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If you're thinking of booking cruises that take in France, one place you surely won't want to miss exploring is the historic seaport city of La Rochelle. Take the whole family onboard a ship to this beautiful location, which has a rich and colourful past. You can find La Rochelle situated in western France on the Charente-Maritime area. The city, which dates back to the tenth century, was an important harbour from the 12th century onwards and played a part in numerous battles such as the Hundred Years War and the French Wars of Religion. It was also the headquarters of the Knights Templar - a Christian military order prevalent during the Middle Ages. When you arrive in La Rochelle after boarding your cruises from Southampton you're sure to notice many antique buildings and places of historic interest as you explore. Among these is likely to be the remains of Clocher Saint-Barthelemy, which was largely destroyed in Reformation iconoclasm and Vauclair castle, built by the English in 1185. You can also visit the Templars' original base here. There are also numerous ports to visit so take in the marina at les Minimes, the Old Port in the city centre, the fishing port of Chef de Baie and the commercial port La Pallice. The area is framed by the three towers Tour de la Chaine, Tour Saint-Nicolas and Tour de la Lanterne near the old harbour and you'll find the main port lined with cafes, ice cream parlours and restaurants. Be sure to visit at least one of the seafood eateries to sample locally-caught fish and if you're a fan of wine you might like to take an excursion out to the vineyards of Bordeaux and Cognac a little further afield. There are plenty of museums to stop off at if you'd like to learn more about the area - including a natural history centre, the Musee des Beaux-Arts, which houses glasswork and paintings, and a museum dedicated to perfume bottles. Meanwhile, if you're looking to keep youngsters entertained, you can't go wrong with a trip to the zoo just south of the city. Alternatively, take a boat ride over to Oleron Island where you can treat children to the sight of a steam train or a visit to the animal park here. And these are just some of La Rochelle's attractions - why not pay a visit to discover the rest for yourself? If you're looking for some fantastic cruises from Southampton, visit MSC Cruises. Our cruises will cater for all your needs, so you can relax.
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