Exchange mansion

The Hôtel de la Bourse, in La Rochelle

The Hôtel de la Bourse is one of the finest buildings of La Rochelle, built in 1760 to host the Chamber of Commerce, a former place of exchange of the traders. The La Rochelle audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this refined neoclassical monument, whose inner courtyard in free access reveals an elegant gallery supported by eight columns.

The palace of the traders

Built in 1760, this building was destined to receive the Chamber of Commerce and to allow the traders to exchange more easily, at the time when La Rochelle was one of the great trading ports of the kingdom, prospering thanks to maritime trade with the colonies and the north of Europe. The Chamber of Commerce of La Rochelle, one of the oldest of France, founded under Louis XIV, played an essential role in the economic life of the town. If the outer façade of the hotel simply resembles the other white stone buildings of the town, it is the inner façade that is worth the detour; do not hesitate to make a little detour inside, for the courtyard is in free access. Constituted of two wings connected by an elegant gallery in height, supported by eight columns, the Hôtel de la Bourse displays a refined neoclassical style that makes it one of the finest buildings of La Rochelle. Visible from the courtyard, its sculpted decoration directly refers to the maritime trade that made the fortune of the town: you recognise there prows of ships, anchors, ropes, instruments of navigation and allegories of trade, so many symbols celebrating the merchant power of the shipowners of La Rochelle. Still today in activity, the building perpetuates the commercial vocation of the town. A neoclassical hotel and a palace of trade, the Hôtel de la Bourse is a fine stop of the discovery of La Rochelle.

What to see

Here you discover one of the finest buildings of La Rochelle, built in 1760 for the Chamber of Commerce; behind a sober outer façade, its inner courtyard in free access reveals an elegant gallery supported by eight columns and a refined neoclassical decor sculpted with prows, anchors and ropes, celebrating the maritime trade that made the fortune of the town. The Hôtel de la Bourse is a jewel of La Rochelle. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Hôtel de la Bourse lies on the Rue du Palais, in the heart of the old town of La Rochelle, reachable on foot. The inner courtyard is generally in free access, and you admire there the columned gallery and the sculpted decor; access to the rooms follows the conditions of the place, which vary. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What is the Hôtel de la Bourse in La Rochelle?

A fine building built in 1760 to host the Chamber of Commerce of La Rochelle and facilitate the exchanges of the traders; behind a sober façade, its inner courtyard in free access reveals an elegant gallery supported by eight columns and a neoclassical decor sculpted with prows, anchors and ropes, celebrating the maritime trade that made the fortune of the town.

Where is the Hôtel de la Bourse in La Rochelle?

On the Rue du Palais, in the heart of the old town of La Rochelle, in France.