Prompt start and slow drive to La Rochelle. Skipped morning coffee to arrive at a large Aire in the city. Fantastic that the municipality arrange such good motorhome stop off areas.
After a spot of lunch, a wander along the sea front to the harbour side.
La Rochelle is a coastal city in southwestern France and capital of the Charente-Maritime department. It’s been a center for fishing and trade since the 12th century, a maritime tradition that’s reflected in its Vieux Port (old harbor) and huge, modern Les Minimes marina. The old town has half-timbered medieval houses and Renaissance architecture, including passageways covered by 17th-century arches.
The harbour is guarded by a stone wall, with the entrance flanked on either side by large fortified towers.
Around the quayside were masses of cafes and restaurants. It was a busy bustling place and although walking into town gave some respite, it still remained the busiest place we have visited in this trip.
Sharon found an amazing, and extremely popular, marchand de glace and bought herself a massive lemon meringue and coconut ice cream!
Even the walk back to the Aire didn’t disappoint, as we walked behind the sea front through Parc Franck Delmas. More French architecture revealed itself. Within the 6.2 hectares park a bourgeois house, owned by the former masters of the place, sits in the heart of wooded paths and various plant developments. The park very rich in holm oaks, has a collection of conifers and integrates the types of plant found in ancient Mediterranean gardens. Like the shipowners’ gardens, it was completed with plants that travelling botanists brought back from their journeys.
Finally it is worth mentioning the key theme of our visit – electric hook up! There aren’t enough outlets for all the vans to connect too. So, the outlet next to our van was in use by Motorhomes deploying extension leads to pitches along way from ours. After the disappointment of not plugging in (not that we needed too, but it was the principle) as we sat for an evening cuppa an outlet became free! Oh the joy 🤣 ⚡️
The Brindley Boxer 