Day 11: Tuesday 21st July
Day 11 is a day off. I’ve already completed 418 miles, and 19,458 feet ascent. ( 674 km, and5,931 meters ascent)
.A break is needed, so I’m glad that I’ve got two nights here. The place is absolutely fascinating. It’s a former French naval port, and now is a major tourist centre.
From the local tourist office:
Rochefort lies on the river Charente, close to its outflow into the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 30 km southeast of La Rochelle. In December 1665, Rochefort was chosen by Jean-Baptiste Colbert as a place of “refuge, defence and supply” for the French Navy. The Arsenal de Rochefort served as a naval base and dockyard until it closed in 1926. Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French statesman who served as First Minister of State from 1661 until his death in 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. In addition, he founded France’s merchant navy, becoming Secretary of State of the Navy in 1669.
Here are some photos. I hope you enjoy. The site is absolutely massive, and the residence where I’m staying looks like it could contain a whole squadron of navy personnel!
