Anyone been to La Rochelle and/or Rochefort?
Apr 29th, 2013, 03:50 AM
#5
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We loved La Rochelle when we visited several years ago. It's home to a historic port and beach, close to vineyards, oyster yards, and a half hour drive from Ile de Re, an island where many French families vacation in the summer.
Apr 29th, 2013, 07:07 AM
#7
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La Rochelle is probably on our top-5 list of French cities. The old port, the friendly people, the history and archetecture. AND our favorite gourmet restaurant, Coutanceau, right on the beach...now THAT'S living!!!
Apr 29th, 2013, 07:08 AM
#8
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We did for a couple of days--the drive is too long for a one day visit. On the way to and from, there are interesting Romanesque churches to visit, and stops in the Charente to try cognacs or pineau des Charentes. I recommend it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...45839973/show/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...45839973/show/
Apr 29th, 2013, 08:31 AM
#11
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La Rochelle is absolutely lovely, as is Ile de Ré, but in no way is it a day trip from the Dordogne. It deserves a full 3-4 days minimum, plus some time to enjoy the Cognac area on the way there. Plus Saintes.
And I don't understand your itinerary, either. La Rochelle is hardly on the way from the Loire to the Dordogne.
And I don't understand your itinerary, either. La Rochelle is hardly on the way from the Loire to the Dordogne.
Apr 29th, 2013, 09:23 AM
#12
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I think La Rochelle is do-able if you visit & stay in the western Loire near Angers - but not from the Blois area in the eastern Loire.
Angers to La Rochelle - 2 1/2 hrs
La Rochelle to Sarlat - 4 hrs
Blois to Sarlat - 5 hrs
So if you stay in the area around Angers for your Loire portion of your trip - it only costs you 1 1/2 hrs added driving time to get to Sarlat (over 2 days) versus staying near Blois and driving from there to Sarlat in 1 day.
Day 1
9:00-11:30 drive to La Rochelle from Angers
11:30 - visit La Rochelle. Have lunch & dinner there, stay overnight
Day 2
Visit more of La Rochelle in the AM
1:00-5:00 drive to Sarlat
That's 1 1/8 days in La Rochelle - which is about the amount of time we spent there. We visited just about everything - including the animation museum. We did not visit the Ile de Re. We got to La Rochelle by train from Paris and then took the train to Nantes.
Stu Dudley
Angers to La Rochelle - 2 1/2 hrs
La Rochelle to Sarlat - 4 hrs
Blois to Sarlat - 5 hrs
So if you stay in the area around Angers for your Loire portion of your trip - it only costs you 1 1/2 hrs added driving time to get to Sarlat (over 2 days) versus staying near Blois and driving from there to Sarlat in 1 day.
Day 1
9:00-11:30 drive to La Rochelle from Angers
11:30 - visit La Rochelle. Have lunch & dinner there, stay overnight
Day 2
Visit more of La Rochelle in the AM
1:00-5:00 drive to Sarlat
That's 1 1/8 days in La Rochelle - which is about the amount of time we spent there. We visited just about everything - including the animation museum. We did not visit the Ile de Re. We got to La Rochelle by train from Paris and then took the train to Nantes.
Stu Dudley
Apr 29th, 2013, 09:46 AM
#13
It looks like my explanation for the delights of La Rochelle might be superfluous.
It is a beautiful historic city with a stunning old port, excellent seafood restaurants, a cultural life second to none, and it was even the inventor in France of the free municipal bike system. They were a little optimistic, though, and all of the bikes were quickly stolen.
It is a beautiful historic city with a stunning old port, excellent seafood restaurants, a cultural life second to none, and it was even the inventor in France of the free municipal bike system. They were a little optimistic, though, and all of the bikes were quickly stolen.
Apr 30th, 2013, 06:12 AM
#16
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I don't think you would have time for both La Rochelle and Rochefort. You don't need to add any more stuff to your already full plate.
I don't recall if you're visiting Paris at the first or last part of your trip - but it looks something like this:
- land at CDG, rent a car, and drive to the Loire. Nights 1-4 in the Loire - 3 1/4 days. Jet lag recovery??
- drive to La Rochelle. Spend night 5 there. 1 1/8 days
- Drive to Sarlat & spend nights 6-11 there. 5 days
- train to Paris & spend nights 12-16 there. 4 1/2 days
I wouldn't want to subtract any days from any of the places on this itinerary. We plan to visit Rochefort in late August/early Sept next year when we'll be in La RochelleIld de Re for 2 weeks - so all I've done on Rochefort is research. But I think there are just as many interesting cities around the Dordogne (Perigueux, Figeac, Sarlat, Cahors) as Rochefort. You will have to drive through Saintes - which seems more interesting to me. Perhaps if you leave La Rochelle early on day 6, stop for a 1 1/2 hr visit to Saintes. I've never seen Rochefort's name come up on Fodors, but I have seen Saintes mentioned a few times.
Stu Dudley
I don't recall if you're visiting Paris at the first or last part of your trip - but it looks something like this:
- land at CDG, rent a car, and drive to the Loire. Nights 1-4 in the Loire - 3 1/4 days. Jet lag recovery??
- drive to La Rochelle. Spend night 5 there. 1 1/8 days
- Drive to Sarlat & spend nights 6-11 there. 5 days
- train to Paris & spend nights 12-16 there. 4 1/2 days
I wouldn't want to subtract any days from any of the places on this itinerary. We plan to visit Rochefort in late August/early Sept next year when we'll be in La RochelleIld de Re for 2 weeks - so all I've done on Rochefort is research. But I think there are just as many interesting cities around the Dordogne (Perigueux, Figeac, Sarlat, Cahors) as Rochefort. You will have to drive through Saintes - which seems more interesting to me. Perhaps if you leave La Rochelle early on day 6, stop for a 1 1/2 hr visit to Saintes. I've never seen Rochefort's name come up on Fodors, but I have seen Saintes mentioned a few times.
Stu Dudley
