Stretching along the Old Port for several hundred metres, the Cours des Dames runs from the Tour de la Chaîne to the Grosse Horloge, forming one of La Rochelle's most iconic promenades. This broad, lime-tree-shaded esplanade owes its name to the sailors' wives who once gathered here to watch for returning ships. Originally lined with port warehouses, the site was transformed into a promenade from 1806 under Prefect Baron Richard. Renamed 'Cours Wilson' after the First World War in tribute to the American president, it later reclaimed its historic title. Bustling year-round with street performers, painters and café terraces, the Cours des Dames remains the beating heart of La Rochelle life, gazing out towards the Atlantic.
Activity added by the Oxploria team
