Honfleur has preserved its tall half-timbered houses with slate roofs, its narrow streets and its old port, which bear witness to its rich history. The town proudly shows off its cultural, gastronomic and historical heritage.
A fishing port and marina, Honfleur has grown over the centuries with shipbuilding and maritime expeditions. Depicted by painters and throughout Impressionism, it inspired Monet, Boudin and Courbet, among others, and is home to numerous artists' studios and galleries.
To see the real Honfleur, visit the Vieux Bassin in the town centre, as well as the Lieutenance. The entirely wooden Saint Catherine's church, is also a major landmark. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Grâce pays homage to the colonisation of Canada. If you're an art-lover, be sure not to miss the Eugène Boudin Museum's collection, which includes many paintings of Honfleur and of the Seine estuary by Monet, Dufy, Courbet and Cals, alongside works bequeathed by Eugène Boudin to the town of his birth. Continue your visit with the Maisons Satie, a journey in the footsteps of famous local musician Erik Satie. Lastly, be sure to visit two great buildings, the Greniers à sel, former salt warehouses, which now host conferences, concerts and exhibitions.
Stroll through Honfleur's streets to your heart's content and stop off at one of its many restaurants to sample some local specialities: seafood, crêpes, Camembert, Calvados, cider and cheese. You can also relax on the beach.
As it's ideally situated, Honfleur is the starting point for many walks in the Pays d'Auge to sample cider and cheese, or to explore the Seine estuary in the footsteps of the Impressionists. Via the Pont de Normandie, one of the largest bridges in the world, you can reach Le Havre, the centre of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and be amazed by the famous Étretat cliffs.
As a French hot spot for holidaymakers and an internationally famous town, Honfleur is unmissable!
