Discover the best top things to do in Rochefort, France including Musee des Commerces d'Autrefois, Musee De L'ecole De Medecine Navale, Association Hermione-La Fayette, Pont Transbordeur - Maison du Transbordeur, Musee National de la Marine, Corderie Royale, Musee de l'Aeronautique Navale, Rochefort Ocean Tourist Office, Musee d'Art et d'Histoire Hebre de Saint-Clement, Maison de Pierre Loti.
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4.5 based on 438 reviews
The museum is located in a side street (R.Lesson) off Rue Audrey de Puyravault which is directly behind the tourist information office building (where there's a large free car park opposite).
The lady behind reception was very friendly and spoke good English. For an additional 2 euros we shared an audio guide which in my opinion is indispensable to understanding the exhibits and displays - there are bilingual information panels but they only detail the basics of each display. There are in total 4 floors to discover and it took us over an hour to complete the tour. We were fascinated by the lower level school display which although not covered by the audio guide, has comprehensive English information. If you have any interest in how things were around the late 19th/early 20th century then you'll not only find the displays absorbing but also realise just how far technology and industry has progressed in much less than 100yrs.
If I had one gripe it would be the audio guide volumn wasn't really loud enough to share between two and so you might consider obtaining individual units.
4.5 based on 137 reviews
The first French school of naval medicine. The collection of bits and bones, tools and strange objects are housed in a beautiful old building. Because of the rarety of many of the items visits are always accompanied. The museum has among its many rarieties a complete real preserved human nerveous system. Never seen anything like it. Spooky. Only French guides in the winter, but in the summer the morning visits may have English speaking guides. Check ahead.
4.5 based on 959 reviews
Embark on the Hermione adventure in Rochefort ! Explore France's largest replica of an old sailing boat. Find out more about this extraordinary adventure with a host of guided tours, events and activities. Get on board and discover the upper deck and go on the gun deck, learn more about traditional craftmanship, sailmaking, rigging,... Through panels, pictures and movies, you will discover history, shipbuilding and life on board. To november 6th (wednesday, saturday & sunday) : put on your harness and experience the sailor's life by climbing the accro-mats (included in the ticket price).
Similar in a way to the Victory at Portsmouth in that both ships had a part to play in history, although this ship is a replica which took around 15yrs to complete. It has however sailed across the Atlantic to where the original took part in the War of Independance. Entrance fees are reasonable and there's a large gift shop on the far side. When we visited there were "sailors" up the rigging painting ropes etc - not for the faint hearted!
Next to the frigate is a high wire activity centre based on a mock up sailing ship plus the maritime museum.
4.5 based on 312 reviews
Shut for renovations when we cycled past. Making place, worth going just to look and photograph.
It is on the cycle path away from the Hermione towards the bridge.
It's worth keeping going about 2 miles and crossing the river on the little ferry boat that carries cycles.
4 based on 175 reviews
The exceptional collections presented in the former residence of Majors of the navy deliver keys to the understanding of the Rochefort's dockyard, from its foundation by Louis XIV up to his closure in 1927. The building of warships is highlighted in all its dimensions: technical, military, economic, urban, plastic, political and open on the imaginary world of the long-term journeys.
You can get a double ticket to visit this attraction and to visit the Medical School Museum at the other end of town - but only 15 minutes walk.
The museum is interesting but I found it a little dry. It concentrates very much on the history of the dockyard and the ships but there was not much human element - nothing about crews and living conditions. It is however worth a visit but not a patch on the Historic Dockyards and HMS Victory in Portsmouth but then again - you will be in Rochefort and cannot pop into a local restaurant for moules and frites or crevettes!
4 based on 730 reviews
Probably not expecting a museum of rope making to be all that exciting but was in fact very interesting with good models used to demonstrate the history of the production of ropes and the construction of the French Fleet. Worth taking an audio guide if your French is poor and they are free anyway.
4.5 based on 36 reviews
This museum, located on the site of a former military training school, is the only museum in France dedicated solely to naval aviation.
They have a fantastic selection of aircraft, all lovingly restored by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Our guide was a former fighter pilot who was full of enthusiasm for the aircraft on display, and really brought the whole thing to life.
This place is a must for any aviation enthusiasts visiting the Charente area.
4 based on 60 reviews
The tourist office is conveniently located opposite the large main (free) car park. Not sure if it was due to the public holiday Friday "bridge" day but the office was extremely busy with visitors queuing to ask questions and book tickets/accommodation, so we opted to...MoreDear Sir, Thank you for your nice review about your visit in. You're right, it was a very busy week end thanks to the weather and bank holidays. We hope to see you again in Rochefort. Best regards, cécile.
4 based on 36 reviews
Thought this was free to enter but we were required to pay for a temporary exhibition on a French film director we had not heard of. This exhibition was mostly in French and did little to enlighten us about his importance. The other areas were very limited with few pictures or other works of art. A large model of the town was interesting but overall a very large building with not too much in it.
4 based on 84 reviews
A very famous writer in the XIXth century who travelled all over the world as a naval officer.
He was nick-named Loti by Tahitian people. He lived in Istambul, etc. and dressed like the country folks.He bought a normal bourgeois house in Rochefort and turned it into what you'll be amazed to visit : a huge medieval room with a huge fire place and stairs, and arched windows. The replica of an oriental room brought in pieces from North Africa...Etc.
You'll see pictures of his festivities that country people could watch from a window if they were dressed accordingly ! You'll get great ideas in order to adorn your own dwellings ! I did !
Better ring before as they just take 10 people at a time.
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