Palace Street

The Rue du Palais, in La Rochelle

The Rue du Palais is one of the largest arteries of the old town of La Rochelle, that links the Place de Verdun to the Grosse Horloge, lined with shops and fine buildings. The La Rochelle audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this arcaded shopping street, nicknamed the Palais, where the courthouse and the Hôtel de la Bourse are notably found.

The great commercial artery of the centre

The Rue du Palais is one of the largest arteries of La Rochelle; it links the Place de Verdun to the Grosse Horloge gate, through its numerous shops and its historic buildings. Like most of the streets of the old town, it does not deviate from the rule: arcades line each side of the street, sheltering the passers-by in case of bad weather, in the pure La Rochelle tradition. You will find there a quantity of shops, ideal for a shopping spree in the centre. Simply nicknamed the Palais by the inhabitants, this street formerly linked the Grosse Horloge, formerly called the Porte du Perrot, to the Place de Verdun, the former administrative and religious heart of the town. The name of the street comes from the presence of the courthouse, one of its finest buildings: you admire there its neoclassical-style façade, adorned with high columns and sculpted friezes, that blends into the street thanks to the arcades that support it. Not far is also the Hôtel de la Bourse, former seat of the Chamber of Commerce, another architectural jewel of the street. Between these prestigious monuments and its shops, the Rue du Palais mingles the elegance of the heritage and the animation of shopping. Lined with fine white stone façades, it is one of the most pleasant walks of the historic centre. A great artery and a heritage street, the Rue du Palais is a fine stop of the discovery of La Rochelle.

What to see

Here you discover one of the largest arteries of the old town, that links the Place de Verdun to the Grosse Horloge, lined with the emblematic arcades of La Rochelle and shops; nicknamed the Palais, it owes its name to the courthouse with a neoclassical façade, and also shelters the Hôtel de la Bourse, architectural jewels among its fine white stone façades. The Rue du Palais is a heritage street of La Rochelle. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Rue du Palais lies in the heart of the old town of La Rochelle, linking the Place de Verdun to the Grosse Horloge, reachable on foot. It is an arcaded shopping street freely accessible, lined with shops and monuments like the courthouse and the Hôtel de la Bourse. You walk along it during a stroll in the centre.

Where does the name of the Rue du Palais come from in La Rochelle?

From the presence of the courthouse, one of its finest buildings, with a neoclassical façade adorned with high columns; this great arcaded artery, nicknamed the Palais, links the Place de Verdun to the Grosse Horloge and also shelters the Hôtel de la Bourse, among its shops and its fine white stone façades.

Where is the Rue du Palais in La Rochelle?

In the heart of the old town of La Rochelle, linking the Place de Verdun to the Grosse Horloge, in France.