There's a lot to be said for Le Havre. On the history of the city that was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, then saw its city centre rebuilt by the talented Auguste Perret. An architecture that today can only attract the eye of the curious, as the city is so different from neighboring cities and ultimately, all the cities of France. A stroll for a weekend or a long stay allows you to plunge into the heart of a metropolis which reveals ancient treasures, then more modern ones, and which also offers the softness of a seaside city, close to some of the most beautiful sites of Normandy (Étretat, Honfleur, Deauville...). Architecture, culture, green spaces, at the end of a jaunt in Le Havre, one definitely understands why the city deserves to be lingered
The Laboratory of Modern Architecture
Le Havre and its territory benefit from the label Pays d'Art et d'Histoire. Nothing surprising when one is interested in the history of a city with such a special destiny, located in the heart of a Normandy which never ceases to reveal its treasures, between green nature and seascapes. During an escapade to discover the architecture, one cannot fail to be interested in all the monuments which were born from the reconstruction site entrusted to Auguste Perret. A specialist in reinforced concrete, the architect designed buildings capable of quickly housing thousands of people. The result is fascinating and astonishing, and the various buildings, veritable witness structures of modern architecture, reflect Perret's obsession for detail, the play of light and the nuances of hues. In addition to the residential buildings, you should of course, during a walk, go and see the Town Hall and the incredible St. Joseph's Church with its lantern tower rising 107 m high. And to better understand how the apartments were laid out, a visit to the Perret show flat allows you to plunge back into the design of the 1950s through the fittings proposed by Atelier Perret: integrated kitchen and bathroom, and optimisation of natural light. Le Havre is the laboratory of modern architecture and its town centre is on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List
But one should not miss the fact that Le Havre has nevertheless preserved some traces of its past history. These can be found in particular in the Saint-François district, one of the oldest in the city. Quarter of the fishing port, restaurants, the old buildings have been integrated into more recent constructions. They are a reminder that Le Havre lived before the bombings. It is here that you will find some of the oldest houses in the city, the charming Saint-François church, and splendid mansions. If the latter once belonged to wealthy shipowners, they have been converted into museums by the city. The Maison de l'Armateur and the Musée de l'Hôtel Dubocage de Bléville are now open to the public to unveil collections of art furniture covering the periods from the 17th to the 19th century
For moments in the green, do not forget to take a few moments to rest in the various parks and gardens that Le Havre has. As a green city, one would almost want to get out the brushes, a canvas and an easel in the Saint-Roch square to paint an impressionist landscape. Halfway between the beach and downtown, it offers visitors a romantic break. Also, the Hanging Gardens are part of Le Havre's landscape as an emblematic place offering a universe of discovery through the vegetation of the five continents. This botanical garden, covering an area of 17 hectares, overlooks the Bay of the Seine and offers admirable views of the sea, the port and the city.
A stay between land and sea
Le Havre also has a beach in the city. From the fervour of the downtown streets, you'll find yourself in no time at all on a wide beach of sand and pebbles. A place where you can take a breath of fresh sea air at any time and where, on sunny days, you can enjoy beach volleyball, the skate park with its 1,200 m² bowl, swimming and numerous water sports. That's also what Le Havre is all about, a varied offer to please sports enthusiasts. For walkers, there's nothing better than walking along the beach to reach the charming commune of Sainte-Adresse and its chic seaside villas built at the foot of the cliffs. This former fishing village has been a source of inspiration for many artists, including Monet and Stevens. They did not hesitate to integrate landscapes into some of their paintings, and it is easy to understand why painters were keen to stop there to create. Le Havre is a city of water and light that stimulates a strong artistic imagination. Le Havre, a city magnified by Claude Monet, is more than ever a land of inspiration.
On foot or by car, you can enjoy getting out of the city centre to explore the splendours of the Alabaster Coast. Indeed, the area offers a beautiful walk along the GR 21 - the favourite circuit of the French in 2020 - which links Le Tréport to Le Havre, wide natural spaces and dizzying cliffs plunging into the sea. The route continues peacefully until it reaches Étretat, only 30 minutes by car from Le Havre. Here you can take a picturesque break and contemplate for a long time the natural works of art that the waves have carved out of the chalk of the Pays de Caux plateau. The Aiguille de Belva and the cliffs of Aval and Amont are natural jewels that have inspired many artists, from Gustave Courbet to Eugène Boudin
Le Havre, cradle of Impressionism and an open-air museum
A visit to the metropolis of Le Havre is also a great opportunity to take advantage of its cultural offer. During the day, you can walk through the alleys of the MUMA, the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art, where classical art rubs shoulders with contemporary art. The museum houses the second Impressionist collection after that of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Works by great masters such as Renoir, Monet and Sisley are exhibited there. In the evening, you are welcome to join the Volcan - Scène Nationale du Havre, with its formidable acoustics and designed by the Brazilian architect and designer Oscar Niemeyer. A surprising monument, resolutely contemporary, with an eclectic programme and a second part of the space houses a sumptuous and ultra-futuristic library.
Finally, summer is the ideal season to discover Le Havre and participate in the unmissable event "Un Été Au Havre". Created in 2017 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the city, this open-air museum is the setting for contemporary works of art that grows each year. Between perennial and ephemeral works, these original and monumental creations bear the work of international artists. A Summer in Le Havre is an additional reason to explore the city under the sun, which is never more beautiful than when art meets public space and the ocean city becomes even more poetic, mysterious and bewitching
