An exhibiton of Nigel Pert’s photographs of last month’s Armada at Rouen is now hanging in Les Longitudes restaurant at the Corderie Royale in Rochefort.
Nigel has been making a study of the replica French Frigate L’Hermione (see HERE ), and he joined L’Hermione for a leg on her way to Rouen in June. The voyage included a passage through the Solent via the Needles Channel, with the French firing their guns in salute.
The exhibition features L’Hermione as well as other ships at the Armada such as the Tall Ship Cuauhtemoc (above). The Corderie is part of the wider maritime heritage on show at Rochefort which this weekend launches an all-in-one pass much like Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The Rochefort attractions are called L’Arsenal des Mers and include the Corderie – which is the old ropewalk – while dry docks house a mast climbing exhibit to give visitors a sense of what it means to go aloft, there is also Hermione herself when she is at base.
There is more on : HERE
L’Hermione canon
Keeping watch
The frigate passing the Needles in early June; she did not stop but carried on to Rouen