Honfleur
Honfleur
Honfleur is certainly one of the most beautiful destinations for a camping holiday in Normandy. On the south bank of the Seine estuary and opposite Le Havre, the town is a charming little gem that is a must-see. One cannot but be struck by the picturesque character of the little town. Around the old basin, its old narrow wooden houses with coloured facades, its halls in the shape of a ship’s hull, its alleys and its shops. All these features make Honfleur a must-see during your stay at a campsite near Honfleur. Camping Les Peupliers is only forty minutes away from Honfleur.
The town has always inspired artists, especially painters who found a special light here. This is how Coubert, Monet, Boudin and the impressionists came to Honfleur to enjoy the town and its unspoilt surroundings.
The first piece of advice one could give is simply to stroll through the streets of the city and around the old basin. One discovers oneself in another era in front of the facades of these old buildings perfectly preserved. It is easy to imagine the hectic life of the little town
In Honfleur you will find two fascinating museums. The Musée de la Marine, which is located in the former church of Saint Etienne and which recounts the life of the city turned towards the sea and the great explorations towards Canada in the 16th century. The Eugène Boudin Museum, on the other hand, which focuses on the works of the native of the town. The museum also houses works by Dufy, Courbet, Jongkind and other painters who fell in love with the place.
A visit to the wooden church of Saint Catherine is a must. It is located just behind the large basin. The oldest parts of the building date from the 15th century and were built by the shipwrights of the nearby shipyards. The salt stores date from the end of the 17th century. These vast stone buildings are now devoted to culture and numerous exhibitions are held there. At the time, they could hold up to 10,000 tons of salt, a very precious commodity at the time.
It is certainly one of the most impressive cable-stayed bridges in the world. Built in 1994, it rises more than 50 metres from the ground and allows the crossing between Honfleur and Le Havre. This is the opportunity to go for a walk and discover one of the largest ports in Europe and its city centre with its modern architecture classified by Unesco.