Le Havre, Port city in Normandy, France.
Description
Le Havre is a port city in Normandy at the mouth of the Seine, where the river meets the English Channel. The city center consists of a grid of wide boulevards arranged at right angles and lined with tall residential buildings made of light concrete, constructed in the decades following World War Two.
History
François I founded the city in 1517 as a new harbor called Franciscopolis, replacing the older ports of Honfleur and Harfleur, which were silting up at the time. Heavy bombing in September 1944 during World War Two destroyed nearly all of the city center, requiring complete reconstruction afterwards.
Culture
Le Havre takes its name from an old Norman word for harbor, reflecting the maritime identity that has shaped daily life here for centuries. Residents gather along the wide quays at the harbor basin for walks, while public squares host regular markets selling fresh fish and local produce.
Practical
The city is easy to explore on foot, as the center is compact and streets are mostly flat, making it more accessible for visitors with limited mobility. The seaside promenade offers open views across the English Channel in clear weather and is suitable for extended walks.
Did you know?
Auguste Perret used locally made concrete mixed with pebbles from the region to give the buildings their characteristic pale color, which shifts throughout the day. UNESCO recognized this reconstruction project as World Heritage in 2005 because it represented a new approach to postwar urban planning.
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Le Havre is a compelling destination for photographers, combining architecture from different periods with maritime scenes. The city was rebuilt after World War II and offers a striking collection of modern buildings alongside historic structures. Oscar Niemeyer left his mark with the distinctive...
Reconstructed center of Le Havre
766 m
St. Joseph's Church
615 m
Le Volcan
427 m
Le Havre Cathedral
804 m
MuMa Museum of modern art André Malraux
1.1 km
Jardins suspendus
1.5 km
Funiculaire du Havre
577 m
Town hall of Le Havre
77 m
Container catena
1.1 km
Maison de l'Armateur
877 m
Abbaye de Graville
4.2 km
Appartement témoin Perret
268 m
Château des Gadelles
1.4 km
Bibliothèque Oscar-Niemeyer
425 m
Fort de Tourneville
1.4 km
Phare de la Hève
3.5 km
Muséum d'histoire naturelle du Havre
713 m
USST 488
1.5 km
Square Saint-Roch
439 m
Église Saint-Vincent du Havre
861 m
Église Saint-François du Havre
705 m
Villa maritime
1.4 km
Église Saint-Michel
328 m
Chapelle Saint-Michel d'Ingouville
549 m
Jardins de la plage
1.1 km
Parc de Rouelles
6 km
Parc Hauser
1.5 km
Église Sainte-Anne du Havre
1.1 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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