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CRUISING TO NORTHERN FRANCE:
LE HAVRE OVERVIEW |
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The largest cruise port in Northern France is Le Havre. It is located in the Seine estuary off of the English Channel.
A fishing village until 1517, King Francis I transformed the town into a port because the ancient ports of Honfleur and Harfleur were silting up. It has continued to be an important port ever since. Le Havre was a boyhood home of Claude Monet and he did numerous paintings and drawings of the city. Other Impressionists also did paintings of Le Havre. Heavily bombed during the Second World War, few of its historic buildings survive. However, Le Havre was named a World Heritage site because of the reconstruction done in the modernist style by August Perret. In addition, there are things to see in Le Havre. Indeed, the Musee Malraux has the largest collection of Impressionist paintings in France outside of Paris. The vast majority of cruise passengers do not stay in Le Havre during the port calls but rather use it as a jumping off point for exploring Normandy or for traveling to Paris. (Note: Paris is a considerable distance from Le Havre - about 200 km - and one should expect at least a three hour coach ride each way). 
Above: A modernistic pedestrian bridge crosses the Basin Du Commerce, which has been transformed into a large public space in the center of the city.
Right: Two brightly colored arches made of shipping containers was erected by the port to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Le Havre. The artist was Vincent Ganivet. Below: A monument to those who died in the world wars. 
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Above left: St. Joseph's Church dominates the skyline of Le Havre.
Above: Placards mark some of the locations where artists such as Claude Monet painted scenes of Le Havre. 
Above: There is a large beach in Le Havre.
Below: The City Hall in Le Harve, designed by Auguste Perret, has a 70 meter tower. The park surrounding it is a popular feature of the city. 
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For more on cruising to Northern France:
NORTHERN FRANCE INDEX PARIS THE D-DAY BEACHES GIVERNY AND ROUEN THE ALABASTER COAST HONFLEUR, DEAUVILLE AND MONT SAINT MICHEL BAYEUX |
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Cruise ports - Northern France - Le Havre - Overview