La Pallice Cruises

La Pallice is the commercial, deep-water port of La Rochelle, the beautifully maintained and popular coastal city in southwestern France, and capital of the Charente-Maritime department. One of France's principal seaports from the 14th to 17th century, La Rochelle has arcaded Renaissance walkways, half-timbered medieval houses, a plethora of ghoulish gargoyles and a striking amount of lighthouses. The city’s seafaring heritage is reflected in its Vieux Port (old harbour) and vast, modern Les Minimes Marina.

Also Known as La Ville Blanche (the White City), La Rochelle's luminous limestone façades literally glow in the bright coastal sunlight. Places worth uncovering include the city’s fine aquarium and the Musée du Nouveau Monde, which describes La Rochelle's role as a departure point for North America. The shell-shaped pavilions of the Maritime Museum, which opened in 2015, is also worth discovery.