Corderie Royale Rochefort and Arsenal des mers

What to see at the Corderie Royale

The Naval Arsenal actually has several areas to visit, temporary and permanent exhibitions, often linked to the maritime history and the rich past of the city of Rochefort.

Corderie royale Rochefort - How tall is the building?

The rope factory is the largest building in the arsenal (374 meters long), which was used to make hemp rope. The building dates back to 1666 and is now listed as a historic monument. It currently houses several government offices.

How was the rope factory building constructed?

The location of the building - near the river Charente, on a muddy site - meant that a lot of work had to be done. prepare the site by laying a grid foundation of oak trees, which turned it into a sort of ‘floating raft.’ Construction took more than three years and involved more than 700 workers.

Corderie Royale Rochefort - nowadays...

Today, the main building is occupied by the international maritime center, which has a specialized library containing more than 8,000 titles.

What happened to the buildings of the royal rope factory in the 20th century?

The buildings were almost completely destroyed during World War II, and restoration work began in the 1960s at the initiative of Rear Admiral Maurice Dupont. After the buildings were designated as historic landmarks, architect Michel Mastorakis oversaw their restoration.

Can you visit the Rochefort rope factory?

You can visit the rope factory and explore the former rope-making facility, or even take part in the knot-tying workshop to learn how to tie knots, and even make a bracelet or a keychain using nautical knots.

Corderie royale - the tour

A visit to the Rochefort rope factory is organized by the Centre International de la Mer. The CIM is an association founded in 1985.
The tour includes an audiovisual area, a permanent exhibition and a temporary exhibition. You can also visit the rope store, the bookshop and the Longitudes restaurant.
On this tour, you'll learn about the history of the Royal Rope Factory, built between 1666 and 1670 at the request of Louis XIV, as well as the different stages in the creation of ropes: from planting the hemp to the various crafts and trades involved in rope-making.

Ropes - use

Ropes were used on sailing boats, and they were used - the 'bouts' for sailors - to moor a boat, hoist or lower the sails. Every naval arsenal had a rope factory, as in Brest and Cherbourg. Officers were in charge of rigging, to obtain the ropes needed for maintenance and navigation.

Hemp - the origin of ropes

Hemp, mainly from Asia, is used to make ropes. Hemp fibers are extremely strong. However, processing hemp requires a number of steps: the hemp must be soaked in water for several days to loosen the fibers from the stalk, then the fibers are dried and softened. Next comes espadage - cleaning the fibers - combing - using combs or serans - and spinning, to produce caret yarn, which is then stored on reels. The quality of the caret yarn is crucial to the strength of the rope.

Turning caret wire into rope.

To do this, ropemakers use two tools: the yard and the square. These two tools form a loom, which creates strands that are then twisted together to create a solid rope. To guide the strands during twisting, they use a spinning top.

The different ropes

A rope factory produces different types of rope: hawsers, grelins, and smaller wires. It is necessary to protect certain ropes, those that are permanently present on a ship. This is done by tarring finished ropes, or caret wires. Ropes are often tested by hanging a weight, or using the capstan. Later came the dynamometer.
The permanent exhibition also features a presentation of the main nautical knots, and a chance to try your hand at knot-tying, with works created by sailors.

What is the "Arsenal of the Seas"?

The Royal Rope Factory is part of a tourist attraction called the Arsenal des Mers. This complex includes the Royal Rope Factory, the frigate *Hermione*, the National Maritime Museum, *L’accro-mâts*, *Océana Lumina*—a light show—the School of Naval Medicine, and more…

Other sites in the "Arsenal des Mers" network

The frigate Hermione

The Hermione (the original) was a scout ship—lighter and more maneuverable than a warship—and was built in Rochefort in the late 18th century. The ship left Rochefort in 1780 to take part in the American War of Independence, with the Marquis de La Fayette on board and under the command of the Count de Tréville, known as Latouche-Tréville.

The tour offers visitors the chance to explore the full-scale replica of the frigate, which was reconstructed starting in 1994 in Rochefort. You’ll learn about the lives of the sailors aboard the Hermione at sea as you listen to the topman—a member of the Hermione’s crew—who will guide you through the tour. You’ll also learn about the history of the Hermione, its construction, how the maneuvers are carried out, the cannons, and more. The tour takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The National Maritime Museum

A visit to the National Maritime Museum, located in the mansion of the Lord of Cheusses, allows you to explore a unique collection of various objects related to the history of the Navy: there are numerous navigational instruments, weapons, and paintings. 

The Naval Medical School

You can visit the Naval Medical School, which remains just as it was in the 19th century. During the 1.5-hour tour, you’ll explore the classrooms, the library, and even discover the various collections—including ethnographic, anatomical, and botanical ones.

Mast Climbing

The mast-climbing course is similar to a tree-top adventure course and is located very close to the Hermione shipyard in the Arsenal des Mers. The only difference lies in the course’s design, which makes you feel as though you’re ‘flying’ from mast to mast on a historic frigate, 30 meters above the ground, with a view of the Charente River and the Hermione.

Photos of La corderie royale in Rochefort

History of the Corderie Royale

History of the rope factory foundations 

The story of how the Rochefort rope factory was founded is worth knowing. Here is an excerpt from Théodore Blois’s account in *Histoire de Rochefort*:

The Corderie Royale was the first building to be constructed in Rochefort. Finished with two pavilions and a third in the middle, it is one of the finest corderies in the kingdom. It has two storeys, 4 toises wide between the walls and one hundred and ninety toises long. The face is magnificent.

Type of land chosen

The site chosen for the construction of the royal rope factory raises some concerns regarding its nature:

The site chosen by Mr. Blondel for this great mass was a beautiful meadow, some two hundred and fifty toises long, over fifty wide at its narrowest, enclosed on one side by the Charante river, and on the other by a canal.

The first thing he did was to establish the ground in several places. He recognized that below the first crust, which was about two feet of black earth and gason, there was a layer of clay, very firm and solid at the top, ten to twelve feet thick, which gradually softened and ended up as soft, semi-liquid mud or silt, of the same nature as that on the banks and bottom of the river; and this bad ground continued under the clay to such a great height that he was never able to find the bottom, or find any other ground underneath. 

Technical challenges

His edifice must have been too considerable to use the practice of local masons, who in these situations place the first foundations of their buildings on the grass, without digging anything for their foundations, because two feet of good earth bound and strengthened by the roots of the grasses, are enough to support the mass of their buildings and prevent them from feeling the movements of the clay underneath, and this prudent architect, not wanting to bind it to the clay to pilot it, based on the misfortune that recently befell the bridge at Saintes, which had been overturned by the efforts of the clay, which in tormenting itself had driven out the pilings, and consequently caused the ruin of the Bridge ; because when clay is stale and tormented, it throws out everything that has been put in and on top of it.

The solution he came up with was to build a structural grid in platte forme, as he had seen built on similar occasions in Holland and elsewhere, and particularly at the Havre de Grace citadel, which M. d'Argencourt, on almost similar ground, had founded in this way, as well as the Corne de Brouage structure.

History of foundations ... (continued)

The following is Théodore Blois's testimony.

Armed with this experience, Mr. Blondel had the widths he wanted to give to the foundations of the walls, both around the rope factory and the buildings that were to accompany it, traced out on the site. that of those he had resolved to raise up to the ground floor only, in the form of crossbeams, four by four toises on the inside, to link the main walls together.

Scouring

He dug about five feet into the prairie plane, i.e. three feet into the clay mass, then, having had the bottom s of these excavations placed with great accuracy everywhere on the same level, he laid a grid of long pieces of 10 to 11 inch oak wood, joined together, and dovetailed throughout the foundations, i.e. under the tie walls as well as under the main walls, over which he laid a flat bed of planks of the same wood, 3 or 4 inches thick, seated on the same level and pegged to all the timbers of the grid.

Construction of the Corderie Royale

He had the foundations laid from fine quarters of libage, with long bolts, and built the walls of good leaded masonry inside and retired outside, to the height of four and a half feet, or five feet above the plane of the meadow, on which he wanted the rope factory to be raised to this height, in order to protect it from the inconveniences of the river waters, which sometimes overflowed, and mainly at high tides, covering most of the neighboring meadows.

He set the walls on this foundation, but with such uniformity throughout, that he never allowed a stone to be placed to start a course, in any part of the perimeter, until the course underneath was fully completed, so that the whole mass taking its weight equally everywhere, the ground under the gate was never more pressed on one side than on the other. 

History of foundations ... (continued)

The following is Théodore Blois's testimony.

Armed with this experience, Mr. Blondel had the widths he wanted to give to the foundations of the walls, both around the rope factory and the buildings that were to accompany it, traced out on the site. that of those he had resolved to raise up to the ground floor only, in the form of crossbeams, four by four toises on the inside, to link the main walls together.

Scouring

He dug about five feet into the prairie plane, i.e. three feet into the clay mass, then, having had the bottom s of these excavations placed with great accuracy everywhere on the same level, he laid a grid of long pieces of 10 to 11 inch oak wood, joined together, and dovetailed throughout the foundations, i.e. under the tie walls as well as under the main walls, over which he laid a flat bed of planks of the same wood, 3 or 4 inches thick, seated on the same level and pegged to all the timbers of the grid.

Construction

He had the foundations laid from fine quarters of libage, with long bolts, and built the walls of good leaded masonry inside and retired outside, to the height of four and a half feet, or five feet above the plane of the meadow, on which he wanted the rope factory to be raised to this height, in order to protect it from the inconveniences of the river waters, which sometimes overflowed, and mainly at high tides, covering most of the neighboring meadows.

He set the walls on this foundation, but with such uniformity throughout, that he never allowed a stone to be placed to start a course, in any part of the perimeter, until the course underneath was fully completed, so that the whole mass taking its weight equally everywhere, the ground under the gate was never more pressed on one side than on the other. 

To find out more...

The International Maritime Center

The International Maritime Center in Rochefort, housed in the former buildings of the Royal Naval Arsenal, offers visitors an immersive experience into the world of navigation, shipbuilding, and maritime exploration.

Through a variety of interactive exhibits, historical reenactments, and remarkable collections, visitors can retrace the epic journeys of the great explorers, discover the secrets of traditional shipbuilding, and learn about the contemporary challenges and issues surrounding the preservation of the marine environment.

From tours of iconic ships such as the frigate Hermione, famous for its role in the American Revolutionary War, to exploring restored workshops and shipyards, the International Maritime Center offers an enriching and captivating experience for maritime history enthusiasts, families, and curious visitors of all ages.

In addition to its role as a museum, the center also organizes cultural events, lectures, and educational activities, thereby helping to revive and preserve the region’s rich maritime heritage while raising public awareness of contemporary issues related to the sea and the ocean.

The Arsenal of the Seas

The Rochefort Naval Arsenal embodies an unparalleled naval heritage. Founded in the 17th century by Louis XIV, this arsenal was a pillar of French naval power, responsible for the construction, maintenance, and supply of warships. Today, its vast historic facilities, including the Corderie Royale and the Hôtel de Cheusses, have been magnificently restored to house captivating museums and interactive exhibits chronicling the epic history of the French navy.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of shipbuilding through demonstrations of traditional techniques, historical reenactments, and themed exhibits that highlight Rochefort’s crucial role in the country’s maritime history.

The Maritime Museum and the Hôtel de Cheusses 

The Maritime Museum and the Hôtel de Cheusses in Rochefort are two essential pillars of France’s rich maritime heritage, offering a captivating immersion in the region’s naval history.

Located in the heart of the historic town of Rochefort in Charente-Maritime, these two sites bear witness to the former glory of the French Navy and its strategic importance. The Hôtel de Cheusses, a magnificent 17th-century building, now houses the Naval Museum, where visitors can explore remarkable collections of maritime objects, ship models, and historical artifacts, tracing the region’s maritime history.

Interactive exhibits, audiovisual animations and demonstrations of shipbuilding techniques take visitors back through the centuries, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at life on board ship and an understanding of the challenges faced by sailors.

As they wander through the rooms of the Hôtel de Cheusses, visitors are immersed in the atmosphere of the age of sail, when adventure and exploration were at the heart of every sea voyage. 

Rochefort or Rochefort-sur-mer is one of Charente-Maritime's main towns, known for its harbor, the Corderie Royale, and in recent years for the replica of the Hermione.

Discover the surrounding area

The Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes

Ladies' Abbey a Saintes is an ancient abbey located in Saintes, Charente Maritime, on the right bank of the Charente, not far from the Arc de Germanicus and the tourist office.

The Church of Royan

Notre Dame de Royan church is located in Royan, Charente Maritime. Its elliptical silhouette makes it a must-see, measuring 45 m in length. 

Want to discover other tourist destinations in France? Discover the Loire Valley and its mythical châteaux