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Honfleur - The Vieux Bassin

Honfleur is a town surrounding a beautiful little 17th-century harbor in Calvados, Lower Normandy. It is still active as a fishing port and marina. The town has preserved many historic and traditional buildings and houses some interesting museums, churches and monuments.

Detail of the buildings lining the harbour From west to east, here are the areas of Honfleur:

Saint-Léonard with the eponymous church behind the tourist office and the open-air wash house.
L’Enclos with the old port (Vieux Bassin), the Lieutenance, the church of Saint-Etienne (now a marine museum) and the salt halls (Greniers à Sel).
Sainte-Catherine : around the largest wooden church with a separate belltower in France are narrow streets with the best restaurants and art galleries.
The sea wall, bordered with well-kept parks, makes a pleasant walk along the mouth of the Seine.
Côte de Grâce is a hill at about 1.5 km from the town that offers beautiful views on Honfleur, the Seine, the Pont de Normandie and Le Havre

Saint-Léonard with the eponymous church behind the tourist office and the open-air wash house.

L’Enclos with the old port (Vieux Bassin), the Lieutenance, the church of Saint-Etienne (now a marine museum) and the salt halls (Greniers à Sel).

Sainte-Catherine : around the largest wooden church with a separate belltower in France are narrow streets with the best restaurants and art galleries.

The sea wall, bordered with well-kept parks, makes a pleasant walk along the mouth of the Seine.

Côte de Grâce is a hill at about 1.5 km from the town that offers beautiful views on Honfleur, the [[Seine]], the Pont de Normandie and [[Le Havre]]

Sainte-Catherine church

Le Vieux Bassin et la Lieutenance. Old harbor and port authority buildings. Charming but monopolized by restaurant terraces.
Sainte-Catherine church. This church was built in wood by ships' carpenters around 1500. The two parallel vaults take the shape of an upturned hull.
Clocher Sainte-Catherine (bell tower). Open in summer (and winter week-ends) 10am-12am and 2pm-6pm, in winter weekdays 2.30pm-17pm, closed on Tuesday. This wooden bell tower is separated from the main church.
Musée Eugène Boudin (Eugène Boudin Museum), rue de l’Homme de Bois, +33 2 31 89 54 00. Open in summer (and winter week-ends) 10am-12am and 2pm-6pm, in winter weekdays 2.30pm-17pm, closed on Tuesday. Eugene Boudin is one of the forerunners of the Impressionist movement. The museum houses some 92 of the painter's works.
Maisons Satie (Satie museum), 67 boulevard Charles V (by foot from Sainte-Catherine church take the rue de l’Homme de Bois and turn right at the sign, +33 2 31 89 11 11. Summer 10am-7pm, winter 11am-6pm; closed on Tuesday. A surrealist walk into Satie’s music and wit. The composer Erik Satie was born in this house in Honfleur in 1866. His life is told (over free audio phones - in French by Michel Lonsdale, English version also available) from room to room, with many anecdotes and music samples. You’ll even see his ghost playing his music on a white piano. Allow one hour to make the tour. €4.00.
Le Jardin des Personnalités (the Garden of Personalities). A nice well-kept garden down by the mouth of the Seine filled with busts of some of the famous inhabitants of Honfleur. At the rear of the garden, a small path leads to the center of a marsh, where you can enjoy the quiet and look for birds.
Le Jardin Retrouvé (public garden). 8am till sunset. Along the bank of the Seine, a nice garden with swings for the children.
Naturospace (live butterflies garden), +33 2 31 81 77 00. An indoor tropical garden with hundreds of butterflies; charming, ideal on a rainy day. €8.90.
Musée de la Marine (Marine Museum), quai Saint-Etienne (on the Vieux Bassin, +33 2 31 89 14 12. Closed on Monday. In the unconsecrated Saint-Etienne church (14th century), an exhibit of model boats and other souvenirs of the sailor's life.
Normandy Culture & Ethnography Museum, rue de la Prison (behind Saint-Etienne church, +33 2 31 89 14 12. The museum recreates life in old Normandy.
Pont de Normandie. Impressive bridge over the Seine (toll €5.10).
Notre Dame de Grâce chapel. An old chapel built by Richard II and rebuilt in 1615 on the hill with beautiful views over the town and the Seine.

Le Vieux Bassin et la Lieutenance. Old harbor and port authority buildings. Charming but monopolized by restaurant terraces.

Sainte-Catherine church. This church was built in wood by ships' carpenters around 1500. The two parallel vaults take the shape of an upturned hull.

Clocher Sainte-Catherine (bell tower). Open in summer (and winter week-ends) 10am-12am and 2pm-6pm, in winter weekdays 2.30pm-17pm, closed on Tuesday. This wooden bell tower is separated from the main church.

Musée Eugène Boudin (Eugène Boudin Museum), rue de l’Homme de Bois, +33 2 31 89 54 00. Open in summer (and winter week-ends) 10am-12am and 2pm-6pm, in winter weekdays 2.30pm-17pm, closed on Tuesday. Eugene Boudin is one of the forerunners of the Impressionist movement. The museum houses some 92 of the painter's works.

Maisons Satie (Satie museum), 67 boulevard Charles V (by foot from Sainte-Catherine church take the rue de l’Homme de Bois and turn right at the sign, +33 2 31 89 11 11. Summer 10am-7pm, winter 11am-6pm; closed on Tuesday. A surrealist walk into Satie’s music and wit. The composer Erik Satie was born in this house in Honfleur in 1866. His life is told (over free audio phones - in French by Michel Lonsdale, English version also available) from room to room, with many anecdotes and music samples. You’ll even see his ghost playing his music on a white piano. Allow one hour to make the tour. €4.00.

Le Jardin des Personnalités (the Garden of Personalities). A nice well-kept garden down by the mouth of the Seine filled with busts of some of the famous inhabitants of Honfleur. At the rear of the garden, a small path leads to the center of a marsh, where you can enjoy the quiet and look for birds.

Le Jardin Retrouvé (public garden). 8am till sunset. Along the bank of the Seine, a nice garden with swings for the children.

Naturospace (live butterflies garden), +33 2 31 81 77 00. An indoor tropical garden with hundreds of butterflies; charming, ideal on a rainy day. €8.90.

Musée de la Marine (Marine Museum), quai Saint-Etienne (on the Vieux Bassin, +33 2 31 89 14 12. Closed on Monday. In the unconsecrated Saint-Etienne church (14th century), an exhibit of model boats and other souvenirs of the sailor's life.

Normandy Culture & Ethnography Museum, rue de la Prison (behind Saint-Etienne church, +33 2 31 89 14 12. The museum recreates life in old Normandy.

Pont de Normandie. Impressive bridge over the Seine (toll €5.10).

Notre Dame de Grâce chapel. An old chapel built by Richard II and rebuilt in 1615 on the hill with beautiful views over the town and the Seine.

Geocaching : there are a few easy caches in town.

[[Geocaching]] : there are a few easy caches in town.

Post Office : 7 cours Albert-Manuel (500m south-west from the quai Sainte-Catherine), weekdays 8.30am-12am & 1.30pm-6pm Saturday 8.30am-12am
Open markets
- Bio Market, place Sainte-Catherine, each Wednesday 8.30am to 1pm
- Traditional Market, Sainte-Catherine area, each Saturday 8.30am to 1pm
- Fish Market, harbor, each Saturday 8.30am to 1pm
Compagnie des Calvados, 19 rue de la Ville, +33 2 31 89 57 56. Calvados tasting, for the serious connoisseur. You’ll find here all vintages over the last sixty years. €50 - €300.
Goutte de pluie, rue de l’Homme de Bois. €50 - €100.
Art galleries : Looking for an expensive work of art ? Honfleur is the place to be, with dozens of art galleries. Some of the most interesting ones are in the rue du Dauphin.

Post Office : 7 cours Albert-Manuel (500m south-west from the quai Sainte-Catherine), weekdays 8.30am-12am & 1.30pm-6pm Saturday 8.30am-12am

Open markets

Bio Market, place Sainte-Catherine, each Wednesday 8.30am to 1pm
Traditional Market, Sainte-Catherine area, each Saturday 8.30am to 1pm
Fish Market, harbor, each Saturday 8.30am to 1pm

Compagnie des Calvados, 19 rue de la Ville, +33 2 31 89 57 56. Calvados tasting, for the serious connoisseur. You’ll find here all vintages over the last sixty years. €50 - €300.

Goutte de pluie, rue de l’Homme de Bois. €50 - €100.

Art galleries : Looking for an expensive work of art ? Honfleur is the place to be, with dozens of art galleries. Some of the most interesting ones are in the rue du Dauphin.

There are more than 100 restaurants in Honfleur.

La Commanderie, place Sainte-Catherine, +33 2 31 89 14 92. Pancakes and pizzas
L’Homme de Bois, 30-32 rue de l’Homme de Bois (near Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 75 27. Brasserie, in an old fisherman house; timbered ceiling with exposed beams; oysters, skate wing, floating island. Menu €19 & €25; three-course meal with wine €35.
La Tortue, 36 rue de l'Homme de Bois (near Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 04 93.
Entre Terre et Mer, 12-14 place Hamelin (near the Lieutenance, +33 2 31 89 70 60. Classic restaurant with terrace on the street; excellent preparations of live blue lobster. Menu €26, €35 & €51; two-course meal with blue lobster and wine €65.
La Fleur de Sel, 17 rue Haute (the rue Haute is below and parallel to the rue de l’Homme de Bois, +33 2 31 89 01 92. Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and in January. Classic restaurant with fine cooking: cold soup with tuna and tomatoes, calf’s liver with vegetables duxelle, strawberry soup. Reservation is essential. Menus €26 & €36.
Le Bréard, 7 rue du Puits (near Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 53 40. Closed on Tuesday lunchtime, Wednesday, Thursday lunchtime. Trendy gastronomic restaurant in the artists area of Honfleur; fine and innovative cooking; very fresh fish (turbot €25, sea bass €20). Reservation is essential.i Two-course meal with wine €80.
L'escale, Place Arthur Boudin, 3 rue de la Ville, 14600 Honfleur (Behind the Hotel de Ville, +33 2 31 89 32 22. Pleasant service and good food. In central Honfleur but a bit quieter than restaurants on the Vieux Bassin. It serves the seafood that is most in place in Honfleur as well as other choices and has a pleasant covered area on the side of a pedestrian street along one side of the square. Menus at €18, €28, €35.
La Chaloupe, Vieux Bassin, 14600 Honfleur (At the southwest corner of the Vieux Bassin. One of many similar places along the vieux bassin. A pleasant meal while you people watch is the main attraction. Prices are reasonable for this location and for France and the service fairly quick. There are tables by the waterside with shady umbrellas or you can eat inside. Menus at €18, €28.
BurgerMan, 16, place Hamelin, 14600 Honfleur (50m to the West of the crossroads near the Lieutenance, +33 2 31 89 16 25. Good for a tasty imaginative meal at a reasonable price in a charming well decorated small restaurant right in the centre of Honfleur (but not on the Vieux Bassin). The service is attentive and prompt. Try the Calvados Fermier with the Apple dessert, they work well together. Menus at €16.50, €26.

Further afield

Auberge Le Cheval Blanc, 33 rue des Brioleurs, Saint-Gatien-des-Bois (10 km south, on the road to Deauville, on the main street in the centre of the village, +33 2 31 65 16 67. Little country restaurant renovated in 2007. Fine regional cooking (whelk salad, duck pâté with pistachio, plaice fillet with cream, roasted guinea fowl fillet). The chef has worked in starry restaurants. Charming welcome by the owner. They also have eight little rooms. Reservation expected.

La Commanderie, place Sainte-Catherine, +33 2 31 89 14 92. Pancakes and pizzas

L’Homme de Bois, 30-32 rue de l’Homme de Bois (near Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 75 27. Brasserie, in an old fisherman house; timbered ceiling with exposed beams; oysters, skate wing, floating island. Menu €19 & €25; three-course meal with wine €35.

La Tortue, 36 rue de l'Homme de Bois (near Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 04 93.

Entre Terre et Mer, 12-14 place Hamelin (near the Lieutenance, +33 2 31 89 70 60. Classic restaurant with terrace on the street; excellent preparations of live blue lobster. Menu €26, €35 & €51; two-course meal with blue lobster and wine €65.

La Fleur de Sel, 17 rue Haute (the rue Haute is below and parallel to the rue de l’Homme de Bois, +33 2 31 89 01 92. Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and in January. Classic restaurant with fine cooking: cold soup with tuna and tomatoes, calf’s liver with vegetables duxelle, strawberry soup. Reservation is essential. Menus €26 & €36.

Le Bréard, 7 rue du Puits (near Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 53 40. Closed on Tuesday lunchtime, Wednesday, Thursday lunchtime. Trendy gastronomic restaurant in the artists area of Honfleur; fine and innovative cooking; very fresh fish (turbot €25, sea bass €20). Reservation is essential.i Two-course meal with wine €80.

L'escale, Place Arthur Boudin, 3 rue de la Ville, 14600 Honfleur (Behind the Hotel de Ville, +33 2 31 89 32 22. Pleasant service and good food. In central Honfleur but a bit quieter than restaurants on the Vieux Bassin. It serves the seafood that is most in place in Honfleur as well as other choices and has a pleasant covered area on the side of a pedestrian street along one side of the square. Menus at €18, €28, €35.

La Chaloupe, Vieux Bassin, 14600 Honfleur (At the southwest corner of the Vieux Bassin. One of many similar places along the vieux bassin. A pleasant meal while you people watch is the main attraction. Prices are reasonable for this location and for France and the service fairly quick. There are tables by the waterside with shady umbrellas or you can eat inside. Menus at €18, €28.

BurgerMan, 16, place Hamelin, 14600 Honfleur (50m to the West of the crossroads near the Lieutenance, +33 2 31 89 16 25. Good for a tasty imaginative meal at a reasonable price in a charming well decorated small restaurant right in the centre of Honfleur (but not on the Vieux Bassin). The service is attentive and prompt. Try the Calvados Fermier with the Apple dessert, they work well together. Menus at €16.50, €26.

Auberge Le Cheval Blanc, 33 rue des Brioleurs, Saint-Gatien-des-Bois (10 km south, on the road to Deauville, on the main street in the centre of the village, +33 2 31 65 16 67. Little country restaurant renovated in 2007. Fine regional cooking (whelk salad, duck pâté with pistachio, plaice fillet with cream, roasted guinea fowl fillet). The chef has worked in starry restaurants. Charming welcome by the owner. They also have eight little rooms. Reservation expected.

La Petite Chine, 14-16 rue du Dauphin, +33 2 31 89 36 52. for the best scones, crumble and brownies in town; extensive list of teas from India, Taiwan and other countries
Vintage cafe, 8 quai des Passagers (between the old harbor and Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 05 28. live jazz music, cocktails, salads

La Petite Chine, 14-16 rue du Dauphin, +33 2 31 89 36 52. for the best scones, crumble and brownies in town; extensive list of teas from India, Taiwan and other countries

Vintage cafe, 8 quai des Passagers (between the old harbor and Sainte-Catherine church, +33 2 31 89 05 28. live jazz music, cocktails, salads

Tourism Office : quai Lepaulmier (on the D580 passing through Honfleur from west to east) +33 2 31 89 23 30, open every day from 10am to 5pm (closed for lunch 12.30 to 2pm on weekdays)
Cyber Pub, 55 rue de la République (the rue de la République leads to the quai Sainte-Catherine, +33 2 31 89 95 83. Closed on Thursday.

Tourism Office : quai Lepaulmier (on the D580 passing through Honfleur from west to east) +33 2 31 89 23 30, open every day from 10am to 5pm (closed for lunch 12.30 to 2pm on weekdays)

Cyber Pub, 55 rue de la République (the rue de la République leads to the quai Sainte-Catherine, +33 2 31 89 95 83. Closed on Thursday.

Le Havre (5 km north)
Trouville-sur-Mer and Deauville, beach resorts (10 km south)
Regional Natural Park of the Boucles de la Seine Normande (40 km east)