As always, all opinions are our own. Wiki User Answered . After the siege the city refound its earlier prosperity due to international trade - this time also including the 'new-territory' of Canada as an active trading partner. This 19th-century covered market runs every morning, 365 days a year, with extended hours on Wednesday and Saturday. Our tour with Christine was much more about soaking up the city’s atmosphere and exploring its secret corners than tackling the top tourist attractions. In June 1372, during the Hundred Years War between the English and the French, a substantial sea battle took place off La Rochelle, with the combined Spanish and French forces defeating an English fleet and removing the long-standing English pre-eminence in the seas off the french coast. On our second visit, La Rochelle’s harbour was just as bustling and colourful as it had been the first time we wiled away an afternoon there. Beyond the market, you can discover a number of gourmet shops in the Old Port area. Right off, we saw the suitcase in her hand was labeled ‘La Rochelle – Quebec.’, ‘Louise’ represents La Rochelle’s ties to Quebec, Canada. La Rochelle continued to prosper into the 15th century, a busy bustling port with active trade routes to England, Spain and Africa, based in part on the trades in salt and wine. We met Christine at the tourist office where we immediately began to discuss La Rochelle’s sustainable tourism initiatives. Inside, the bar maintains its gritty, working-class atmosphere and looks like it hasn’t changed much since it opened in 1933. Both having grown up in coastal towns in Eastern Canada, it was the first time in a long time we realised what we were missing in Brussels – the sea. La Rochelle is a mid-size place in the region of Poitou-Charentes in France with a population … 5 6 7. The primary characteristic of La Rochelle was its isolation. We didn’t have a checklist of must-see sights (although there are many). Fresh, colourful, delicious dishes at Prao Restaurant, La Rochelle. Andrew and I first discovered La Rochelle back in 2011 and it was love at first sight. But getting back to truly local specialities, Christine guided us to a local bar we probably would have walked right by without noticing. Like all great French cities, La Rochelle’s Old Port, the historic heart of the city, is a warren of narrow streets, covered walkways, and hidden squares. In the old town, you are never far from the water, a feature that reminded us of home. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. Prao Restaurant is one of the highlights of La Rochelle’s Slow Food scene. Under the command of Cadinal Richelieu, the city was again sieged. In La Rochelle, there are so many places to eat, that you could eat at a new place everyday for a year.... La Rochelle was voted the best place to live in France in 2002. The best restaurant in La Rochelle is Richard Coutenceau with one Michellin star. The connection between Quebec and La Rochelle is a strong one. La Rochelle, however, was love at first sight. Once we were parked, we were excited to see if La Rochelle was as charming as we remembered.