Phare des Baleines — Attraction in La Rochelle

The lighthouse and the whole territory around it makes a strong impression. Here everything is filled with history. Even a tiny park, giving a dense shadow emphasizes the importance of the place. Breakwaters, which exposes the ebb, intensify the sensation of the inaccessibility of the lighthouse, makes it a fortress. The waiters can listen to very talkative costumed guides, which attract attention for a long time. Entrance tickets are inexpensive. There is a gift shop, interesting books. Near the street with a dozen restaurants. shops of various things, specialties. Nearby perfectly organized parking for cars, bicycles, campers. Parking is free of charge. The territory a year ago was very poorly maintained, discordant with the lighthouse itself. And now this is a very pleasant space, created with love. It is good to get here by electric bus, which emphasizes the ecological character...

We didn't actually go up the lighthouse but we did visit the tat shop which had a wide assortment of souvenirs. We visited the tourist area around it, had some food and walked along the beach. The food outlets surrounding it offer plenty of options, there are several shops selling touristy wares but it has become even more of a little 'tourist trap' since the last time I was there, granted that was over 20yrs, things move on and change. I probably wouldn't go back or if I did I would drive and not get the bus, there really wasn't enough to do to keep us busy between the infrequent buses. It could do with a bit more than just a few shops and...

What a fantastic experience - this lighthouse - Phare de Balines (lighthouse of the whales) is a solid structure at the northern tip of Ile de Re, seen from miles away - and for those at sea, very important for a lighthouse. You can pay a small fee (about 5 euro) to climb the 257 steps to the very top and (weather permitting) go round the outside at the top - the views all around are stunning. But the piece de resistance is the magnificent internal staircase - a wonder to behold either from the top or the bottom. If you don't want to climb all the stairs, you can look up and visit some exhibition rooms at...