Close to our campsite : Rochefort and the "Corderie Royale"
Only 25 miles from our campsite on the Island of Oléron, Rochefort, one of the main towns of Charente-Maritime, offers an immense historical heritage.
The shape of the town follows the course of the river Charente, which flows lazily into the Atlantic Ocean.
The "Corderie Royale" : A museum dedicated to Rochefort's military heritage
Formerly a part of the "Grand Arsenal" of Rochefort, the "Corderie Royale", the city's main museum, depicts its military history.
This new town built in the 17th century was entirely designed to become a major military base. To this end, Colbert, a minister of Louis XIV, built an arsenal that would become the glory of Rochefort.
The city developed rapidly around the trades specific to shipbuilding. Afterwards, despite the bankruptcy of the arsenal in 1720, due to the debts of the kingdom, Rochefort would retain its prestige and fame thanks to the establishment of "Grandes Écoles" (Major military schools) such as the Naval School and the Company of Marine guards from which many officers would emerge. Many other military infrastructures would later open, such as the Naval Aviation School, the Air Force and a National Gendarmerie School (French military police force).
Nowadays, Rochefort has also become a touristic destination, notably with the creation of a marina and the opening up of roads, which has been quite favourable to its economic expansion.
