LA ROCHELLE: 28 & 29.VI.09

La Rochelle, a commercial centre and busy port since the 11th century, has suffered much from a distressing tendency to back the wrong side - the English and the Calvinists, for example. This led to the ruthless siege of the city by Cardinal Richelieu in 1628, during which 23,000 people starved to death. The walls were destroyed and the city's privileges withdrawn.




On either side of the entrance to the harbour are "Tour de la Chaîne" and "Tour St-Nicolas". A huge chain used to be strung between them to ward off attack from the sea, and Karl is standing next to a portion of that chain.



This anchor should suit a fairly big ship, don't you think?

The glory of La Rochelle is the old harbour surrounded by stately buildings.

Diane and I fell for the likes of that notorious Captain Hook!

We found the richly decorated 16th century courtyard façade of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) worth visiting.

Do you think that Karl blends right in?

No, this is not Karl, but the legs are good.

There is an incredible exhibit of "La Nouvelle France" in "Tour de la Chaîne". We were particularly interested in this since we made our way to this city knowing that my and Richard's ancestors left for Canada from this port.

Notice the Québec flag flying here.

The first poster we saw upon entering the exhibit was one with the name Jean Gobeil in prominent letters! Jean Gobeil was that 1st settler in our geneology.

So of course Richard and I posed below the poster.

Can you make out the Gobeil name on the list of names of all the people who left France to come to Canada?

There's the Bilodeau name, too, my maternal grand-father's name.

This tower was multi-storied and the stairs were old, steep and uneven. Still, this was one exhibit that was worth every moment of our time!