Ville Blanche

La Rochelle, France

An absurdly beautiful maze of narrow streets lined in pristine white limestone buildings with pastel shutters.

Places in Ville Blanche

Ville Blanche bistros Bistros spilling out onto cobbled streets and lining pretty squares throughout the white limestone old town.
Ville Blanche cafés Cafés spilling out onto cobbled streets throughout the pristine white limestone old town.
L'Imprevu A bar with a secret courtyard in a lovely square, with welcoming staff, good beer and wine, plus a great cocktail list in a former mansion.

Best time to visit: May to September offers warm Atlantic coast weather for the old port and beaches.
Getting around: La Rochelle's old town, including Vieux Port, is compact and entirely walkable.
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: French. English is spoken in hotels and restaurants.
Timezone: CET (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer)
Current trends: La Rochelle's bar scene continues centring on its cobbled streets and pretty squares, with L'Imprevu's secret courtyard offering a romantic terrace setting in a former mansion, complementing the Museum of the New World's exploration of the city's historic role as a gateway to the Americas.

Vieux Port (Old Port) — Where most visitors head for restaurants with fabulous views over the port and ancient towers.
Museum of the New World quarter — Home to the museum housed in a magnificent 18th-century mansion.