Races in La Rochelle

Are you ready to discover a city with a history deeply shaped by the Gallo-Roman era and the Middle Ages ? Regularly ranked among the best cities to live in, La Rochelle opens its doors to you. Speaking of doors, your Rochelais journey begins after crossing the Porte Royale, the Porte Maubec, and the Porte des Deux Moulins. Then explore the old town, Saint-Louis Cathedral and the old port with its famous towers de la Lanterne, de la Chaîne and Saint-Nicolas (which overlook the harbor) as you stroll along the Quai du Carénage and Quai Dupéré as well as the Cour des Dames (hard to plan a running session there—you’ll struggle to make your way through, especially when the sun is blazing). You can also do a bit of shopping in the 19th-century Market Halls of the Central Market or simply visit the Gabut District, a former fishermen’s village on the old port, just like Saint-Nicolas with its little alleys. If the rain shows up (let’s not forget we’re just a couple of strides from Brittany), you can take shelter in the Natural History Museum, which has nothing to envy its counterpart in New York (no, no, we’re not biased 🇫🇷), the Automata Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, or trace the history of World War II at the Grand Bunker. You got it: it’s impossible to get bored here!

Want to breathe in the invigorating air of the ocean and run through wide green spaces now? La Rochelle is running in multiple dimensions. You can enjoy great outings near the Rompsay Canal (if you want to work your arms, hop in a canoe), in the Parc Charruyer for a nice 2 km loop, or right in the heart of the Tasdon Marshes less than 2 km from the city (a change of scenery guaranteed). The seaside paths are very popular, and the mild winters and warm summers are ideal for lengthening your stride. You’ll never get tired of the scenery—Scout’s honor! You can also head to the city’s beaches like Les Minimes, La Concurrence or Chef-de-Baie goji for a wild sandy session (your calves are going to burn 🦵). To mix things up—and your training too—you can also hop on a bike and take the Vélodysée (as far as Rochefort) or the Vélo Francette (as far as Caen); the routes are magnificent…

To uncover all the secrets and see every corner of La Rochelle, the best thing, of course, is to take part in the city’s races! You can take on the La Rochelle Marathon, France’s second-largest marathon by number of participants after Paris—not too shabby! Want even more? The Half Marathon and Sarabande des filles of La Rochelle are as poetic as they are mysterious.

After you’ve “run” the city every which way, what’s next on the program ? Don’t move—there are still ten thousand treasures to discover! If the city is nicknamed the Ocean Gateway, it’s not for nothing: it enjoys an ideal location facing the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to giving you quick access to Fort Boyard, you can set out to conquer the nearby islands—Île de Ré, Île d’Oléron, or Île d’Aix. If the beaches of La Rochelle aren’t enough for you, no stress there ain't no S, you’ll be spoiled for choice south of the city with those in Châtelaillon, La Platère, Aytré. You can even plan a beautiful trail along the ocean and cross the authentic villages des Bouchôleurs and l'Houmeau. It’s the perfect chance to visit the local oyster farms and swallow down a few oysters 🦪 (rich in vitamins A, B2, B3 and B12 💪).

If you want even more adventure, you can head a little further south to discover the National Nature Reserve of the Marais d'Yves Rocher (located between La Rochelle and Rochefort), or you can even head back up toward La Roche-sur-Yon north of La Rochelle, to lose yourself in the jungle of the legendary Marais Poitevin. For a culture fix, come back to La Rochelle and grab a ticket for the Francofolies festival, and after that, treat yourself to the silver screen with the International Film Festival, the Adventure Film Festival and the TV Fiction Festival—all that.

The ocean air makes you hungry ! And who says sea, says shellfish and crustaceans on the deserted beach. So, to refuel, you’ve got to come out of your shell : mussels and oysters with potatoes from the Île de Ré. To wash it all down, you can settle into the old town and watch the colorful boats come back from fishing with a good Pineau des Charentes. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a terrace since La Rochelle is in the Top 10 cities with the highest number of bars per capita 😂.

Your adventure will be etched into La Rochelle!