Sightseeing in Le Havre - what to see. Complete travel guide

Havre is a city on the north of France, in the mouth of Seine, and on the bank of English Channel. The population of the city estimated 188 thousand of people in 2009. The date of the city’s foundation is 1517. At that time Havre was a port city built instead of a small village of fishermen. During World War II Havre was severely damaged, but then it was completely renovated. However, because of this fact there are not many old buildings here.

When translated from French, the word “Havre” means “harbour”. The name speaks for itself as Havre is an important port city of France, the second largest one in the country. Besides the fact Havre is a large port and trading center of France, this city is famous for its well-developed oil-processing, cement, cotton, chemical industries and ship building.

Among the main sights of Havre are Prieure Museum, built in the Roman style Saint-Sauveur Abbey, and gothic Graville that exhibits a collection of cult artifacts from XVI-XX centuries. The museum of the medieval sculpture offers a collection of living houses models from different periods of time, starting from ancient times. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

There are only few churches that survived up to our times. Among them are Notre Dame Church, and Church of St. Josef – built in XX century it traditionally amazes visitors by a combination of neo gothic style and functional architecture. You can also visit the museum of Old Havre, Museum of Natural History, Marine Museum, and Musée des Beaux-Arts André Malraux.

Travellers seeking entertainment will surely like the local channel that is located in the central part of Havre. You can make a ride here on small boats that organize excursions.

For all who want to explore the most unusual attractions of Le Havre, it is worth visiting the ship owner’s house. This luxurious five-story mansion was built in the late 18th century. The family of the wealthy merchant Martin Pierre Fosh owned this mansion for many years. Outwardly, this cumbersome strict building does not represent a special interest, while inside it, are hidden unique historical treasures. In the mansion, the setting of the past was restored as precisely as possible. Within its walls, a rich collection of antique furniture, works of art, and personal belongings of former owners are kept. Mock-ups of old ships are of particular interest. Also, in the historic mansion there is a large library.

A very unusual excursion site is the cultural center Vulcan. It occupies an original modern cone-shaped building. Within the walls of this original building, are the theater and the largest concert venue in the city. Part of the building is reserved for exhibitions. Recently, a state-of-the-art cinema was opened in the cultural center. Art lovers will definitely like the Museum of modern art Andre Malraux, which presents an interesting collection of works of art from past centuries. Among the exhibits of the museum, there are masterpieces of world famous painters.

Those who like to stroll through outstanding historical sites should go to the Abbey of Graville-Sainte-Honorine. This ancient monastery was founded in the 11th century. For hundreds of years, the main part of the large-scale architectural complex completely collapsed. At the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to the efforts of talented architects, many buildings in the monastery were restored. Today, it is considered an outstanding architectural monument in the Romanesque style. In the building of the monastery today there is an interesting museum. Among its exhibits are unique Catholic relics, ancient icons, as well as archaeological artifacts discovered during the restoration of the monastery.

Nature lovers in Le Havre will not be bored. They should definitely visit the Japanese Garden, which is located near the waterfront. The design of this charming garden was attended by specialists from Japan. Despite the huge popularity, it continues to be one of the quietest and most peaceful places in the city.