l’Hermione Sets Sail from Rochefort

After 17 years of construction the frigate l’Hermione has finally sailed in the estuary of Charente.

On September 7, 2014 more than 50,000 curious and history enthusiasts accompanied it from the banks of the river and on more then 1,500 boats as it left the commerce port of the Rochefort – where it was pulled from the docks of the shipyard – and sailed on the river and sea stopping at the Aix Island. L’Hermione paid tribute to the large crowd gathered with cannon fire.

It has since been doing sea trails and has visited ports on the West coast including Bordeaux where many more visited her.

She has now returned to Rochefort and is in her docks for all to see before her sail to America which is scheduled for April 2015 where it is planned she will follow her original course to help George Washington in the war or independence, sailing first to  1) The Canary islands 2) Yorktown, Virginia 3) Mount Vernon in Fairfax county, Virginia 4) Alexandria, Virginia 5) Annapolis, Maryland 6) Baltimore, Maryland       7) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 8) New York  9) Greenport, New York 10)  Newport, Rhode Island 11) Boston, Massachusetts 12) Castine in Hancock County, Maine 13) Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada 14) Back to Rochefort stopping at Brest on route, travelling about 9000 kilometres total distance.

Rally d'Autumn near la Rochelle in the Charente Maritime Fr

Every year in the Autumn, La Rochelle and the surrounding area holds the final of the 'Coupes de France des rallyes' and this year on the 17-18-19th October we were lucky enough to be next to the rally track so for 3 days we had over 300 vehicles racing past day and during one night, there was thousands of spectators along the route from Surgeres to Landrais with many spectacular spin offs and crashes and 8 drivers being air lifted to Hospital. It was divided into 2 rallies,the first being enthusiasts with their old cars, a much slower affair than when the professionals threw their cars around the track.

larochellegite com

Images of the farm gardens in the Spring 2014

Our gites near La Rochelle

Inside the Pigeonnier

Hermione, Rochefort, Charente Maritime

L'Hermione boat built by hand in Rochefort, you can take a walk around the boat and watch the craftsmen at work.

In December 1665, Rochefort was chosen by Jean-Baptiste Colbert as a place of "refuge, defense and supply" for the French navy because of its positioning along the Charente estuary, away from the sea. Its military harbour was fortified by King Louis XIV's commissary of fortifications Sebastien Le Prestre Vauban who was the foremost military engineer of France. Between 1666-1669 the king had the "Corderie Royale" (then the longest building in Europe) constructed to make cordage for French ships of war. The making of cordage ceased in 1867, and in 1926 the arsenal of Rochefort was closed. The Corderie Royale and the frigate l'Hermione (Reconstruction started in 1997) are both open for visitors.

Hermione was originally built in 1778 in eleven months at Rochefort, by the shipwright Henri Chevillard as a light frigate, fast and manoeuvrable. Between May and December 1779 she underwent successful sea trials in the Gulf of Gascony under the command of Lieutenant De La Touche.
During the American war of Independence General La Fayette embarked at Rochefort on 11 March 1780 and arrived in Boston on 28 April carrying the then-secret news that he had secured French reinforcements (5,500 men and 5 frigates) for General Washington. She got underway again on 2 June and suffered serious damage in the fierce but indecisive battle on the 7th June 1780 against the 32-gun HMS Iris, under James Hawker.
Hermione received the American Congress on board in May 1781. She fought several times in company with the Astrée, commanded by Lapérouse, especially at the Battle of Louisbourg on 21 July 1781.
After the end of the American war Hermione returned to France in February 1782. She then formed part of a squadron sent to India to help Suffren against the British. However peace was declared and the ship returned to Rochefort in April 1784.

 Again in service against the British, on 20 September 1793, she ran aground off Croisic and was then wrecked by heavy seas. The court-martial consecutive to the wreck found her pilot, Guillaume Guillemin du Conquet, responsible for her loss; her commanding officer, Captain Martin was honourably acquitted.

gites near La Rochelle

                                   The beach just north of La Rochelle

                                Beautiful old port of St Martin on Ile de Ré

Scuba Diving Lessons once a week in our pool

www.scubaschool.fr are a very experienced couple who have been diving instructor's nearly all of their working lives, they are fully insured and are fully qualified to teach any body to P.A.D.I. level.

It has been a real hit with our guests who really enjoy the experience especially the children who have no fear and pick it up really easily. All who participate receive a try a dive certificate.