La Rochelle Ocean Pass gives you access to 40 included and discounted activities throughout La Rochelle and its surroundings. The city pass mobile application gives you unlimited access to activities and public transport in the La Rochelle area and one free 1-hour rental of a Yélomobile car!
Some sites require prior booking (check the website description page)
You can also organise your stay by theme: boat trips, historical sites, museums, guided tours, leisure, and transport.
DAY 1: Immerse yourself in the history and heritage of La Rochelle !
Start your stay in La Rochelle with the must-see Saint Nicolas Tower, the Chain Tower and the Lantern Tower. Enjoy a panoramic view of the entire historic city of Charente Maritime. Discover these fortifications classified as historical monuments.
Thanks to the La Rochelle Ocean Pass, choose between three cruises to escape off the coast of La Rochelle.
On the one hand, at the bottom of the Chaîne tower, take the boat for a commented and explained tour of Fort Boyard, which was made a reference point by the iconic TV game show. 2 hours of navigation to learn more about the history of this fortress.
On the other hand, recharge your batteries during the morning outing on a catamaran to discover the different islands surrounding the coast: the Isle of Ré, the Isle of Oleron, and the Isle of Aix.
Or choose the cruise linking La Rochelle and Saint-Martin-de-Ré with Inter-Iles (bicycles not included), for a day on "Ré la Blanche", a name referring to the typical houses of the area, all very white with coloured shutters.
Continue your day by conquering the New World Museum. Enrich your culture in this 18th-century mansion. Learn about La Rochelle's relationship with the Americas. Between colonial history and the slave trade past of the port of La Rochelle with the triangular trade, immerse yourself in La Rochelle of yesteryear. The museum's collection includes paintings, engravings, drawings, sculptures, old maps and a scarce collection of American colonial furniture to transport you back to the time of the landing of the West and New France.
Then return to the old port and embark on the ferry boat that connects to the Chain Tower and the multimedia library in order to go to the museum of automata and scale models. This museum offers you the opportunity to discover the history of the automation of ancient and contemporary puppets as well as animated displays that will satisfy both children and adults. Continue your visit in the footsteps of the reconstitution of the Parisian district of Montmartre in the 1900s, then finish with a wonder of sound and light and old reproductions.
The pass gives you access to a €2 discount on the visit to the aquarium instead of the full price. Dive into the underwater world of the La Rochelle Aquarium; travel through the oceans and seas to discover remarkable and original marine species. For 1h30, visit the heart of the Ocean, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, passing through the Tropics.
DAY 2: Escape to the surroundings !
Benefit from a 20% discount on bike rental in La Rochelle at Cycling Tour, and explore the Charente Maritime and the Deux Sèvres for a day:
- Leave from the centre of La Rochelle along the promenade of Port Neuf, and follow the coastal path which will give you a breathtaking view of the Rochelle coastline as far as the bridge over the Isle of Ré. Continue your cycling tour through l'Houmeau and the oyster huts along the coast. Continue to Esnandes for an activity of your choice from the city pass: with the mussel museum, discover the cultivation of mussels as well as a report on the ecosystem of the maritime marsh; or the fortified church and its ramparts: visit its exterior with its fortress and its place of worship inside dating from the 12th to 14th centuries.
- Nature lovers and green enthusiasts, escape to the Marais Poitevin regional nature park. Between land and sea, wander through the hidden corners of the marsh. Let yourself be guided aboard a collective boat for a 1h30 ride to discover the cultural and natural treasures of the Marais Poitevin, starting from the Cardinaud jetty or the Bazoin jetty. Between enchanting landscapes and abundant vegetation, explore the canals of the marsh to your heart's content.
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You can also discover the mysteries of the Marais Poitevin and its Green Venice by visiting the Maison du Marais Poitevin. All your questions about the marsh will be answered there!
Continuing to Niort, you will have the opportunity to visit the Bernard d'Agesci Museum and the Donjon Museum. These two museums are both places of a permanent dialogue between the past and the present, places of learning and discovery!
For the more sporty ones: Get back on track and head for the south of the Vendée to discover the Mélusine Tower in Vouvant, the last remnant of the Lusignan castle. This unusual 36-metre-high place offers an unobstructed view of the Mervent-Vouvant Forest and the village of Vouvant.
DAY 3: Stroll through the Charente Maritime before your departure !
Escape to the castle of Buzay for a while. Located at the gates of La Rochelle, let yourself be carried away into the world of an atypical 18th-century castle. Its ancient charm and period furniture bear witness to the art of living in the days of the privileged links between La Rochelle and the colonies of the New World. From the windows of the castle, contemplate the magnificent gardens of yesteryear.
Easy access to the castle thanks to the La Rochelle Ocean Pass, free of charge and unlimited by taking public transport in the La Rochelle area. The Yélo 19 bus takes you there in thirty minutes.
Enjoy your last moments in our town to finish your stay in La Rochelle. Just a stone's throw from the ocean, come and have fun and refresh yourself at the aquatic centre in Chatelaillon-Plage. On the program: slides, pools, water games, wellness area to satisfy both young and grown-ups. You have access to all the activities and equipment offered by the centre.
Choose between the bus or the TER to go to the aquatic centre of Chatelaillon-Plage using your city pass.
A 100% guaranteed good deal, between leisure and savings, make the most of your La Rochelle city pass until the last moment.
La Rochelle Océan Pass also allows you to benefit from free access to Rochefort. In particular the Hèbre museum: this museum brings together Art and History as well as the town's heritage. The museum offers collections ranging from fine arts to non-European ethnology. You can also cross the Charente River with the help of the Transporter Bridge which links the two sides of the river with a suspension bridge attached to two metal structures.
Come and learn more about the manufacture of ropes for the Royal Navy at the Royal Ropery, a place not to be missed, full of history. Enter the workshops, and discover the daily gestures of the workers, the transformation of the material, the evolution of the techniques, and the activity of a great factory!
Finish your trip on the Isle of Aix (cruise not included in the pass) to discover Fort Liédot: the indestructible fort of Napoleon I. It was built to protect the Rochefort Arsenal.
Or head to the Isle of Oleron to the Marais aux Oiseaux for an educational outing and to raise awareness of wildlife protection. Keep your eyes open so you don't miss anything!
We also offer you the opportunity to discover the city of Saintes as well as the Saintonge region through two very distinct visits to be chosen between one cruise and one tour:
- The "Balade des gabariers" or the "Balade du fleuve", for a bucolic stroll along the water! Enjoy an escapade full of history and poetry during a commented river trip in a traditional gabare.
- A guided tour of Saintes to discover the historic centre. During a walk in the lower town or in a glance from the panoramic belvedere, discover the history and hidden treasures of the town accompanied by a guide.
Or let the electric train of Saintes take you along the riverside to the church of Saint-Eutrope, the amphitheatre, the historic centre and the Abbaye aux Dames. You can also enjoy a panoramic view from the Saint-Louis belvedere!
Not to mention the Stone Trails at Crazannes where you can discover the origin of Crazannes limestone, the methods of extraction, transport and the many uses of this natural material... A place where nature takes over human activities, this amazing place with surprising landscapes will seduce you.
Also, go and discover the natural destination of Suzac! In an exceptional setting, in the heart of the coastal forest of Suzac, Le Parc de l'Estuaire, a site of Echappées Nature, invites you to discover its natural environment. Also, a site of Echappées Nature, the Asinerie du Baudet du Poitou in Dampierre-sur-Boutonne. Meet the donkeys and their cousins, from their first steps to their various uses (pack, traction, carriage). You will spend an unforgettable day there!