physical defense and of traditional freedoms among community members of a town or city Fifty years later Eleanor of Aquitaine upheld the communal charter promulgated by her father, and for the first time in France, a city mayor was named for La Rochelle, Guillaume de Montmirail. For other Eleanors of England see Eleanor of England (disambiguation Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine (1122&ndash1 April 1204 Guillaume de Montmirail was a French nobleman who was elected the first mayor of La Rochelle in 1199. Guillaume was assisted in his responsibilities by 24 municipal magistrates, and 75 notables who had jurisdiction over the inhabitants. Under the communal charter, the city obtained many privileges, such as the right to mint its own coins, and to operate some businesses free of royal taxes, dispositions which would favour the development of the entrepreuneurial middle-class (bourgeoisie).

The main activities of the city were in the areas of maritime commerce and trade, especially with England, the Netherlands and Spain. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. In 1196, wealthy bourgeois named Alexandre Auffredi sent a fleet of seven ships to Africa to tap the riches of the continent. Alexandre Auffredi was a wealthy bourgeois of the city of La Rochelle in France, who in 1196 sent a fleet of seven ships to Africa to tap the riches of He went bankrupt and went into poverty as he waited for the return of his ships, but they finally returned seven years later filled with riches.

Until the 15th century, La Rochelle was to be the largest French harbour on the Atlantic coast, dealing mainly in wine, salt and cheese.

Hundred Years War

The naval battle of La Rochelle.

The naval Battle of La Rochelle took place on 22 June 1372 during the Hundred Years War between a Castilian-French and an English fleet. The naval Battle of La Rochelle took place on 22 June 1372 between a Castilian-French and an English fleet Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. The Hundred Years' War (Guerre de Cent Ans was a prolonged conflict lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne vacant with the extinction of the senior The Spanish had 60 ships and the English 40. They also had more knights and men than the English. The French and Castilians decisively defeated the English, securing French control of the Channel for the first time since the Battle of Sluys in 1340. The decisive naval Battle of Sluys (slœys in Dutch, but frequently anglicised as /slɔɪz/ was fought on 24 June 1340 as one of the opening

Sieges of La Rochelle

Cardinal Richelieu at the Siege of La Rochelle. This article is about a cardinal For information on the Russian also called The Red Eminence, see Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov. The Siege of La Rochelle was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627-1628

During the Renaissance, La Rochelle adopted Protestant ideas, and from 1568 became a centre for the Huguenots. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France (or French Calvinists) from the sixteenth to the eighteenth The city was besieged during the French Wars of Religion: Siege of La Rochelle (1572-1573). The French Wars of Religion (1562 to 1598 between French Catholics and Protestants ( Huguenots involved both civil infighting Under Henry IV the city enjoyed a certain freedom and prosperity until the 1620s, but the city entered in conflict with the central authority of the King Louis XIII, when cannon shots were exchanged on September 10, 1627 with Royal troops. For the cognac see Louis XIII de Rémy Martin. Louis XIII ( September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643) Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. This resulted in the Siege of La Rochelle in which Cardinal Richelieu blockaded the city for 14 months, until the city surrendered and lost its mayor and its privileges. The Siege of La Rochelle was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627-1628 This article is about a cardinal For information on the Russian also called The Red Eminence, see Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov. The growing persecution of the Huguenots culminated with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. The Edict of Nantes was issued on April 13, 1598 by Henry IV of France to grant the Calvinist Protestants of Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent Many Huguenots emigrated, founding such cities as New Rochelle in the vicinity of today's New York in 1689. New Rochelle ( French: Nouvelle-Rochelle) is a city in the south-east portion of the U New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous La Rochelle, and the siege of 1627 form much of the backdrop of the later chapters of Alexander Dumas' classic novel, The Three Musketeers

La Rochelle and the New World

La Rochelle harbour in 1762. Joseph Vernet. Musée de la Marine.

La Rochelle harbour in 1762. The Three Musketeers ( Les Trois Mousquetaires) is a Novel by Alexandre Dumas père. Joseph Vernet. Claude Joseph Vernet ( August 14, 1714 &ndash December 3, 1789) was a French painter. Musée de la Marine. The Musée national de la Marine (National Navy Museum is a Maritime museum located in the Palais de Chaillot, Trocadéro, in the XVIe arrondissement

The following period was a prosperous one, marked by intense exchanges with the New World (Nouvelle France in Canada, and the Antilles). The Viceroyalty of New France (Nouvelle-France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Antilles (the same in French; Antillas in Spanish; Antillen in Dutch) refers to the islands forming the greater part of the La Rochelle became very active in triangular trade with the New World, dealing in the slave trade with Africa, sugar trade with plantations of the Antilles, and fur trade with Canada. Triangular trade is a historical term indicating Trade between three ports or regions The history of slavery uncovers many different forms of human exploitation across many cultures throughout history Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Fundamentally a plantation is usually a large Farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country on which Cotton, Tobacco The Antilles (the same in French; Antillas in Spanish; Antillen in Dutch) refers to the islands forming the greater part of the The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal Fur. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page This was a period of high artistic, cultural and architectural achievements for the city.

The city eventually lost its trade and prominence during the decades spanning the Seven Years' War, the French revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The Seven Years' War (1756&ndash1763 involved all of the major European powers of the period causing 900000 to 1400000 deaths The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions During that period France lost many of the territorial possessions it had in the new World, and also saw a strong decrease in its sea power in the continuing conflicts with Britain, ultimately diminishing the role of such harbours as La Rochelle. Naval warfare is Combat in and on Seas Oceans or any other major bodies of water such as large Lakes and wide Rivers History See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands

19th century

The 1863 submarine Plongeur

In 1864, the harbour of La Rochelle (area of the "Bassin à flot" behind the water locks), was the site for the maiden dive experiments of the first mechanically-powered submarine in the World, Plongeur, commanded by Marie-Joseph-Camille Doré, a native of La Rochelle. Plongeur (French for "Diver" was a French Submarine launched on 16 April 1863 A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability Plongeur (French for "Diver" was a French Submarine launched on 16 April 1863 Marie-Joseph-Camille Doré (1831-) was a captain ("Lieutenant de Vaisseau" in the French Navy in the 19th century

Second World War

During the Second World War, Germany established a submarine naval base at La Pallice (the main port of La Rochelle), which became the setting for the movie Das Boot. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability Das Boot (das boːt German for The Boat) is a 1981 feature film directed by Wolfgang Petersen, adapted from a novel of the same The U-Boat scenes in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark were also shot in La Rochelle. Raiders of the Lost Ark (also known as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) is a 1981 Adventure film directed by Steven

A German stronghold, La Rochelle was the last French city to be freed at the end of the War. A siege took place between September 12, 1944, and May 7, 1945, in which the stronghold, including the islands of Ré and Oléron, was held by 20,000 German troops under a German vice-admiral. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Île de Ré (formerly also Île de Rhé; in English Isle of Rhé) is an Island off the west coast of France near La Rochelle, Île d'Oléron (English Island of Oleron) is an Island off the Atlantic coast of France (due west of Rochefort) on the southern Following negotiations by the French Navy frigate captain Meyer, and the general German capitulation on May 7th, French troops entered La Rochelle on May 8th. The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale ( National Navy) and often called La Royale ( The Royal Navy) is the maritime arm

Geography

Geology

La Rochelle seen from Spot Satellite

The limestone cliffs around La Rochelle display the Jurassic geology of the area. The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning

The bedrock of La Rochelle and surrounding areas is composed of layers of limestone dating back to the Sequanian stage (upper Oxfordian stage) of the Jurassic period (circa 160 million years ago), when a large part of France was submerged. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 The Oxfordian stage is the first stage of the Late Jurassic Epoch. The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning These rocks were formed by the accumulation of organisms falling on the seabed, where they solidified. This happened at the time dinosaurs were roaming the earth.

Many of these layers are visible in the white cliffs that border the sea, which encapsulate many small marine fossils. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. Layers of thick white rocks, formed during period of relatively warm seas, alternate with highly friable layers containing sands and remains of mud, formed during colder periods, and with layers containing various corals, that were formed during warmer, tropical times. ^[1]

The limestone thus formed is of course traditionally used as the main building material throughout the region.

The area of La Pointe du Chay, about 5 kilometers from La Rochelle is a popular cliff area for leisurely archaeological surveys. La Pointe du Chay is a limestone promontory about 5 kilometers from La Rochelle, France, between the seafront of Aytré and Angoulins.

Climate

Although at the same latitude as Montreal in Canada or the Kuril islands in Russia, the area is quite warm throughout the year due to the influence of the Gulf Stream waters, and insolation is remarkably high, on a par with the French Riviera on the Mediterranean Southern coast of France. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Kuril Islands (ˈkʊrɪl or /ˈkjuˈriˈl/ Кури́льские острова́ əstrʌˈva ru-Latn ''Kuril'skie ostrova'' or Kurile Islands in Russia Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that Insolation is a measure of Solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time The French Riviera (Côte d'Azur Occitan: Còsta Azzura) is one of the most famous resort areas in the world extending along the Mediterranean Sea west

*Weather averages for La Rochelle, France*
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Avg low (°C)	3. 4	4. 0	5. 4	7. 4	10. 7	13. 7	15. 8	15. 7	13. 7	10. 5	6. 3	3. 9	9. 2
Avg high (°C)	8. 5	9. 9	12. 1	14. 7	17. 9	21. 3	23. 8	23. 5	21. 8	18. 0	12. 6	9. 2	16. 1
Average (°C)	5. 9	6. 9	8. 7	11. 1	14. 3	17. 5	19. 8	19. 6	17. 8	14. 2	9. 4	6. 6	12. 7
Insolation (h)	84	111	174	212	239	272	305	277	218	167	107	85	2250
Precipitation (mm)	82. 5	66. 1	57. 0	52. 7	61. 1	42. 9	35. 1	46. 4	56. 5	81. 6	91. 8	81. 8	755. 3

Demographics

*La Rochelle population by year*
1821	1831	1836	1841	1846	1851	1856	1861
12,327	14,629	14,857	16,720	17,465	16,507	16,175	18,904
1866	1872	1876	1881	1886	1891	1896	1901
18,710	19,506	19,583	22,464	23,829	26,808	28,376	31,559
1906	1911	1921	1926	1931	1936	1945	1954
33,858	36,371	39,770	41,521	45,043	47,737	48,923	58,799
1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2004
66,590	73,347	75,367	75,840	71,094	76,584	78,000

Today

Panoramic picture of the harbour towers at night.

The city has beautifully maintained its past architecture, making it one of the most picturesque and historically rich cities on the Atlantic coast. This helped develop a strong tourism industry.

The industrial harbour of La Pallice, as seen from the bridge to Ile de Ré.

La Rochelle possesses a commercial harbour in deep water, named La Pallice. La Pallice is the industrial harbour of the city of La Rochelle, France. The large submarine bunker built during World War II still stands there, although it is not being used. A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including La Pallice is equipped with oil unloading equipment, and mainly handles tropical wood. It is also the location of the fishing fleet, which was moved from the old harbour at the center of the city during the 1980s.

Catamarans docked at Les Minimes marina. A catamaran (From Tamil 'kattumaram' is a type of Multihulled Boat or Ship consisting of two hulls or vakas joined by some Les Minimes is the largest Marina in France for pleasure boats

La Rochelle also maintains strong links with the sea by harbouring the largest marina for pleasure boats in Europe at Les Minimes, and a rather rich boat-building industry. Les Minimes is the largest Marina in France for pleasure boats

La Rochelle has a very big aquarium.

The Calypso, the ship used by Jacques-Yves Cousteau as a mobile laboratory for oceanography, and which was sunk after a collision in the port of Singapore (1996) is now displayed (sadly rotting) at the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle. The Calypso in popular culture John Denver wrote a 1975 hit song "Calypso" as a tribute to Calypso and her crew Jacques-Yves Cousteau ( 11 June 1910 – 25 June 1997) was a French naval officer explorer, Ecologist, Singapore

One of the biggest music festivals in France, "FrancoFolies," takes place each summer in La Rochelle, where Francophone musicians come together for a week of concerts and celebration. 2004 marked the 20th anniversary of this event.

La Rochelle is the setting for the best-selling series of French language textbooks in the UK, titled Tricolore. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A textbook is a manual of instruction or a standard book in any branch of study The central character, Martine Domme, lives with her family at the fictional address of 12, Rue de la République.

Panorama of La Pallice industrial harbour, seen from Île de Ré.

Tourism

Harbour towers at night.

La Rochelle's main feature is the "Vieux Port" ("Old Harbour"), which is at the heart of the city, picturesque and lined with seafood restaurants. The city walls are open to an evening promenade. The old town has been well-preserved. From the harbour, boating trips can be taken to the Île d'Aix and Fort Boyard (home to the internationally famous tv show of the same name). Île-d'Aix is a small Island in the Atlantic, off the west coast of France. This article is about the fortification of Fort Boyard itself for the game show see Fort Boyard (TV series. Nearby Île de Ré is a short drive to the North. Île de Ré (formerly also Île de Rhé; in English Isle of Rhé) is an Island off the west coast of France near La Rochelle, The countryside of the surrounding Charente-Maritime is very rural and full of history (Saintes). Saintes may refer to the following places Saintes Belgium Saintes Charente-Maritime, a commune of France in the Charente-Maritime department To the North is Venise Verte, a marshy area of country, criss-crossed with tiny canals and a popular resort for inland boating. The Marais Poitevin (Poitevin Marsh also known as Venise Verte (Green Venice is a marsh region in Western France, a remnant of the former Inland is the country of Cognac and Pineau. Cognac is a commune in the French département of Charente, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Pineau des Charentes, ( Pineau Charentais, or simply Pineau) is regional French Aperitif, made in the Départements of Charente

Famous people born in La Rochelle

Réaumur. "Réaumur" redirects here For other uses see Réaumur (disambiguation.

John Theophilus Desaguliers. John Theophilus Desaguliers (pronounced day-za-güly-ay ( 13 March 1683 &ndash 29 February 1744) was a Natural philosopher born in

Botanist Aimé Bonpland. Aimé Jacques Alexandre Bonpland ( 22 August 1773 - 4 May 1858) was a French explorer and botanist.

Admiral Guy-Victor Duperré (1775-1846). Guy-Victor Duperré ( La Rochelle, 20 February 1775 &ndash Paris, 2 November 1846) was a French Admiral

William-Adolphe Bouguereau. William-Adolphe Bouguereau (November 30 1825 – August 19 1905 was a French academic painter.

Jean-Loup Chrétien. Jean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien, is a retired Général de Brigade (brigadier general of the Armée de l'Air (French air force and a former

Aimé Bonpland (1773-1858), botanist. Aimé Jacques Alexandre Bonpland ( 22 August 1773 - 4 May 1858) was a French explorer and botanist. Botany, plant science(s, phytology, or plant biology is a branch of Biology and is the scientific study of plant Life
Alexandre Aufrédy (11??-1220). Alexandre Auffredi was a wealthy bourgeois of the city of La Rochelle in France, who in 1196 sent a fleet of seven ships to Africa to tap the riches of
Amos Barbot de Buzay (1566-1625), magistrate, deputy, historian, writer of Archives historiques de la Saintonge et de l'Aunis de 1199 à en 1575, Pair de France.
Antoine Albeau (born in 1972), windsurfing French champion, freestyle world champion in 2001, and Formula Windsurfing world champion in 2004. Antoine Albeau is a French Windsurfer who holds eleven Windsurfing World Championships in different disciplines since 1994 Windsurfing is a surface water sport using a windsurf board also commonly called a sailboard usually two to five meters long and powered by a single sail
Arthur Verdier (1835-1898), captain.
Bernard Giraudeau (born in 1947), actor, movie and play director. Bernard Giraudeau (born June 18 1947 is a French actor film director scriptwriter and producer He was born in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime.
Charles Édouard Beltremieux (1825 - 1897), politician, naturalist, and mayor.
Damien Touya (born in 1975), fencer who won a gold medal of the Athens 2004 Olympic games, and fencing world champion in 1999.
Eugène Fromentin (1820-1876), writer-painter. Eugène Fromentin ( October 24, 1820 – August 27, 1876) was a French painter and writer
Fabrice Neaud (born in 1968), artist, cartoonist. Fabrice Neaud (b December 17, 1968 in La Rochelle) is a French comics artist
François Tallemant (1620-1693), membre of the Académie française. L'Académie française, or the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language.
Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve (1695-1755), a 18th century French writer.
Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux (1619-1692), a 17th century French writer. Gédéon Tallemant Sieur Des Réaux ( November 7, 1619 - November 6, 1692) was a French Writer known for his
Georges Rignoux.
Guy Laroche (1923-1989), fashion designer. Guy Laroche was a French Fashion designer ( July 16, 1921 in La Rochelle, France – February 17, 1989
Guy-Victor Duperré (1775-1846), admiral, Pair de France, burrier in the Invalides. Guy-Victor Duperré ( La Rochelle, 20 February 1775 &ndash Paris, 2 November 1846) was a French Admiral Peerage of France (Pairie de France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. Les Invalides in Paris, France, is a complex of buildings in the city's 7th arrondissement containing Museums and monuments all relating His name is listed on the inside walls of the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris, France that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle also known as the Place de l'Étoile.
Jacques Grollet, explorer of the Mississippi.
Jacques Nicolas Billaud-Varenne (1756-1819), politician and revolutionary. Jacques Nicolas Billaud-Varenne, also known as Jean Nicolas ( April 23, 1756 &ndash June 3, 1819) was a French personality
Jean Chaudrier (1323-1392), mayor.
Jean Duvignaud (1921-2007), French writer. Jean Duvignaud (1921-2007 was a French Novelist and Sociologist.
Jean Guiton (1585-1654), mayor during the Siege of La Rochelle. Jean Guiton (1585–1654 was born in La Rochelle where he followed the occupation of Ship-owner. The Siege of La Rochelle was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627-1628
Jean-Louis Foulquier (born in 1943), actor.
Jean-Loup Chrétien (born in 1938), the first non-American/non-Soviet cosmonaut to walk in space. Jean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien, is a retired Général de Brigade (brigadier general of the Armée de l'Air (French air force and a former
Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (born in 1977), son of Jean-Pierre Élissalde, rugby unionman, playing as a scrumhalf in the Stade Toulousain and in the French XV
Jean-Pierre Élissalde (born in 1953), former rugby unionman, French international, former coach of the Japanese national rugby team
Jean-Pierre Favreau, photographer. Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (born 23 November, 1977 in La Rochelle, France) is a French Rugby union footballer Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French Rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. The France national rugby union team represents France in Rugby union. Jean-Pierre Élissalde (born December 31, 1953 in La Rochelle) was a French Rugby union player at Scrum half. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short The France national rugby union team represents France in Rugby union.
John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683-1744), physician, mathematician, Isaac Newton's friend and assistant, member of the Royal Society. John Theophilus Desaguliers (pronounced day-za-güly-ay ( 13 March 1683 &ndash 29 February 1744) was a Natural philosopher born in Sir Isaac Newton, FRS (ˈnjuːtən 4 January 1643 31 March 1727) Biography Early years See also Isaac Newton's early life and achievements The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660
Léon Robert de L'Astran (1767-1861), naturalist and scientist. Natural history is the Scientific research of Plants or Animals leaning more towards the Observational than Experimental methods A scientist, in the broadest sense refers to any person that engages in a systematic activity to acquire Knowledge or an individual that engages in such practices
Louis Gargoulleau, captain and mayor.
Marie Madeleine Sophie Armant (1778-1819).
Marie-Joseph Camille Doré, captain of the Plongeur in 1863-1864. Plongeur (French for "Diver" was a French Submarine launched on 16 April 1863
Melissa Lauren, porn star. Melissa Lauren (born October 16, 1984 - in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France) is a French Pornographic actress
Nicolas Gargot de La Rochette (1619-1664), captain, corsair, governor of Placentia. Nicolas Gargot de La Rochette was Governor of Plaisance ( Placentia) Newfoundland in 1660
Paul Ramadier (1888-1961), politician and member of the French Resistance. Paul Ramadier ( 17 March 1888, La Rochelle - 14 October 1961) was a prominent French Socialist politician of The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French Resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German
Pierre Doriole (1407-1485), mayor and Chancelier de France.
René Dorin (1891-1969), French singer.
René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683-1757), one of the great scientists of the 18th century. "Réaumur" redirects here For other uses see Réaumur (disambiguation.
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905), 19th century painter. William-Adolphe Bouguereau (November 30 1825 – August 19 1905 was a French academic painter.
Winshluss (born in 1970), artist, cartoonist. Vincent Paronnaud (born in 1970 aka Winshluss, is a French Comics artist and Filmmaker.
Yohan Ploquin (born in 1978), goalkeeper of the French Handball team.

Famous people who lived in La Rochelle

Saint Louis de Montfort
Blessed Marie Louise Trichet
Alcide d'Orbigny, 18th century botanist. St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, was a French Priest and Catholic Saint, born on 31 January, 1673 in the small Blessed Marie Louise Trichet also known as Marie-Louise de Jésus was a French Catholic figure who with Saint Louis de Montfort, founded Alcide Charles Victor Marie Dessalines d'Orbigny ( September 6, 1802 - June 30, 1857) was a great French naturalist
Oscar Dahl, uncle of author Roald Dahl, who owned a fishing business
Fanny Violeau, freestyle roller slalom skater. Roald Dahl ( 13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British Novelist Short story Writer
Colette Besson, former sprinter and Olympic gold medal winner
David McGowan, Irish Rugby Player
Cyril Gavoille, Bloody Dreams guitarist
Alice Couleuvrat, Bloody Dreams violinist

Sport

Atlantique Stade Rochelais - rugby union team

Notes

^ Source: La Rochelle touristic board at the "Pointe du Chay"

Gallery

La Rochelle, entrance to the harbour, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, 1851. Colette Besson ( April 7, 1946 in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne ( Charente-Maritime) – August 9, 2005 in La Rochelle David McGowan (born 2 February 1988 in Glasgow) is a Scottish football Midfielder currently playing for Clyde Stade Rochelais is a French Rugby union club currently competing in the second level of the French league system, ( Pro D2) Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot ( July 17, 1796 &ndash February 22, 1875) was a French landscape painter and Printmaker	La Grosse Horloge	Tour de la Lanterne	Phare du Bout du Monde
The train station	Entrance to Les Minimes harbour	Old town and harbour	Tour St. Les Minimes is the largest Marina in France for pleasure boats Nicolas (from the Tour de la Chaine)