La Rochelle - Harbor

In La Rochelle, beyond the Porte de la Grosse-Horloge, flanked by Quai Duperré and the Cours Wilson, is the Vieux Port, a busy and picturesque scene with its crowded fishing boats (boat trips round the harbor). The entrance is guarded by the massive Tour St-Nicolas (1384; view) on the east side and the Tour de la Chaîne on the west. The Tour de la Chaîne (which contains an interesting relief model of the medieval town) gets its name from the chain which was drawn across the mouth of the harbor at night during the Middle Ages.