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Discover the most iconic monument in the city of Rochefort
In 1666, Colbert chose the site of Rochefort to build a new military port, which would become the largest arsenal in the West. A true open-air shipyard, Rochefort developed in the 17th century around the Corderie Royale.
A Building of Remarkable Length
The Corderie Royale is Rochefort’s most impressive monument. 373 meters long, the building consists of a single level made of Crazannes limestone, pierced with large elongated bays and topped with a “Mansart-style” roof. It is flanked by two pavilions at each end.
To construct the edifice on the banks of the Charente, engineers had to set up a wooden raft on the loose and unstable ground. Despite the numerous constraints and difficulties encountered, the monument was completed in 1670.
The exceptional length of the Corderie Royale is linked to the building’s function: hemp was transformed into ropes for the entire French navy there. The ropes, made in a single piece, could reach two hundred meters in length, or 600 times “the King’s foot.”
The building, set on fire by the Germans in 1944, was fully restored from 1976 to 1986. It is classified as a historical monument and houses several organizations: the headquarters of the Conservatoire du Littoral, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the municipal media library, etc. Only a part of the edifice is open to visitors, arranged by the International Centre of the Sea.
The International Centre of the Sea
The Corderie Royale offers visitors a museum space consisting of a permanent exhibition on the art of rope-making and a temporary exhibition related to the maritime world. A maritime bookstore, unique in France, as well as a shop are accessible to the public, independently of the visit.
Understanding Rope-Making
To understand everything about rope-making for sailing ships, visit the Corderie Royale’s museum space, arranged by the International Centre of the Sea, at the heart of the new Arsenal des Mers adventure park.
Discover the activity of the combers who worked hemp to form the yarn, the main element of a rope. Observe the know-how of the ropemakers and the art of forming the strand to then obtain the desired rope.
Attend the knot-tying workshops to learn marine knots. Bowline knot, splice, and monkey’s fist will hold no more secrets for you! Consult the visiting hours of the International Centre of the Sea.
The Temporary Exhibition Space
A beautiful space, accessible as a continuation of the permanent exhibition, offers a new scenography every two years related to the maritime world.
The next exhibition, “Sand Between the Pages,” created by the International Centre of the Sea, will run from March 2018 to January 2020. Illustrations and animated films will lead children and adults on the path to the beach…
The Garden of Returns
What could be more pleasant than strolling through the Garden of Returns at the Corderie Royale in Rochefort? Discover, during a walk, three spaces designed by Bernard Lassus, landscape architect: the Marine Garden, the Galissonnière Garden, and the Americas Garden. The Garden of Returns is a popular stop on the Charente paths, a greenway and cycling route of the Flow Vélo ©, which follows the meander of the Charente.
Children will enjoy the naval battles labyrinth. In the maze of bushes, they will have to find the treasure and, most importantly, the exit! They can also enjoy the brand new playground located in the Marine Garden, a little further up, towards Place Colbert. A few tens of meters away, you’ll also find the Hermione and the Accromâts adventure park.
