Le Havre is a port city at the mouth of the Seine, on the English Channel (French: Manche) in the region of Upper Normandy in France.
Le Havre, originally le Havre de Grâce (Harbour of Grace), was founded in the early 16th century at the mouth of the Seine as the main harbour for Paris. Goods transferred at Le Havre between ocean-going vessels and barges which went to and from Paris via the Seine.
Le Havre was heavily bombed during the Battle of Normandy in 1944. The reconstruction of the town was undertaken by Auguste Perret using reinforced concrete. This project has led to the city being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- The view of the port (bassin du commerce) with its lovely bridge and both the Volcano and steeple of St Joseph's church in the background. Nice both in the day or at night. On the north quay, the casino (gambling, fine restaurants, hotel, spa).
- St Vincent district is an old district near the beach which didn't suffer too much from the terrible bombings that flattened the city in 1944 and in which 5,000 people died in the ruins in a few hours. The little church and the square around it evoke a village atmosphere in southern France. During the season, painters gather on the square and give an impression of "Montmartre".
- Take the funiculaire (cable car) for an easy climb to Le Havre's upper plateau. From the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), it’s a 7-minute walk (600 metres) along avenue René Coty to the lower terminal is located on rue Gustave-Flaubert (corner rue du Docteur-Vigné). A one-way ticket costs €0.40. Once at the top, turn right from the upper terminal (heading east), along rue Félix-Faure, another 7-minute walk (500 metres) brings you to a superbly panoramic view of the beautiful city and its harbour. You can return down the Escalier Olivier-Senn, then stroll through narrow historic streets, zig-zagging back to the city center. Returning to the lower terminal takes about 12 minutes, all downhill.
- Saint-Joseph church, Boulevard François Ier. St Joseph's Church was a key project designed by August Perret in the rebuilding of the city. Its tall tower is lined with coloured glass lending the interior a unique tranquility.
- Town Hall. The town hall is situated on one of the largest squares in France. The interior has information on the city. It is possible to climb the tower for view of the lay out of the city. Showflat, designed by city designer August Perret, is now open for public viewing.
- Malraux Museum, 2 boulevard Clemenceau, +33 2 35 19 62 62. Daily, except Tuesday - 11:00-18:00. Sa and Su till 19:00. This museum houses the largest Impressionist collection in France outside of Paris. €10.
Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre, 8 place Niemeyer. Cultural Centre (the Volcano) designed by leading architect Oscar Niemeyer is located in the centre of town. One of the city's most iconic buildings.- Maison de l'Armateur. Daily except Tu. One of the few old houses which were not destroyed during World War II. A magnificent house of 5 floors, nicely decorated and furnished in the style of its construction (18th century), when it belonged to rich families. A very interesting visit especially if you also visit Auguste Perret's showflat in City Hall Square showing what was life was like in the 1950s. You will understand the complex history of the city. €5.
- Natural History Museum, Place du Vieux Marché (near the cathedral. Closed on Thu morning and Mon - 10:00-18:00. in an old building which miraculously survived the terrible bombings on September 5, 1944. Interesting museum (free) with a lot of activities for children.
- Cathedrale Notre Dame, +33 02 32 74 04 05. Visit it and walk around it. You'll get a striking contrast between the 15th century cathedral and the buildings constructed in the 1950s and 1960s around it. The foundations of the cathedral are lower than the other buildings because they were built on the ruins of the old town.
Take the funiculaire (cable car) for an easy climb to Le Havre's upper plateau. From the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), it’s a 7-minute walk (600 metres) along avenue René Coty to the lower terminal is located on rue Gustave-Flaubert (corner rue du Docteur-Vigné). A one-way ticket costs €0.40. Once at the top, turn right from the upper terminal (heading east), along rue Félix-Faure, another 7-minute walk (500 metres) brings you to a superbly panoramic view of the beautiful city and its harbour. You can return down the Escalier Olivier-Senn, then stroll through narrow historic streets, zig-zagging back to the city center. Returning to the lower terminal takes about 12 minutes, all downhill.
Saint-Joseph church, Boulevard François Ier. St Joseph's Church was a key project designed by August Perret in the rebuilding of the city. Its tall tower is lined with coloured glass lending the interior a unique tranquility.
Town Hall. The town hall is situated on one of the largest squares in France. The interior has information on the city. It is possible to climb the tower for view of the lay out of the city. Showflat, designed by city designer August Perret, is now open for public viewing.
Malraux Museum, 2 boulevard Clemenceau, +33 2 35 19 62 62. Daily, except Tuesday - 11:00-18:00. Sa and Su till 19:00. This museum houses the largest Impressionist collection in France outside of Paris. €10.
Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Centre, 8 place Niemeyer. Cultural Centre (the Volcano) designed by leading architect Oscar Niemeyer is located in the centre of town. One of the city's most iconic buildings.
Maison de l'Armateur. Daily except Tu. One of the few old houses which were not destroyed during World War II. A magnificent house of 5 floors, nicely decorated and furnished in the style of its construction (18th century), when it belonged to rich families. A very interesting visit especially if you also visit Auguste Perret's showflat in City Hall Square showing what was life was like in the 1950s. You will understand the complex history of the city. €5.
Natural History Museum, Place du Vieux Marché (near the cathedral. Closed on Thu morning and Mon - 10:00-18:00. in an old building which miraculously survived the terrible bombings on September 5, 1944. Interesting museum (free) with a lot of activities for children.
Cathedrale Notre Dame, +33 02 32 74 04 05. Visit it and walk around it. You'll get a striking contrast between the 15th century cathedral and the buildings constructed in the 1950s and 1960s around it. The foundations of the cathedral are lower than the other buildings because they were built on the ruins of the old town.
- Climb the tower of Hotel de Ville for an overview of August Perret's planned city. Beautiful!
- Enjoy the beach in good weather (restaurants, bars, night life).
- Relax in the glow of the unique St Joseph's Church.
- Drive over the River Seine on the gorgeous bridge "Pont de Normandie". Then you will be in Honfleur, one of Normandy's prettiest places.
- Enjoy a walk in the posh residential area of Ste Adresse overlooking the Le Havre bay and enjoy nice views of the bay and the city
- Visit the port - whether on a boat or by bike: more information in many languages from the tourist office situated along the beach.
- Rent a bike at the tourist office for a couple of euros and enjoy the seafront and the city centre at its best. You can also ride to Harfleur (eastern suburb) which is a lovely medieval town! Montivilliers, a few miles away is also worth a visit. Nice abbey and town center.
- After the beach, enjoy a forest in the middle of the city: "forêt de Montgeon".
- Les jardins suspendus (fort de Sainte Adresse). Lovely walled garden and greenhouse in an old fort overlooking the city and the sea. Nice views! A nice walk on the walls!
- Every year on the first Sunday after August 15, a traditional parade is organized in the city. Flowered carriages, people in costumes, floral floats, music, etc.
- Every second year (the first one took place in 2006), Le Havre is home to a Contemporary Art Exhibition in the casino and everywhere in the streets of the city centre.
- Every year, on the first weekend of September, Le Havre holds a "Fishermen's Festival"
- In May is "Fest Yves" a traditional festival from Brittany in quartier St François.
- Every July 14, traditional fireworks on the beach (at 11PM).
- In 2017, Le Havre celebrates its 500th anniversary. A lot of works of art to discover during all the Summer.
Climb the tower of Hotel de Ville for an overview of August Perret's planned city. Beautiful!
Enjoy the beach in good weather (restaurants, bars, night life).
Relax in the glow of the unique St Joseph's Church.
Drive over the River Seine on the gorgeous bridge "Pont de Normandie". Then you will be in [[Honfleur]], one of Normandy's prettiest places.
Enjoy a walk in the posh residential area of Ste Adresse overlooking the Le Havre bay and enjoy nice views of the bay and the city
Visit the port - whether on a boat or by bike: more information in many languages from the tourist office situated along the beach.
Rent a bike at the tourist office for a couple of euros and enjoy the seafront and the city centre at its best. You can also ride to Harfleur (eastern suburb) which is a lovely medieval town! Montivilliers, a few miles away is also worth a visit. Nice abbey and town center.
After the beach, enjoy a forest in the middle of the city: "forêt de Montgeon".
Les jardins suspendus (fort de Sainte Adresse). Lovely walled garden and greenhouse in an old fort overlooking the city and the sea. Nice views! A nice walk on the walls!
- Normandy is famous for its cider and its cheese. Go to "Les Halles" (south of the city centre near pedestrian aerea and Volcano), a covered market where you will find a selection of little shops selling excellent products (vegetables, cheese, meat, bakeries, wine, cider, and a small supermarket).
- You can buy local products in one of the seasonal sheds along the beach and at the tourist office.
- Chocolates "la tour" (the tower) Chocolaterie Auzou (near Espace Coty - Coty Mall).
- Fresh fish from the fishermen (fish market) Opposite the ferry, in front of "maison de l'armateur" on "quai de l'ile" (island quay).
- Docks Vauban, Quai Frissard. 10AM - 8PM. Shopping center inside a 19th century building - Adidas Originals, Amazon Locker, Brice, Carnet de vol, Eram, Esprit, Footlocker, H&M, Jules, La Grande Récré, La Halle, Levi's, Mango, Marionnaud, Micromania, New Yorker, Plein Ciel, Quiksilver, and Zara.
- Espace Coty, 22 Rue Casimir Périer. 10AM-8PM.
Normandy is famous for its cider and its cheese. Go to "Les Halles" (south of the city centre near pedestrian aerea and Volcano), a covered market where you will find a selection of little shops selling excellent products (vegetables, cheese, meat, bakeries, wine, cider, and a small supermarket).
Docks Vauban, Quai Frissard. 10AM - 8PM. Shopping center inside a 19th century building - Adidas Originals, Amazon Locker, Brice, Carnet de vol, Eram, Esprit, Footlocker, H&M, Jules, La Grande Récré, La Halle, Levi's, Mango, Marionnaud, Micromania, New Yorker, Plein Ciel, Quiksilver, and Zara.
Espace Coty, 22 Rue Casimir Périer. 10AM-8PM.
- Quartier St-François offers a great selections of different restaurants (style, nationality and prices). A lot of "crêperies" (French pancakes).
- A selection of fine restaurants is to be found everywhere in the city (the casino is one of the best "Le Havre des sens"). More information at the tourist office.
- Big typical market every Thursday morning in Montivilliers and in Harfleur every Sunday morning.
- Chocolate Passion. Amazing Chocolate store and tea salon where one can go to drink the best hot chocolate in the world.
- Restaurant Jean-Luc Tartarin, 73 avenue Foch, +33 02 35 45 46 20. two Michelin stars. €40-180.
- La Taverne Paillette, 22 rue Georges Braque, +33 02 35 41 31 50. noon-midnight.
Chocolate Passion. Amazing Chocolate store and tea salon where one can go to drink the best hot chocolate in the world.
Restaurant Jean-Luc Tartarin, 73 avenue Foch, +33 02 35 45 46 20. two Michelin stars. €40-180.
La Taverne Paillette, 22 rue Georges Braque, +33 02 35 41 31 50. noon-midnight.
- Quartier St-François is also home to several bars
- In the city centre, and the beach.
- Greece Greece, 28 Rue de General de Gaulle, 76310 Sainte-Adresse, +33 235-462-892.
Greece Greece, 28 Rue de General de Gaulle, 76310 Sainte-Adresse, +33 235-462-892.
You can reach from Le Havre any part of Normandy in any direction in less than 2 h, including the famous Mont Saint-Michel.
To the north:
- Etretat and its exceptional natural site (beautiful white cliffs). (25 km)
- Fecamp and its "Bénédictine Palace" where the famous liquor is made and also has a nice little town with a long beach and a little port. (40 km)
- Veules les Roses is a charming village along the shortest river in France. Lovely houses and a nice beach. (65 km)
- Dieppe is an important fishing port and a lovely seaside resort. (100 km)
To the south:
- Honfleur is a little 17th century harbour. (25 km)
- Beuvron en Auge is a lovely picturesque village. (35 km)
- Lisieux has a cathedral and basilica. (55 km)
To the west:
- Caen has a World War II memorial (90 km)
- Bayeux has the medieval tapestry and is near the famous landing beaches (115 km)
To the east:
- Harfleur and Montivilliers are eastern suburbs suburb of Le Havre. (15 km)
- Marais Vernier is a village of thatched cottages. (40 km)
- Pont Audemer is a nice little town with canals. (45 km)