Once a fortified gate in La Rochelle’s medieval walls, the Grosse Horloge is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks on the Old Port. Built in the 12th century under the name Porte du Parrot, it once controlled the passage between the port and the town. Transformed into a municipal belfry in 1478 with the addition of a bell, it gained its current appearance in 1746, featuring an elegant Louis XV style with scientific and military decorations. A symbolic gateway between the port and the historic center, the Grosse Horloge reflects La Rochelle’s rich maritime and trading past. Under its arch once passed carts, sailors… and even the tramway! Today, it remains a gateway between past and present, inviting every visitor to look up and travel through time.
Activity added by the Oxploria team
