Escale street

Escale Street is one of La Rochelle’s historic streets. Take a look at its cobblestones: it’s the only street in the city that still has round cobblestones. These cobbles came from merchant ships arriving from Canada and Northern Europe. They were loaded onto the ships to act as ballast, in other words weight to ensure their stability, as the ships sometimes came empty to collect goods in France. Other features of Escale Street include La Rochelle’s iconic arcades, as well as a number of historic mansions that bear witness to its heyday. At the end of the street just behind you, is the former Auffredy hospital. Named after a wealthy merchant from the town who, in 1196, indebted himself to send a dozen ships to the African coast to collect goods. However, when the ships failed to return, he had to sell all his possessions to pay off his debts and became a beggar, along with his wife. 7 years later, however, his ships finally returned, filled with gold, precious stones and ivory, making him very rich once again. He then decided to build a hospice to care of the most destitute people. The building has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The façade you can see today dates back to 1820. Don’t hesitate to take a detour to get a glimpse of it. For now, let’s continue on our way back to the centre of the White City.