Romantic walks between land and sea in La Rochelle

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La Rochelle
© Vianney Dugrain Pixabay CC

Reading time: 0 minPublished on 16 December 2024

Take a stroll along the old port, wander through the secret passageways of the old town, breathe in the scents of the sea - you'll fall under the spell of La Rochelle. It's the perfect place for a romantic stroll, so let yourself be guided...

Walk to Port-Neuf

A beautiful route along the sea: from the Plage de la Concurrence to the Corniche de Port-Neuf. Port-Neuf is a district to the west of La Rochelle, around thirty minutes' walk from the historic centre.

Start your walk at Plage de la Concurrence and follow the seafront along the landscaped promenade.
Continue your walk through the Parc d'Orbigny.
Take the time to sit on one of the benches and enjoy the view of the ocean: Bout du Monde lighthouse, marina...
In the distance, you'll see the red beacon marking the end of the Richelieu breakwater built during the Great Siege of 1627-1628.

All around you, you'll see the silhouettes of the trees, tormented by the coastal wind and undeniably contributing to the charm of this natural setting in the heart of the city.

Along the way, you'll come across an old bandstand, a romantic spot par excellence... And as you leave the park, continue on your way to the seafront again, along the sea wall.

Here, from the terrace of a café, the view is breathtaking and you can enjoy the sunset hand in hand.

A stroll in the Parc des Pères

Nestling in the Minimes district in the south of La Rochelle, the pretty Parc des Pères awaits you.

Stretching over ten hectares, this park is criss-crossed by a pedestrian and cycle path, adorned with southern-style vegetation.

Continue along the park's paths, along the seafront towards the Pointe des Minimes, with a breathtaking view of :

the replica of the Phare du Bout du Monde lighthouse,
La Rochelle harbour,
Fort Boyard,
Fort Enet,
the islands of Ré, Aix and Oléron.

Stroll around the Old Port

At the end of the day, start your walk from the Old Port and, facing the 2 towers of La Rochelle, take the Rue de l'Escale and enjoy the intimate atmosphere of the place.

You can also enjoy the peace and quiet of the cobbled streets in La Rochelle's pedestrian precinct. This is a 100% romantic walk, during which you can discover the treasures of the old town in the shade of timber-framed houses and other sculpted stone facades.

La Rochelle also has a wealth of pedestrianised areas, so take a stroll down the rue du Temple, the rue Saint-Sauveur, the rue Bletterie, the rue des Gentilshommes and the rue Saint-Nicolas for guaranteed moments of peace and quiet.

Intimate places

Take advantage of the timeless places in La Rochelle for romantic rendezvous:

Cloitre des Dames Blanches (rue Saint-Michel)
Maison Henri II (rue des Augustins)
Peristyle of the Commercial Court (rue du Palais)
Place de la Fourche (access via rue Saint-Nicolas)
Cour de la Commanderie (access via rue de la Commanderie)
Jardin des Plantes (rue Albert 1er)

Further information: 

La Rochelle Tourist Office

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The editorial staff of France.fr follows the trends and news of destinations to bring you stories from France that reveal its innovations and traditions that make you long to (re) discover its territories.

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