La Rochelle

Fishing port on the Bay of Biscay in western France; population (1999) 76,700, conurbation 116,300. It is the administrative centre of Charente-Maritime département. Industries include shipbuilding, chemicals, motor vehicles, fish-canning, and saw-milling. A Huguenot stronghold, it was taken by Cardinal Richelieu in the siege of 1627–28.

Features La Rochelle is a bishopric, has many historic buildings, and is an important tourist centre. It is the fifth largest fishing port in France (by weight of catch). The larger ships wishing to dock near La Rochelle are handled by the port of La Pallice, 5 km/3 mi to the west, where there is a ferry service to the Ile de Ré. La Rochelle was the capital of the old province of Aunis. An important port since the 14th century, it became a Huguenot centre in the 15th and 16th centuries, withstanding a six-month siege by the royal forces in 1573. In 1627 the town sided with England, but surrendered to Louis XIII and Richelieu after a resistance of 15 months. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was the centre of trade with French Canada.