Getting There — The La Rochelle–Ile-de-Ré airport (www.larochelle.aeroport.fr; tel. 08-92-23-01-03) is on the coast, 4km (2.5 miles) north of the city. Take Illico bus 1b to reach it; one-way ticket 1.30€. For information and schedules, visit yelo-agglo-larochelle.fr or call tel. 08-10-17-18-17.
Six to nine trains from Bordeaux and Nantes arrive daily (trip time: 2 hr.; from 26€ one-way). A few direct TGVs arrive from Paris’s Gare Montparnasse, although some require a transfer at Nantes (trip time: 3 hr., although this also benefits from the high-speed rail link if you work out the connection times well); the one-way fare is from 35€. For train information, visit sncf-connect.com or call tel. 36-35.
The main bus lines in, out, and around the city leave from place de Verdun tel. 05-46-00-95-15 for information).
If you’re driving, follow A10 south from Poitiers to exit 33 toward La Rochelle/Niort/St-Maixent, and then take N11 west to the coast and La Rochelle.
Visitor Information — The Office de Tourisme is on Quai Georges Simenon, Le Gabut (www.larochelle-tourisme.com; tel. 05-46-41-14-68).
Special Events — The busiest month is July because the Festival International du Film de La Rochelle rolls in at the beginning of the month. It attracts a huge following of fans, press, actors, directors, and, of course, paparazzi. Screenings are held around town; a pass for 10 screenings costs 55€. For information, contact the festival office, at 10 Quai Georges Simenon (www.festival-larochelle.org; tel. 05-46-52-28-96 or 01-48-06-16-66). For a week in mid-July, Les Francofolies, a festival of French-speaking music, features big names as well as not-so-famous groups, many of them international musicians. The town is overrun with fans, and a party atmosphere prevails. Tickets range from 17€ to 70€. Call tel. 05-46-28-28-28 for details (www.francofolies.fr).
La Rochelle is also the site of the biggest showcase of boats and yachts in Europe, Le Grand Pavois–Salon Nautique. It’s a 6-day extravaganza in late-September attracting some 80,000 visitors. The action is based in and around La Rochelle’s Port de Plaisance (better known as the Bassin des Yachts, or Yacht Basin). Sellers and buyers of boats and marine hardware, as well as weekend sailors from everywhere, usually attend. For information about dates and venues, check www.grand-pavois.com or call tel. 05-46-44-46-39.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
