Pada masa [[Renaissance]], La Rochelle mulau menganut agama Kristen Protestan. Sejak tahun 1568, La Rochelle juga menjadi pusat kaum [[Huguenot]], dan kota ini menyatakan diri sebagai Republik Protestan dengan meniru contoh [[Jenewa]].<ref>''Fortress of the soul: violence, metaphysics, and material life'' hlm. Neil Kamil hlm.149 [https://books.google.com/books?id=ekSkZXXjVWUC&pg=RA1-PA149 Google Books]</ref> Hal ini memicu konflik dengan [[Kerajaan Prancis]] yang beragama [[Katolik]]
During the [[Renaissance]], La Rochelle adopted Protestant ideas. [[Calvinism]] started to be propagated in the region of La Rochelle, resulting in its suppression through the establishment of ''Cours présidiaux'' tribunals by [[Henry II of France|Henry II]]. An early result of this was the burning at the stake of two "heretics" in La Rochelle in 1552.<ref name="Robbins">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aFwHB9p0yJoC&pg=PA120|title=City on the Ocean Sea: La Rochelle, 1530–1650 : Urban Society, Religion, and Politics on the French Atlantic Frontier|first=Kevin C.|last=Robbins|date=15 April 1997|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9004108807}}</ref> Conversions to Calvinism however continued, due to a change of religious beliefs, but also to a desire for political independence on the part of the local elite, and a popular opposition to royal expenses and requisitions in the building projects to fortify the coast against England.<ref name="Robbins"/> Pada saat meletusnya [[Perang Agama Prancis]], kota ini [[pengepungan La Rochelle (1572–1573)|dikepung dari tahun 1572 hingga 1573]]. Konflik ini diakhiri dengan disepakatinya [[Perdamaian La Rochelle]] tahun 1573, yang membatasi ibadah Protestan di tiga kota saja, yaitu [[Montauban]], [[Nîmes]], dan La Rochelle.
