! the appealGreater La Rochelle HOW BEST TO DESCRIBE LA ROCHELLE? To convey its remarkable cultural and sporting offering, which makes it one of the most dynamic urban areas in France? To present the ancient history of a rebellious and humanist city, proud of its past yet resolutely turned towards the future? To do justice to this relatively small territory open to the world, with an outstanding quality of life, nestled in the iconic Nouvelle Aquitaine region? To demonstrate its economic assets and its capacity for innovation, as well as the quality of its higher education and research? To give a rundown of the countless initiatives which have made it a laboratory for urban ecology and a European benchmark of sustainable mobility for over forty years? 2 4-5 HOW BEST TO DESCRIBE Unique LA ROCHELLE? 6-9 Upbeat To convey its remarkable cultural and sporting offering, which makes it one of & vibrant the most dynamic urban areas in France? To present the ancient history of a 10-13 rebellious and humanist city, proud of its past yet resolutely turned towards the Beautiful & free future? To do justice to this relatively small 14-19 territory open to the world, with an outstanding quality of life, nestled in the Radiant iconic Nouvelle Aquitaine region? To demonstrate its economic assets and & attractive its capacity for innovation, as well as the quality of its higher education and research? The answers which fill these pages paint the portrait of an area whose strength To give a rundown of the countless of character is only matched by its multi-faceted appeal. initiatives which have made it a laboratory for urban ecology and a European benchmark of sustainable mobility for over forty years? 20-25 Creative & enterprising 26-29 Intelligent & stimulating 30-35 Pioneering & bold 3 • Over 13,000 students • Internationally renowned university laboratories • Over 40 cutting-edge companies in the agribusiness industry • One of the oldest rugby club in France • 230 km of cycle tracks • An amazing climate and exceptional sunshine rate • France’s highest concentration of nautical companies ue • 40 years of “yellow bicycles” Uniq• 4 millions visitors a year • 90,000 spectators during the Francofolies festival • The 2nd most important marathon of France • The 1st marina on the Atlantic coast rd • The 3 French city with the greatest number of protected buildings st 4 • The 1 electric car sharing system By plane: Lyon, London, Dublin, Paris Brussels Geneva, Porto, Ajaccio… NANTES la rochelle !bordeaux Unique By car: 467 km from Paris, 180 km from Bordeaux, 146 km from Nantes… 5 By train: 2h45min from Paris (Average length from July 2017) A whole host of cultural and sporting events punctuate the seasons and help make La Rochelle an upbeat and festive city throughout the year. This dynamic area boasts a rich and eclectic events calendar offering 01 something for all generations. Upbeat 6 vibr ant & vibr ant 7 A NEVER-ENDING SPECTACLE LA ROCHELLE WAS QUICK TO EMBRACE CULTURE AS A KEY FACTOR IN ITS DEVELOPMENT. As evidenced by its amenities rising like beacons to promote its cultural programming such as the “La Coursive” national theatre, the CCN national choreography centre, the “La Sirène” music venue, the Michel-Crépeau media library and the conservatory of music and dance, etc. While its Nouveau Monde, Beaux-Arts and Maritime museums are all worthy of major European capitals just like the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle and the aquarium. Music comes in a variety of styles with the “Francofolies” and “Jazz entre les deux tours” festivals, as well as the “C d’Accord” autumn programme featuring teachers from the network of music and dance schools... And talking of dance, let us not forget the “Eclats chorégraphiques” biennial event. A student area par excellence, every spring La Rochelle also beats to the rhythm of the “Les étudiants à l’affiche” festival. A PLETHORA OF MAJOR EVENTS La Rochelle’s vitality is reflected in major events, both for the general public and professionals. Large-scale happenings such as Francofolies, the International Film Festival, the Festival of TV Fiction, the international documentary market with the Sunny Side of the Doc and the Grand Pavois boat show, draw in thousands of participants and visitors every year. Cultural vitality 8 spirit spirit SAILING, NATURALLY Team As a leading site for hosting international sailing competitions, La Rochelle is one of the busiest coastal stretches of water in Europe with more than 120 events held each year, across a broad range of disciplines and events. Among the most prestigious are the Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro and the Mini Transat 6.50. La Rochelle is also a benchmark for the organisation of world championship events, especially in dinghy and Team Olympic sailing. For a number of years, it has hosted the French Olympic Week (SOF), one of the largest French sailing events for all disciplines taken together. La Rochelle is definitely a haven for many talented athletes rising to the highest podium steps, just as Charline Picon spirit did at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. SPORT events ON LAND AND SEA In La Rochelle, sport enjoys a growing presence on both land and sea through such renowned running events as the “Serge Vigot Marathon”, one of the biggest in France, but also half-marathons, the “Sarabande des Filles de La Rochelle” for women only, and trail running events, etc. And swimming and cycling can be added to the list with the La Rochelle Triathlon organised in the Bassin des Chalutiers and at Les Minimes. Motor sports have their place too with the traditional Rallye d’Automne. The La Rochelle sporting calendar also features the Red Bull World Championship high-diving competition held at the top of the Tour Saint-Nicolas, the Vertical Ocean Camp (inclined climbing wall over the Bassin des Chalutiers) or the Galea European Tennis Cup - dubbed the “Davis Cup’s little sister” - where top prospects in men’s tennis face off across the net every year. RUGBY IN ITS DNA THANKS TO • 2nd most important marathon in France, STADE ROCHELAIS after Paris with 10,000 international runners La Rochelle is also a city of rugby enthusiasts who unite • Around 15 major festivals each year as one behind the Stade Rochelais team resplendent in its traditional yellow and black. This emblematic and unifying • 90,000 spectators during the 5 days of club regularly smashes attendance records at its Marcel the Francofolies festival Deflandre stadium. More than just a sports facility, the stadium has become a place of communion as well • 60 shows per year at the national theater as business networking where all categories of the “La Coursive” population intermingle. One of the oldest rugby clubs 9 in France, Stade Rochelais returned to the elite Top 14 division in 2014. Since its founding in the 10th century, “the rebel” city of La Rochelle has long cultivated its distinctiveness and independent spirit. It was one of the first French cities to elect a mayor, to be Protestant when the whole country was Catholic, and to prove itself as humanist and ecological before its time. An ancient walled city, it has inherited a rich architectural heritage that has been preserved and enhanced. An age-old city with one eye on the future, La Rochelle has consistently defended the innovative, sustainable and harmonious development of its 02 territory. Beautiful 10 free Beautiful &free 11 A heritage site Akin to an open-air museum, the La Rochelle area is brimming with architectural treasures, ancient stonework and remarkable buildings. A wide variety of styles and periods are in history represented: the Middle Ages with arcaded streets, Renaissance buildings like the City Steeped th Hall, the 18 century mansions of prosperous ship owners and the rural residences of the bourgeoisie to be found in Salles-sur-Mer (chateaux such as Herbaudière, Mortagne-la INDEPENDENT REBORN Jeune, Roullet, Cramahé, Héronière and Founded in the 10th century on a rock The French Revolution and the wars of Borderie). There is also a whole host of villas surrounded by marshes, La Rochelle was at the Empire left La Rochelle somewhat dating from the late 19th century, especially first no more than a simple fishing village. dormant and it only truly reawoke with the in Châtelaillon-Plage, a town in the south of By the 12th century, it had grown into an creation of the deep-water port of La Pallice, the region that has preserved the retro charm of the “Belle Epoque” seaside resorts with its important port. Awarded considerable inaugurated in 1890, a port whose nautical typical architecture, promenade and casino. “privileges” by the Duc d’Aquitaine, it freed qualities led the Germans to establish a The territory has a rural heritage of limestone itself from feudal rule. In 1139, it elected its submarine base there in World War II. The and pretty Charentaise houses as well. first mayor, Guillaume de Montmirail. last French prefecture to be liberated, on 8 May 1945, La Rochelle miraculously suffered no significant war-time destruction. A PLACE OF TRADE The Middle Ages marked the peak of La ON THE RISE Rochelle’s trading activity based on salt and wine (the vineyards growing in the Cognac From 1950 onwards, La Rochelle witnessed production area). It would also remain a surge in its population. New suburbs one of the largest French ports on the sprung up while additional infrastructures Atlantic through to the 15th century. In the also began to emerge: the Les Minimes 16th century, it acquired the status of a free marina in 1972, the TGV to Paris in 1993, city and experienced significant economic the founding of the University the same and cultural development.