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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The La Rochelle-Ville station, located in the Charente-Maritime department, was inaugurated on 19 November 1922 after a construction interrupted by the First World War. Designed by the architect Pierre Esquié, price of Rome, it replaces two pre-existing stations: that of the Compagnie du PO (1857), transformed into a freight station in 1922, and that of the Compagnie des Charentes (1872), considered too out of date. The building, dominated by a 45-metre-long campanile, is inspired by local architecture (sized stone, maritime decor) and features a lobby decorated with mosaics by G. Godefroy and A. Biret. Its location, on the old Saint-Nicolas hornwork, symbolizes post-demilitarization urban modernization.

During the First World War, the unfinished site served as a assembly workshop for 37,800 American cars, assembled from spare parts arrived at the port of La Pallice. These vehicles supplied the front from Atlantic ports. After the war, the station became a major railway node, linking La Rochelle to Paris (via Poitiers), Bordeaux, and Nantes. In 1993, the arrival of the TGV reduced the journey to Paris to 3 hours and then to 2h30 in 2017 thanks to the LGV Sud Europe Atlantic. The station is partially classified as a Historic Monument in 1984 for its facades, roofs, and mosaics.

The station underwent major renovations in the 21st century. In 2005, the passenger hall was restored, highlighting its interior architecture. Between 2008 and 2009, its metal window, damaged by the 1999 storm, was replaced by a zinc and tempered glass structure for €7.2 million, preserving its authenticity. The work, carried out by Vilquin, includes the stripping of the leaded frame and the repair of corroded elements. In June 2024, the tower lantern was deposited for restoration. Today, the station combines passenger traffic (TGV, Intercity, TER) and freight, serving notably the port of La Pallice.

The station's history reflects the technological and urban developments of La Rochelle. As early as 1884, modernization projects were planned, but blocked by the military engineering because of the city's fortification. The downgrading of the stronghold in 1902 finally allowed the disposal of the land and the construction of the current building. The mosaics of the hall, now partially hidden, and the sculptures inspired by marine fauna underline its local anchor. The station also embodies the rise of seaside tourism at the end of the 19th century, La Rochelle becoming a popular destination thanks to its connections with Bordeaux, Nantes and Poitiers.

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