Standing proudly on the banks of the River Charente, the Corderie Royale in Rochefort is an exceptional historical and industrial monument, retracing the epic story of shipbuilding and offering visitors a fascinating journey through time. Discover the Corderie Royale during your stay with us. campsite in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne.
The history of the Corderie Royale
The history of Corderie Royale is closely linked to France's maritime ambitions under the reign of Louis XIV. Anxious to equip his kingdom with a powerful and feared fleet, the Sun King entrusted his visionary minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, with the mission of modernising and optimising shipbuilding.
In 1666, Colbert ordered the construction of the Corderie Royale in Rochefort, A strategic site on the banks of the Charente. With a monumental length of 374 metres, this extraordinary factory was an architectural and technological feat for its time. Its purpose? To mass-produce high-quality ropes, essential for French warships.
Making ropes: age-old know-how
At the heart of the Corderie Royale, The exhibition plunges visitors into the fascinating world of the «cordiers», the exceptional craftsmen who mastered the art of transforming hemp into the ropes so essential to ships. Each stage of production is carried out with meticulous precision, revealing an ancestral know-how handed down from generation to generation.
The adventure begins with the retting, This is an essential process for softening and breaking down the hemp stalks. Immersed in basins of water, they undergo a natural fermentation process that lasts several weeks. Once retted, the fibres are dried and ready for processing.
The dried hemp fibres are then refined and transformed into yarn using combing and carding techniques. These steps remove impurities and align the fibres in parallel, giving the yarn its strength and resistance.
The hemp yarns are then twisted together to form strands, then braided together to create ropes. This delicate operation, carried out using machines but also by hand, requires great expertise and perfect coordination of gestures.
To ensure the longevity of the ropes and protect them from the elements, a final tarring stage is carried out. The ropes are immersed in baths of boiling tar, which impregnates the fibres and makes them impervious to water and moisture.
Ropes made at the Corderie Royale were not just used for ships' sails. Their strength and resistance also made them invaluable for many other uses: shrouds, mooring ropes, rope ladders and so on. In this way, they contributed to the robustness and manoeuvrability of French ships.
With the advent of steamships and the use of modern materials, the importance of the Corderie Royale gradually diminished.
Fortunately, enthusiasts and associations have joined forces to preserve this unique heritage. Rope-making at the Corderie Royale offers a fascinating insight into French maritime history. It highlights human ingenuity, the importance of manual labour and the crucial role played by ropes in sailing.
La Corderie Royale today: A museum and entertainment centre
Far from being a mere monument frozen in time, the Corderie Royale has now been transformed into a a dynamic and educational museum, offering visitors an immersive and enriching experience. It is even one of the Must-sees in Rochefort-sur-Mer.
The permanent exhibitions retrace the history of the Corderie Royale, from its construction under Colbert to its decline in the 20th century. Models of ships, period tools and immersive films allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world of the «cordiers» and understand the importance of this factory in French maritime history.
From temporary exhibitions, The exhibitions, which are regularly renewed, explore more specific themes linked to shipbuilding, the lives of sailors and the great maritime explorations. It's an opportunity for visitors to discover new facets of maritime history, and to reflect on the challenges and issues facing the maritime world today.
To make the visit even more captivating, the Corderie Royale offers a wide range of fun activities and workshops. With rope-making demonstrations, interactive games and educational workshops, young and old alike can learn about the traditional techniques used by rope-makers, and get to grips with the history of the site in a fun and entertaining way.
La Corderie Royale de Rochefort also hosts events and meetings throughout the year: conferences, concerts, live shows and more. It's an opportunity to extend the experience and discover this magical place from another angle, in a friendly and festive atmosphere.
Practical information for visiting the Corderie Royale
La Corderie Royale is open every day of the year (except 1 January and 25 December).
- October to March: 10am-5.30pm (last admission 4.30pm)
- April to September: 10am-6.30pm (last admission 5.30pm)
Prices :
- Full price: €10
- Reduced rate: €8 (children aged 6 to 15, students, groups...)
- Free: under 6s
Book your stay with us now camping Royan to discover the Corderie Royale.