La Rochelle
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La Rochelle is a city on the Atlantic coast of France, located in the Charente-Maritime department of the New Aquitaine region. As the administrative center (prefecture) of its department, it serves as an important hub for local government and commerce in the area.
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Place details
- Locality
- La Rochelle
- Region
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Country
- France
- Population
- 76,810
Article
La Rochelle ( UK: /ˌlæ rɒˈʃɛl/, US: /ˌlɑː roʊˈʃɛl/, French: [la ʁɔʃɛl] ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: La Rochéle) is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. With 78,535 inhabitants in 2021, La Rochelle is the most populated commune in the department and ranks fourth in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region after Bordeaux, the regional capital, Limoges and Poitiers.
Situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the city is connected to the Île de Ré by a 2.9-kilometre-long (1+3⁄4-mile) bridge completed on 19 May 1988. Since the Middle Ages the harbour has opened onto a protected strait, the Pertuis d'Antioche, and is regarded as a "porte océane" or gateway to the ocean because of the presence of its three ports (fishing, trade and yachting). The city has a strong commercial tradition, having an active port from very early on in its history.
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AunisCities in Nouvelle-AquitaineCommunes of Charente-MaritimeFortified settlementsGeography articles needing translation from French WikipediaKriegsmarine submarine basesLa RochellePopulated coastal places in FrancePopulated places established in the 10th centuryPort cities and towns on the French Atlantic coastPrefectures in FranceSantones