La Rochelle, France

Capital City

While La Rochelle boasts a picturesque harbor and quaint old town, the reality is a city with a population of 79,851 that grapples with persistent bureaucratic headaches. The tax burden is heavy, as the city was once a center of Protestant rebellion, leading to centuries of suppression and expulsions. And despite its mild oceanic climate, the area's history of naval battles and sieges casts a shadow - the last city in France to be liberated in World War II. For those undaunted by these challenges, La Rochelle offers a scenic coastal escape, but it's hardly the idyllic French paradise some may envision.