Rochefort lies on the river Charente, close to its outflow into the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 30 km southeast of La Rochelle. Rochefort station has rail connections to La Rochelle, Nantes and Bordeaux.
Another infrastructure of early Rochefort from 1766 was its bagne, a high-security penal colony involving hard labour. Bagnes were then common fixtures in military harbors and naval bases, such as Toulon or Brest, because they provided free labor. During the Jacobin period of the French Revolution (1790–95), over 800 Roman Catholic priests and other clergy who refused to take the anti-Papal oath of the "Civil Constitution of the Clergy" were put aboard a fleet of prison ships in Rochefort harbour, where most died due to inhumane conditions.
Rochefort is a notable example of 17th-century "ville nouvelle" or new town, which means its design and building resulted from a political decree. The reason for building Rochefort was to a large extent that royal power could hardly depend on rebellious ProtestantLa Rochelle, which Cardinal Richelieu had to besiege a few decades earlier. Well into the 20th century, Rochefort remained primarily a garrison town. The tourist industry, which had long existed due to the town's spa, gained emphasis in the 1990s.
Populationedit
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1793
20,874
—
1800
15,000
−4.61%
1806
14,615
−0.43%
1821
12,389
−1.10%
1831
14,040
+1.26%
1836
15,441
+1.92%
1841
20,077
+5.39%
1846
21,738
+1.60%
1851
24,330
+2.28%
1856
28,998
+3.57%
1861
30,212
+0.82%
1866
30,151
−0.04%
1872
28,299
−1.05%
1876
27,012
−1.16%
1881
27,854
+0.62%
1886
31,256
+2.33%
1891
33,334
+1.30%
1896
34,392
+0.63%
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1901
36,458
+1.17%
1906
36,694
+0.13%
1911
35,019
−0.93%
1921
29,473
−1.71%
1926
28,275
−0.83%
1931
26,452
−1.32%
1936
29,482
+2.19%
1946
29,472
−0.00%
1954
30,858
+0.58%
1962
28,648
−0.92%
1968
29,226
+0.33%
1975
28,155
−0.53%
1982
26,167
−1.04%
1990
25,561
−0.29%
1999
25,797
+0.10%
2009
25,317
−0.19%
2014
24,300
−0.82%
2020
23,410
−0.62%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Noteworthy buildings of the original naval establishment include:
a hospital, incorporating a School of Naval Medicine (now a museum)
the Arsenal with a monumental gateway and the National Navy Museum (Musée National de la Marine)
the Rope Factory (corderie), at over 370 metres long for centuries the longest manufacturing building in the world
three dry docks (radoubs) for shipbuilding and repair
a cannon foundry (not open to the public)
Other sights include:
a rare transporter bridge (pont transbordeur), consisting of a high level bridge containing a transport mechanism from which a ferry platform is suspended. This bridge, the Rochefort-Martrou Transporter Bridge, built in 1900, is the only remaining one in France and one of only eight still in service world-wide
the municipal theatre (la Coupe d'Or)
the railway station
Saint-Louis church
Pierre Loti's house (closed indefinitely pending completion of renovation work)
Museums of Naval Aeronautics, old-time trades (Commerces d'Autrefois), and local archaeology (la Vieille Paroisse)
The Young Girls of Rochefort film directed by Jacques Demy with Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, and Gene Kelly with music composed by Michel Legrand
Referencesedit
^"Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
^"Comité de Jumelage de Rochefort". rochefort.comite-jumelage.fr (in French). Comité de Jumelage de Rochefort. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
Movies: "Les Demoiselles De Rochefort" 1967 - Jacques Demy
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rochefort (Charente-Maritime).
Official website
January 01, 1970
rochefort, charente, maritime, rochefort, french, pronunciation, ʁɔʃfɔʁ, occitan, ròchafòrt, unofficially, rochefort, french, pronunciation, ʁɔʃfɔʁ, syʁ, mɛʁ, occitan, ròchafòrt, disambiguation, city, commune, southwestern, france, port, charente, estuary, sub. Rochefort French pronunciation ʁɔʃfɔʁ Occitan Rochafort unofficially Rochefort sur Mer French pronunciation ʁɔʃfɔʁ syʁ mɛʁ Occitan Rochafort de Mar for disambiguation is a city and commune in Southwestern France a port on the Charente estuary It is a subprefecture of the Charente Maritime department located in the administrative region of Nouvelle Aquitaine before 2015 Poitou Charentes RochefortSubprefecture and communePort in RochefortCoat of armsLocation of RochefortRochefortShow map of FranceRochefortShow map of Nouvelle AquitaineCoordinates 45 56 32 N 0 57 32 W 45 9421 N 0 9588 W 45 9421 0 9588CountryFranceRegionNouvelle AquitaineDepartmentCharente MaritimeArrondissementRochefortCantonRochefortIntercommunalityCA Rochefort OceanGovernment Mayor 2020 2026 Herve Blanche 1 Area121 95 km2 8 47 sq mi Population 2021 2 23 092 Density1 100 km2 2 700 sq mi Time zoneUTC 01 00 CET Summer DST UTC 02 00 CEST INSEE Postal code17299 17300Elevation0 29 m 0 95 ft avg 5 m or 16 ft 1 French Land Register data which excludes lakes ponds glaciers gt 1 km2 0 386 sq mi or 247 acres and river estuaries Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Population 4 Sights 5 Notable inhabitants 6 International relations 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksGeography editRochefort lies on the river Charente close to its outflow into the Atlantic Ocean It is about 30 km southeast of La Rochelle Rochefort station has rail connections to La Rochelle Nantes and Bordeaux History editIn December 1665 Rochefort was chosen by Jean Baptiste Colbert as a place of refuge defence and supply for the French Navy The Arsenal de Rochefort served as a naval base and dockyard until it closed in 1926 In September 1757 Rochefort was the target of an ambitious British raid during the Seven Years War nbsp Rochefort centre right seen from Spot Satellite Another infrastructure of early Rochefort from 1766 was its bagne a high security penal colony involving hard labour Bagnes were then common fixtures in military harbors and naval bases such as Toulon or Brest because they provided free labor During the Jacobin period of the French Revolution 1790 95 over 800 Roman Catholic priests and other clergy who refused to take the anti Papal oath of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy were put aboard a fleet of prison ships in Rochefort harbour where most died due to inhumane conditions Off Rochefort from the island of Ile d Aix where he had spent several days hoping to flee to America Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to Captain F L Maitland aboard HMS Bellerophon on 17 July 1815 ending the Hundred Days Rochefort is a notable example of 17th century ville nouvelle or new town which means its design and building resulted from a political decree The reason for building Rochefort was to a large extent that royal power could hardly depend on rebellious Protestant La Rochelle which Cardinal Richelieu had to besiege a few decades earlier Well into the 20th century Rochefort remained primarily a garrison town The tourist industry which had long existed due to the town s spa gained emphasis in the 1990s Population editHistorical populationYearPop p a 179320 874 180015 000 4 61 180614 615 0 43 182112 389 1 10 183114 040 1 26 183615 441 1 92 184120 077 5 39 184621 738 1 60 185124 330 2 28 185628 998 3 57 186130 212 0 82 186630 151 0 04 187228 299 1 05 187627 012 1 16 188127 854 0 62 188631 256 2 33 189133 334 1 30 189634 392 0 63 YearPop p a 190136 458 1 17 190636 694 0 13 191135 019 0 93 192129 473 1 71 192628 275 0 83 193126 452 1 32 193629 482 2 19 194629 472 0 00 195430 858 0 58 196228 648 0 92 196829 226 0 33 197528 155 0 53 198226 167 1 04 199025 561 0 29 199925 797 0 10 200925 317 0 19 201424 300 0 82 202023 410 0 62 Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki org Source EHESS 3 and INSEE 1968 2020 4 Sights edit nbsp Rochefort arsenal in 1690 Noteworthy buildings of the original naval establishment include a hospital incorporating a School of Naval Medicine now a museum the Arsenal with a monumental gateway and the National Navy Museum Musee National de la Marine the Rope Factory corderie at over 370 metres long for centuries the longest manufacturing building in the world three dry docks radoubs for shipbuilding and repair a cannon foundry not open to the public Other sights include a rare transporter bridge pont transbordeur consisting of a high level bridge containing a transport mechanism from which a ferry platform is suspended This bridge the Rochefort Martrou Transporter Bridge built in 1900 is the only remaining one in France and one of only eight still in service world wide the municipal theatre la Coupe d Or the railway station Saint Louis church Pierre Loti s house closed indefinitely pending completion of renovation work Museums of Naval Aeronautics old time trades Commerces d Autrefois and local archaeology la Vieille Paroisse Conservatoire du Begonia the world s largest begonia collection L Hermione a replica of a 1779 frigate completed in the town in 2014Notable inhabitants edit nbsp Pierre Loti 1892 Rochefort was the birthplace of Louis Rene Levassor de Latouche Treville 1745 1804 French admiral Charles Rigault de Genouilly 1807 1873 French admiral conqueror of Vietnam Pierre Loti 1850 1923 a French naval officer and novelist His house is now a museum 5 Amedee William Merlaud Ponty 1866 1915 Governor General of French West Africa Pauline Reage 1907 1998 pseudonym of Anne Desclos author Maurice Merleau Ponty 1908 1961 philosopher Pierre Salviac born 1946 a French journalist former rugby match commentator and since then polemicist International relations editSee also List of twin towns and sister cities in France Rochefort is twinned with 6 nbsp Torrelavega Cantabria Spain nbsp Papenburg Lower Saxony GermanySee also editCommunes of the Charente Maritime department Kaolin deposits of the Charentes Basin The Young Girls of Rochefort film directed by Jacques Demy with Catherine Deneuve Francoise Dorleac and Gene Kelly with music composed by Michel LegrandReferences edit Repertoire national des elus les maires data gouv fr Plateforme ouverte des donnees publiques francaises in French 2 December 2020 Populations legales 2021 The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 28 December 2023 Des villages de Cassini aux communes d aujourd hui Commune data sheet Rochefort EHESS in French Population en historique depuis 1968 INSEE Gosse Edmund William 1911 Loti Pierre Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 17 11th ed pp 19 20 Comite de Jumelage de Rochefort rochefort comite jumelage fr in French Comite de Jumelage de Rochefort Retrieved 20 November 2019 Movies Les Demoiselles De Rochefort 1967 Jacques DemyExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rochefort Charente Maritime Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rochefort Charente Maritime amp oldid 1190878021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
