la Rochelle

[branflake81]

Has anyone ever been? is there enough to do there for a week? are there any good day trips? do you need to hire a car or will train suffice? what's the surrounding countryside like?

Sorry for all the questions!

Hi, my parents live about an hour from there, it's nice, the beaches are good and the old town and harbour area are interesting, there is an aquarium etc. But I'd suggest a car would be very useful, then you can strike out up the coast a bit. There are some lovely places within an hour or so's drive up the coast and also inland including the Marais Poitevin which is a really pretty network of canals, but the outskirts of la Rochelle and the countryside immediately around are pretty much like any other French town i.e lots of big Super U's and Mr. Bricolage stores etc.

It's beautiful there but agree you would be better with a car. I'd love to be going again!