Tours de La Rochelle Castles / Towers / Forts in La Rochelle

Panoramic views of the city, harbour and islands.
Looking out to theAtlantic, the Tour Saint-Nicolas (14th century), the Tour de la Chaîne (14th century) and the Tour de la Lanterne (12th and 15th century) are the remains of a great fortification cation building campaign undertaken in the City of La Rochelle from 1199. The “Tour Saint Nicolas” and “Tour de la Chaine” form the majestic gateway to the Old Port and for ten centuries formed the key defensive bastions to the city. As true palatial constructions and city castles, they are the symbol of a city with a very rich hand proud seafaring and trading heritage.

The Tour de la Lanterne, the oldest lighthouse on the Atlantic coast and then a navy prison, contains over 600 examples of graffiti carved into the walls by prisoners in over 3 centuries.

From October 1ᵉʳ to March 31

• 10 am - 1 pm and 2:15 pm - 5:30 pm
• Closed on 1ᵉʳ Monday of each month.

From April 1ᵉʳ to June 30

• 10am - 1pm and 2:15pm - 6:30pm
• Closed on 1ᵉʳ Monday morning of each month.

From July 1ᵉʳ to August 31

• 10am - 6:30pm

From September 1ᵉʳ to September 30

• 10am - 1pm and 2:15pm - 6:30pm
• Closed on 1ᵉʳ Monday morning of the month.

Please note: last access to the monument 45 minutes before closing time. Closed on January 1, May 1ᵉʳ and December 25.

Accessibility

• Chain tower, number of floors during the visit: 3
• Saint-Nicolas tour, number of floors during the visit: 5
• Tour of the lantern, number of floors during the visit: 7

Services

•   Shop
• Rental of spaces: interior rooms and terraces available in 3 laps (capacity per space up to 104 people seated and up to 150 standing people)

Visits

Free visit with visit document

• French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian
• Duration: 30 minutes at 1 hour per turn

Visit with Audioguide

• French, English, German, Spanish

• Guided tour
• French, English (subject to availability)
• Duration: 45 minutes at 1 hour per turn

Until children's book

• French English

Events and exhibitions throughout the year:

• www.tours-la-rochelle.fr

Access

Point of convergence for the Ile de Ré of the Nantes, Poitiers, Limoges and Bordeaux roads

• De Poitiers / Paris: A10 Direction Bordeaux, exit 33 then N11
• De Bordeaux: A10 Direction Paris, A837 then N137
• De Nantes: A83 Direction Bordeaux, outing 7 then N137 and N11
• Port of La Rochelle: 2 km
• Vélodyssée: final step Les Sables -d'Olonne - La Rochelle