Rochefort is a French city with a profound naval history. This four hundred year old city of King Louis XIV is situated in Poitou-Charentes region of western France and is known for its stellar combination of strategic might and scenic landscapes. The city is also a notable example of the 17th-century ‘ville nouvelle’ (or new town) format, which makes it one of the very first French cities to embrace this new arrangement.
Rochefort is also known for its association with Napoleon Bonaparte. Just twenty kilometers ahead of city at the island of Ile d'Aix, the French emperor had surrendered to the Royal Navy on 17 July 1815 and was exiled to St. Helena, thus marking an abrupt end to his regime and relations with his British counterparts.