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La Rochelle

France

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La Rochelle harbour in charente-maritime france

Getty Images/Moment RM

Overview

Known as La Ville Blanche (the White City), La Rochelle's luminous limestone facades glow in the bright coastal sunlight. One of France's foremost seaports from the 14th to 17th centuries, the city has arcaded walkways, half-timbered houses protected from the salt air by slate tiles, ghoulish gargoyles and a fabulous collection of lighthouses – all rich reminders of its magnificent seafaring heritage. The early French settlers of Canada, including the founders of Montreal, set sail from here in the 17th century.

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Cultural Pillars of Paris and the French Countryside

13 days / 12 nights

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  1. 1Cruising through Paris on a scenic, sightseeing boat tour that winds up and down the Seine River
  2. 2Shopping at Parisian neighborhood markets and cooking French fare with a local chef
  3. 3Basking in the cultural charm of Mantes-la-Jolie and Pont-Audemer in the French countryside
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