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PORT AND OLD BASIN OF HONFLEUR

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4.7/5
46 review

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14600Honfleur, France
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2024
Recommended
2024

Le Vieux Bassin is one of the key pieces in Honfleur’s famous puzzle.

Built in 1681 by Abraham Duquesne, one of the great French naval officers of the 17th century, and commissioned by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the Vieux Bassin is one of the key pieces in Honfleur’s famous puzzle. Its image is engraved in the collective unconscious. Lined with picturesque Norman houses, each narrower than the last, most of which were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, the area has never ceased to inspire painters, photographers and artists of all kinds. Claude Monet, Gustave Flaubert, Raoul Dufy and Eugène Boudin, among others, have taken Honfleur’s quays around the world. The tall houses clustered around the Vieux Bassin, combined with the famous luminosity of Normandy skies, create a setting that delights photographers and strollers alike. Some of these houses are corbelled and many are slate-trimmed. Craftsmen, painters and art galleries continue to immortalize the old port, which remains lively in all seasons. Now Honfleur’s marina, the Vieux Bassin has 80 berths, 30 of which are reserved for visitors. Old sailing ships are often moored at the foot of the harbour master’s office, giving the town its typical maritime character. The capitainerie, or Lieutenance, located at the end of the Vieux Bassin, is so called because it served as the home of the king’s lieutenant from the 17th century onwards. On the quayside, not far from the old salt granaries (which preserved cod, among other things), stands the 14th-15th-century church of Saint-Étienne. Already an important town during the Hundred Years’ War, Honfleur became a military port under Louis XIV. As the port of departure for Samuel de Champlain’s expedition that led to the founding of Quebec in 1608, Honfleur was one of the great cradles of American exploration. In those days, the fleet fished for cod all the way to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, not far from Quebec City. After the loss of Newfoundland and Canada in the 18th century, maritime activities were reduced to coastal shipping. Today, you can still see sailors in their rubber boots, laughing. Finally, a smart tip! There are many bars and restaurants around the Vieux Bassin, and they often charge high prices. If you’re looking for a drink or a bite to eat, you’ll be better off in the narrow streets around the Old Basin!

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Members' reviews on PORT AND OLD BASIN OF HONFLEUR

4.7/5
46 reviews
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thyssen77
Visited in september 2018
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Un magnifique port, vraiment à découvrir. Il faut aller se promener le long de la jetée, on peut y voir de beaux petits bateaux, un petit phare et un partie du Pont de Normandie, un bel endroit pour faire des photos
ricachou
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Tourism of course but much charm for this port with all these boats and houses that are reflected on the water of the basin. Many restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy a drink on the sun terrace.
malimalou
Visited in july 2017
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Nous avons flâné le long de ce charmant petit port, puis visite des jardins jusqu'à la plage avec une belle vue sur le pont de Normandie. Puis balade dans les rues...Marché sympathique le lendemain matin.
justoons
Visited in february 2018
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Un endroit magnifique dans la région de Deauville. Cela vaut le détour, c'est le plus beau port du coin. Pleins de restaurants et de magasins. Idéal quand il y a un rayon de soleil.
georgetta
Visited in august 2017
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L'un des plus jolis ports de Normandie, nombreuses boutiques branchées également aux alentours et bons restaurants, très sympa pour démarrer une ballade dans Honfleur ou faire un des itinéraires proposés au port en bateau.
Se garer hors de la ville pour plus de mobilité.
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