Bust of Samuel de Champlain, Statue in Honfleur, France

The Buste de Samuel de Champlain is a stone sculpture in Honfleur, France, depicting the sailor and mapmaker who explored parts of Canada in the early 17th century. It sits on a simple pedestal and shows him wearing a cap and period clothing, with enough detail on his face and outfit to reflect the era he lived in.

Samuel de Champlain was born in the region and set sail from Honfleur in the early 1600s to explore the Saint Lawrence River, later founding Quebec in 1608. The bust was erected after his death as a way to mark his place in the story of French exploration across the Atlantic.

Samuel de Champlain is remembered here not just through this sculpture, but also through street names, schools, and a park dedicated to his voyages. Walking past the bust, visitors often stop to read the plaque below, which briefly connects this Norman port to the founding of French Canada.

The bust is in a public space and can be seen at any time without any entry requirement. A plaque on the pedestal gives a short summary of the subject's life, so a brief stop is enough to get some context.

Although Champlain is closely linked to Honfleur, his exact birthplace has never been confirmed and remains a subject of debate among historians. Despite this, the town has made the connection a central part of its identity, including a park opened in 2015 to mark the 400th anniversary of one of his voyages.