If you're visiting La Rochelle, you can't miss a visit to its beautiful medieval towers, the unmistakable symbolic landmarks of the enchanting French city.
What to expect
In the Old Port of La Rochelle, in the region of Poitou-Charentes, you will see three magnificent medieval towers that controlled the transit of merchant ships. Saint Nicholas, the Lantern, and the Chaîne are the 14th-century watchtowers that were built as a defense for the city.
With this ticket, you will have access to the Lantern tower, the tallest of the three, and the only medieval lighthouse left on the Atlantic coast. You will also enjoy entry to Saint Nicolas and Chaîne tower, which were used to monitor the movements of ships. You will hear all about how these two watchtowers were linked by a chain.
Timetables
- From October 1st to March 31st: the towers open every day from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2:15 pm to 5.30 pm
- From April 1st to September 30th: they are open every day from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2:15 pm to 6:30 pm
Please note that between September and June, the towers will be closed on the first Monday of each month.
Last admission is 45 minutes before closing.
These times are flexible and may be subject to change.
Free admission
Admission to the La Rochelle is free for the following individuals:
- Young people from the European Union between 18 and 25 years old.
- Children under 18 years old, regardless of their nationality.
Admission is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month between January 1 and March 31, and between November 1 and December 31. It is also free to enter on the 3rd weekend in September.
In order to acquire the free admission mentioned above, you'll have to go to the site’s ticket office and present a certifying document of your eligibility for a free ticket.
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