LA ROCHELLE, FRANCE

Arriving in the centre of La Rochelle, we shall enjoy a tour of this seaboard town. We will view the old port with its three towers – Tour de la Lanterne, Tour de la Chaîne and Tour St Nicolas.

Arriving in the centre of La Rochelle, we shall enjoy a tour of this seaboard town. We will view the old port with its three towers – Tour de la Lanterne, Tour de la Chaîne and Tour St Nicolas. We can also see the Town Hall, which is one of the main monuments of La Rochelle, the ‘Big Clock’, the Cathedral and the port of Les Minimes – the biggest pleasure port on the Atlantic coast in Europe, home to over 3,000 boats. We continue on to the island of Re, accessible by an elegantly constructed, arc-shaped bridge – three kilometres (nearly two miles) long. We will see the full charm of the island with its long beaches, maritime pine forests and typical villages. The fortified town of St Martin de Re, the lighthouse of Phare Des Baleines and the south coastline with Ars en Re and Le Bois-Plage will be viewed from our coach. After crossing the majestic bridge, a photo stop will be made at the ancient Abbaye des Chateliers. The ruins of this Cistercian Abbey, founded in the 12th century and destroyed in 1623, stand with the wind whistling through them on the bleak moorland. A short drive will take us to St Martin de Re, which is the picturesque capital of the island. Formerly an active port and military stronghold, St Martin has now gracefully turned into a charming tourist centre. The narrow streets, still bumpy with cobblestones, have largely managed to retain the atmosphere of the 17th century. After a short walking tour with our guide, we will be given free time to explore the various boutiques and cafés. Our next stop is in the small village of Ars En Re, nestling in the salt marshes. The village is typical of the area with its white houses and colourful shutters. Once devoted to the salt trade, the old harbour nowadays welcomes modern yachts and sailing ships. The church’s bell tower spire, painted black and white, is still used as a landmark by sailors. A scenic drive along the coast of the island will take us back to the pier. There is approximately 1½ hours of walking involved, some of which is over paved streets and uneven ground.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES