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Quote: Originally posted by SammieB on 27/2/2008

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...Does anyone know if there are good rail links if we wanted to get the train to La Rochelle??
We are taking bikes & want to make our hol as car free as poss. This could be an option for us as we are quite keen to visit La Rochelle....

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You can get to La Rochelle by train, but only from certain places.
It's linked by train to Nantes and La Roche-sur-Yon, via Luçon.
A totally different line from Nantes and La Roche sur-Yon leads to Les Sables-d'Olonne (terminus of line) via La Mothe-Achard.
From Nantes, another line leads through Challans to St-Hilaire de Riez and St-Gilles-Croix de Vie, again the end of the line (with some bus connections at Challans for St-Jean de Monts and Noirmoutier).

So if you think of these as three prongs of a fork, there is no link between *all* of them except Nantes - though two of them pass through La Roche-sur-Yon before separating.

You might have to drive to La Rochelle, and then hire bikes to explore the town.

Angela

If you are thinking of the La Rochelle area, try the followingsite....http://www.holidays-iledere.co.uk/home,4,2,313.php    We often go there. As we only live about an hour away from the Island it is a viable destination for week ends etc.  The Island has a very relaxed feel about it and is very flat, cycling is not a problem. A toll bridge connects and during the summer months the toll is app.16 Euros. We always feel the Island atmosphere justifies the cost, if you visit, go to the La Flotte market, open every morning a real taste of France.

Good luck and enjoy your Holiday.