Sunday 5 September
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Le Havre is a city in northwestern France situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Seine River as it flows into the Bay of the Seine in the English Channel. It is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region. The inhabitants of the city are called Havrais or Havraises. Its port is the second busiest in France (after that of Marseille).
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The city was first called Franciscopolis, in homage to King Francis I, on whose initiative the city was first constructed. A chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce ("our Lady of grace") existed on the site before the city's foundation and this denomination gave rise to the port being called Le Havre (or Le Hable) de Grâce ("the harbor of grace"). The shortened name Le Havre as used in modern times simply translates as "the port" or "the harbor."
The city was also dubbed the Porte Océane, or Gateway to the Ocean. Architecturally, this image has been revived in the reconstrusted city through the "gateway" that forms the frame at either end of Fochs Avenue, which meets the seafront.
| Temperature | Fahrenheit | Celsius |
|---|---|---|
| Average High | 63° | 17° |
| Average Low | 57° | 13° |
| Humidity | Percentage | |
| Average | 91 | |
| Precipitation | Inches | Centimeters |
| Average Precip. | 0.61 | 49 |
| Precipitation | Days | |
| Average Precip. | 14 | |
Le Havre is the largest ocean port in France and sits on an estuary of the River Seine; it is only 174km north-west of Paris and located in Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandy region. Its origins dates back the 15th Century when it was a fishing village, preceding Francis I creating a port which he called the Haven of Grace or ‘Havre-de-Grâce'. By 1944, towards the end of World War II, 3/4 of the buildings being destroyed by the time the Canadian allied forces recapture Le Havre.
Nowadays, Le Havre is a large commercial port and a thriving industrial centre with a little ‘old' mixed into a lot of ‘new', but it has a softer side as it boasts of being awarded the ‘Pavillon bleu label' for its beaches. There is a 600 meter promenade which facilities a pleasant stroll or cycle during the warm days, and as you meander up the coast to Sainte-Adresse you can see views of where Claude Monet painted many of his early works.
The cruise between Le Havre and Cherbourg is probably only about 4 hours of sailing
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2010 RCCI Excursion – Mont Saint Michel – LH07
- Port/City: Paris (Le Havre), France
- Approximate Duration: 10 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
- Prices starting from: 179.00 USD (Adult)
- Date(s) Offered: 05-Sep-2010
Take a pilgrimage through the Normandy countryside to explore the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, built on a rock perched above the ocean. Connected to the mainland by a permanent causeway, Mont Saint Michel became a holy place of pilgrimage and worship in the Middle Ages following the appearance of Archangel Saint Michel to the bishop of the region in his dreams.
You will pass through Normandy's fertile dairy country before arriving in the region of Brittany, and the Bay of Mont Saint Michel. The Bay is well known for its spectacular tidal variance. You will return to the ship via the same route. Restroom stops will be made en route to and from Mont Saint Michel.
Once in Mont Saint Michel you will journey uphill through the twisted cobblestone walkways, passing old houses to the top of the rock crowned by the Abbey Church. Legend says there are 365 steps from the bottom to the top of the Mont! Completing this 30-minute walk, you will view the Abbey Church whose spire soars more than 500 feet. The Abbey is a masterpiece of Norman architecture. Inside you'll discover the ways of the monks by visiting their famous dining hall, and the beautiful gothic cloister, which appears to be suspended between sky and sea.
After the guided portion of the tour, you will have free time in the charming village of Mont Saint Michel to explore the twisted passageways, old houses, and shops. Lunch with French Sauvignon and Bordeaux wines will be served at a restaurant offering a panoramic view of the Mont Saint Michel Abbey.
Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 1 mile over even and cobblestone surfaces with 365 steps to reach the Abbey. Driving time from Le Havre to Mont St. Michel is 3 hours each way, dependent upon traffic conditions. A strict dress code is enforced in the Abbey Church. Short pants and tank tops are not acceptable. Flash photography is also not permitted inside the Abbey.
2010 RCCI Excursion – A Taste of Paris – LH07
Honfleur
The old seafaring town of Honfleur (pop. 8,178), on the Seine estuary opposite Le Havre (to which it is to be connected by a bridge in 1994), is one of the most charming little towns in Normandy, with its picturesque Vieux Bassin (Old Harbor) and its many old houses. This was the home port of the seamen who made their celebrated voyages to Canada in the 16th C., making that country almost a Norman colony. On the north side of the harbor is the Lieutenance (16th C.), the old governor's house, built on the remains of the town walls, now housing the port office.
Located on the estuary of one of the principal rivers of France with a safe harbour and relatively rich hinterland, Honfleur is especially known for its old, beautiful picturesque port, characterized by its houses with slate-covered frontages, painted many times by artists, including in particular Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet and Johan Jongkind, forming the école de Honfleur which contributed to the appearance of the Impressionist movement. The Sainte-Catherine church, which has a bell-tower separate from the principal building, is the largest church made out of wood in France.
HONFLEUR, the best preserved of the old ports of Normandy and the first you come to on the eastern Calvados coast, is a near-perfect seaside town that lacks only a beach. It used to have one, but with the accumulation of silt from the Seine the sea has steadily withdrawn, leaving the eighteenth-century waterfront houses of boulevard Charles-V stranded and a little surreal. The ancient port, however, still functions – the channel to the beautiful Vieux Bassin is kept open by regular dredging – and though only pleasure craft now use the moorings in the harbour basin, fishing boats tie up alongside the pier nearby, and you can usually buy fish either directly from the boats or from stands on the pier, still by right run by fishermen's wives.
Honfleur is highly picturesque, and has moved significantly upmarket since the opening of the Pont de Normandie. Despite now being just a few minutes' drive from Le Havre, the old port still feels not so very different to the fishing village that appealed so greatly to artists in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Start your day with a gentle stroll from the town centre to the beach, through the beautifully maintained public gardens. The beach is sandy and, from midsummer onwards, the water is surprisingly inviting for a swim! Or, if the weather is grey, visit the “Naturospace” tropical butterfly centre – watching butterflies emerge from their chrysalises is very popular with children and adults alike.
Honfleur offers just the right mix of self indulgence and interesting places to visit for a long weekend. Saint Catherine’s Church was built by local shipbuilders as a temporary structure in the fifteenth century; the ceiling of the church resembles the hulls of upside down ships. Built entirely of wood, even including wooden roof shingles, the church has a very peaceful, intimate atmosphere. On one of the steep hills that surround Honfleur is the Chapelle de Notre Dame-de-Grâce, a charming little chapel adorned with model wooden boats of every kind. The walk to the chapel from the town centre takes around half an hour, and includes a steep climb, but you are rewarded with a great view of the town.
Also along the Flowered coast, Honfleur may now lack a beach due to the silting up of the River Seine's estuary, but it is nonetheless a truly delightful harbour town that has attracted artists ever since the early 19th century. Among those drawn here by the fabulous light and scenery were such celebrated names as Boudin, Monet, Renoir and Cézanne.
These days painters are still to be regularly seen on the charming quayside busy capturing scenes and experiences that in the main have changed very little for over 100 years. It is no coincidence that there are 15 art galleries in the town. Yachtsmen also come here in large numbers, mainly to enjoy the restaurants, cafes, shops and galleries, plus an atmosphere that is genuine old world France.
One final interesting note: Honfleur boasts France's only wooden church. St Catherine, which was built in the 15th and 16th centuries during the hundred years war.
Honfleur Reviews
The 130 hectares of the center of Le Havre are all build by a disciple of Le Corbusier and has been classified as World Heritage by the UNESCO as a model of city and architectural design of the '50.
I had about decided on Honfleur - just did not know how to get us all there at a reasonable price.
At Lehavre, there are A LOT of taxis lined up for the ship when you dock. They hold 6 adults, so the cost is not bad with sharing. As soon as the ship is cleared, send someone out to hold 2 for your group. Much easier than having to get a taxi to the bus station and then take the bus. Also, the scheduled times for the bus is not frequent.
Honfleur is a very pretty town that you can walk around in. There's a huge carousel right in the middle of town that might be of interest, plus lots of boats and little streets to wander in.
