So the journey continue from Poitou to La Rochelle, with Marion joining on board. It was one windy and cloudy afternoon when we get there, you could not imagine the cold (of cos you can if you are European) since La Rochelle is a coastal city.
We parked our car near to The Lanterne Tower, one of La Rochelle famous tower and praying that the tower open for visit. It was almost 3pm when we get to St Nicolas Tower and we try to rush a bit in order we can see all 3 towers before it closed.
The Saint Nicolas Tower (Tour Saint Nicolas) is the biggest one and once served as a prison. The staircase here is a little bit confusing and i can go round and round and still didn't find my way out if not for the signage. All this passageway was actually separated to avoid both residents and soldiers meeting.
(Saint Nicolas Tower on the right and Chaine Tower on the left)
(the staircase and me :)
Visitor are also allowed to go up on the rooftop which provides view over the old port, Fort Boyard and the other towers.
(The Chaine & Lanterne Tower)
Since there's in no connection between Saint Nicolas and The Chaine Tower (Tour De La Chaine), we had to make a big round on the port to go to Chaine Tower. I was tempted to just swim across but unfortunately its winter and i cannot swim lol
The Chaine tower during our visit housed an exhibition on the departure of immigrants to Canada (yes, french immigrants) and history of La Rochelle. It was a short visit here since we race against time and this tower is a smaller version of Saint Nicolas with no complicated staircases. The tower was originally a residences of a harbor master until 1472. Gosh, thats sounds like zillion years ago. Owh btw, its called chain tower since they use chain mechanism before, which were later demolished.
(at the entrance)
(exhibition and i only have this 2 picture from this tower :s)
We are pretty excited to check The Lanterne Tower (Tour De La Lanterne) because of its design. The tower is 55 meter high and was once the residence of the ship disarmer (the brochure said, officer in charge of keeping the arm of ships entering the port) (ship have arms?).
( Rooftop view from The Chaine Tower)
(The Lanterne Tower)
(St Nicolas & The Chaine tower at the other side)
(at Lanterne tower rooftop)
(view of the port)
(roof)
(The famous 4 Sargent's who was arrested in La Rochelle, died for freedom (Google translate) and the date was our wedding anniversary, and it was 191 years ago :o
After finished with our tower visit, we just go around the city, shop and drink more hot chocolate before heading to Bordeaux.
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