Le Havre - Let us surprise you !
Le Havre is multi-facetted, as important a commercial port as it is a popular yachting destination. Its 2 km of beach open onto the Seine estuary, once the backdrop for Impressionist artists who loved the effect of light and painted many famous paintings, including Monet’s “Sunrise at Le Havre”.
Completely destroyed during the 1944 bombardments, the re-building of Le Havre has now been recognised by UNESCO which added the town to its list of World Heritage Sites in 2005. Jewel in the crown is the Malraux Museum, an ultra-modern building on the seafront which houses an impressive collection of Impressionist works together with art from preceding centuries up to contemporary works.
There is much else of interest to visit, including the Notre Dame cathedral, Natural History Museum and the Graville Priory, but especially fascinating is the Espace Maritime and the Vauban-designed dock area. Access is easy, with regular ferry services from the UK and fast train service to Paris and onward destinations including Marseille by TGV. Le Havre also has a daily ferry service with Portsmouth.
Copyright: CRT Normandy-Pixell
Not to be missed in Le Havre :
?The 2km-long beach, Baie de Seine and the magnificient viewpoints
?The modern city centre designed by Perret, now a World Heritage Site
?'Malraux' Beaux-Arts museum (1st collection of impressionists in France after Paris), St Joseph Church, the 11th-century to 13th-century Prieuré de Graville, the 16th-century to 17th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral
?The Maison de l'Armateur (Ship owner's house)
?The Reconstruction model apartment
?The port (boat trips or audioguide tours)
?The casino
?A 200-ha forest in the city centre, 65 parks, gardens and small public gardens
?The Impressionist route
?Pont de Normandie