La
Rochelle, France. Situated
on the western central coast of France, La Rochelle is the port from which
Jehan and Perrine Terriot sailed in the 17th century. Eleanor of Aquitaine
gave La Rochelle a charter in 1199 after which it rapidly became a port
of major importance, trading in salt and wine, and skillfully exploiting
the Anglo-French quarrels during the 13th and 14th centuries. La Rochelle
became the principal port for trade with the French colonies in the Caribbean
Antilles and Canada. Indeed, many of the settlers of Canada came from this
part of France.
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La
Rochelle...
Le
Vieux Port. The view of the harbor of La Rochelle as thirty-one year
old Jehan (Jean, John) Terriot left in 16323.
In the background standing like sentinels one either side of the harbor
are the fortresslike 14th-century towers known as Tour St-Nicholas (on
the right) and Tour de la Chaine (on the left). |
| La
Rochelle...
the
Open Sea. A view of the open sea as seen by Jehan and Perrine on
their long two month journey to Acadia. The stone walls on the right
side of the photo is part of the dike that was constructed by Cardinal
Richelieu to seal the harbor and starve the city into submission when La
Rochelle turned Protestant in 1627. This was just five years before Jehan
undertook his voyage. The Wars of Religion caused much turmoil and was
no doubt one of the reasons that Jehan and Perrine left for the New World. |
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La
Rochelle... the
Walled Port. On the left, Tour St-Nicholas, one of two massive
towers that was used to protect the port from attack by the English in
the 14th and 15th centuries.
La
Rochelle... the
Fortress City. Another of the towers used for observation and protection. |
La
Rochelle... the
Boat Launch. Note the ancient housing in the background. Anybody
recognize the lovely lady looking out over the harbor? If so, please let
me know who she might be... once again, at  . |
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La
Rochelle...
the
City with Canadian Granite Streets. The streets and sidewalks of
La Rochelle are paved with Canadian granite. Most of the shipping
to Acadia and other parts of Canada was to bring settlers and supplies.
There was not much to import into France from Canada except plenty of granite.
So, the French shippers used the granite as ballast on their boats for
their return trip to France. In La Rochelle, the granite was used to pave
the streets. |
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