La Rochelle is a city in the south-west of France,
prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department,
in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.

Located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean,
off the Pertuis d'Antioche,
and protected from storms by the "barrier"
of the islands of Ré, Oléron and Aix,
La Rochelle has a strong commercial tradition,
its port was active from its origins.