Founded by Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 14th century. La Rochelle has a beautiful market place, an aquarium and is home to Saint Nicholas Tower and the Tour de la Chaine which guard the entrance to the town’s harbour. Many visitors to La Rochelle head for Cognac, a little town of only 22,000 inhabitants known all over the world. In an area of some 150,000 acres, the only brand that can be called Cognac is produced. Use of the name is forbidden for brandy which is made elsewhere or from other than one of seven officially accepted varieties of grape. The Valois Chateau, located here, was the birthplace of Francis I.