The old port area of La Rochelle is dominated by three 14th and 15th century towers that stand tall at the entrance. Together they are one of the town’s most popular tourist attractions.

The oldest is la Tour de la Chaine (built between 1382-1390), so called because a huge chain was slung from it across to Tour St-Nicholas on the other side when the entrance to the port was expanded in 1824. Just over 400 years ago the first settlers to Quebec left from La Rochelle and Tour de la Chaine now houses a permanent exhibition celebrating this.

Tour de la Lanterne was originally built as a beacon for ships but subsequently became a prison for pirates, enemy seamen including the British, then Huguenots and finally clergy during the revolution. The only surviving medieval lighthouse on the Atlantic coast, you can still see 600 or so bits of graffiti inscribed on the walls by captured English, Dutch and Spanish seamen and later, military prisoners. The view from the top of the 70m high tower is worth the climb.

Tour St-Nicolas, once a formidable military building, symbolises the power and wealth of La Rochelle at the height of its powers. Forty-two metres high, the inside is a labyrinth of stairs and corridors.

Address and Contact information
Tour de la Chaine
Vieux Port
La Rochelle
Tel: +33 5 46 34 11 81

Tour de la Lanterne
Rue sur les Murs
La Rochelle
Tel: +33 5 46 41 56 04

Tour Saint-Nicolas
Rue de l’Armide
La Rochelle
Tel: +33 5 46 41 74 13

Photo by Paul Arps / CC BY 2.0 image cropped