Signature experience — La Rochelle
Rochefort and Brouage
Duration
Half day
Price
From €450
Mercedes
Dedicated vehicle & chauffeur
On 7 June 1666, Colbert established the Royal Dockyard at Rochefort; soon after, ropewalkers stretched cordage along a 374‑meter ropewalk that powered Louis XIV’s fleet. Centuries later, the same maritime craft fueled the modern rebuild of Hermione, Lafayette’s frigate, relaunched in 2012 after a 17‑year effort. Between these milestones lie saline marshes and the star‑shaped ramparts of Brouage, roughly 35 km from La Rochelle, where stone, hemp, and sluices still tell a naval story.
Collected at your La Rochelle hotel, you settle into a Mercedes while your driver remains at disposal for roughly 4 h 30: flexible transfers, timed stops, and tickets arranged on request. Explore the Royal Ropewalk and the dockyard, check in on Hermione in dry dock or workshops depending on season, then continue via the D733 to stroll Brouage’s bastions. The return loops over the Martrou transporter bridge, the last operating in France, as your private chauffeur handles parking and waits nearby.
Your itinerary
- I
09:00 — Pick-up at your La Rochelle hotel and drive to Rochefort (30 min).
- II
09:40 — Tour the Royal Ropewalk and stroll the banks of the Charente (1 hr).
- III
10:50 — Stop by Hermione at the dockyard or workshops, subject to access (40 min).
- IV
11:40 — Drive to Brouage (20 min), walk the ramparts, then return via the Martrou transporter bridge (arrive ~13:30).
What’s included
- ✓ Dedicated premium driver
- ✓ Mercedes at disposal
- ✓ Hotel pick-up
- ✓ Waiting time and parking
Your chauffeur’s tip
Aim to reach Brouage before noon from April to June: low-angled light defines the glacis and marsh, and the ramparts stay quiet before mid‑afternoon visitors.
Book this experience
Confirmed within 30 minutes · Fixed price quoted in advance