Tucked in the shadow of the church of Saint-Sauveur, the Place des Moureilles is one of those secret corners that lend old La Rochelle its charm. This tiny cobblestoned gem takes its name from the Cistercian abbey of Notre-Dame de Moreilles, a religious community that owned land in the neighbourhood from the Middle Ages onwards. It was on ground purchased from these monks that the Tour de Moureilles was built between 1399 and 1410 — an 18-metre fortress designed to safeguard the city's archives and privileges. Spared by Richelieu in 1628 and later converted into a powder magazine, the tower was destroyed in an explosion in 1786. Though the tower is gone, the little square has kept its timeless atmosphere. In summer it comes alive with open-air theatre and concerts, notably during the Festival Zéro 1 of digital arts. In winter, carefully designed lighting bathes its stone façades, making this intimate courtyard one of the hidden jewels of the historic centre.
Activity added by the Oxploria team
