“I want to take as the canvas for my next picture the entire surface of France.” — Yves Klein

We stopped in Le Havre. France as part of our Coastal Normandy Road Trip. It was in short our second stop on this incredible trip in France. Le Havre is a historically influential port in northern Normandy. Nevertheless, this port has played significant roles throughout history. You may evidently recognize the name in movies and shows.

We were only here for a brief few hours. Consequently, our road trip was jam-packed, and we were on a tight deadline. This city deserves more of your time. These are six places we loved in Le Havre balanced against some more places of interest for my next visit.

Our stop in Le Havre was part of our beautiful Coastal Normandy Road Trip. If you’re interested in reading that, you can find the link here…

Visit Normandy France: The Best 3-Day Road Trip

Fun Facts About Le Havre:

• Le Havre is a significant port in northern Normandy. This port is where the English Channel meets the Seine River.
• Furthermore, the entire city of Le Havre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• The city suffered much damage from World War II. As a result, you’ll notice many of the buildings have been rebuilt with reinforced concrete. 
• Another consequence of all the wreckage from WWII is that Le Havre is a surprisingly modern city for this part of France. 

6 Must-Sees in Le Havre, France

1. The Ship-Owner’s Mansion

Somehow, this handsome home, now a museum, survived the bombings in 1944. We spent about 1.5 hours at this museum learning about Le Havre’s history before and after WWII. I also loved taking some time to admire the beautiful architecture and artifacts. Stop to admire the impressive wooden carvings that make up this incredible house. 

• There is a nearby parking lot where you can pay for parking.
• The museum offers guided tours on select mornings. The guided tours are highly regarded, and reservations are strongly recommended. 
• The Museum’s Website

2. Joseph’s Church

This statuesque church resembles a cathedral. Furthermore, this church is distinguished by the stained-glass bell tower you’ll find inside. I found it to be a beautiful juxtaposition of stained glass and concrete. This contrast is a sentimental nod to the city’s history pre and post-WWII. What I found especially impressive was the octagonal lantern tower. The tower is the distinguishing trait of this building. 

• Admission is free. You can check the website for daily openings. The church is generally open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. unless there are ceremonies and services. 
• We were here for about 30 minutes. In brief, we had the space to ourselves on a weekday. 
• In this case, we found free street parking in the nearby neighborhoods. You can also find street parking where you can pay the meter. We left our car parked around here. Next, we took the opportunity to go on a self-guided walking tour. 

3. Avenue Foch in Le Havre, France

Avenue Foch is a quick 3-minute walk from St. Joseph’s Church. My brother complains I walk too fast, so maybe it is a 5-minute walk. The Avenue is a UNESCO site and the urban park of Le Harve. Some simultaneously call it the “Champs Elysees” of Le Havre. This promenade includes lush lawns, flowerbeds, and a variety of sculptures. Don’t forget to admire the modern architecture all around you. Most cities you will tour along Normandy are much less modernized than Le Havre. 

• One of the sculptures we particularly liked was The Narrow House. If you stop to admire this, do not be afraid to walk up to the doors and windows to peek inside. I thought the entire structure was cute! 

4. Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville

At this point you can make a quick jaunt to the next site. The Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville is about a 7-10-minute walk down Avenue Foch. This UNESCO site is one of the biggest town hall squares in Europe. The landscaping is pristine, and the plaza is lively when the weather permits.

• We happened to arrive on a rainy afternoon. Although beautiful, it was not busy. 

5. Notre Dame Cathedral in Le Havre, France

Following the Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville is a quick walk to our next spot. From here, you can take a 10-minute walk down the Rue de Paris to the Notre Dame Cathedral.

• Along the way, you’ll see a modern volcano-shaped building. The unique building is a performing arts theater, and the Monument aux Morts, the war memorial.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a beautiful building built from 1575 to 1630. It’s famous for its stunning rose-stained windows and the organs.

• The exterior and interior are lovely. I struggled to find out when this cathedral was open. When we visited, there were no updates online or on Google reviews. Sadly, it was closed for construction when we were here. We walked around the exterior to admire the architecture, including some remnants of bullet holes.

6. Sea Wall (Digue), Beach, & Marina

From the Notre Dame Cathedral, you can walk towards Boulevard Francois 1er and make your way to walk along the marina.

The Sea Wall/ Digue is the sea wall that protects the marina. The beach here is the 3rd favorite spot for surfing in France. I cannot surf, or swim for that matter, but I did enjoy the walk and people-watching. The views are pretty great as well.

Despite the rainy and gray day, we saw a handful of people surfing. The dedication is impressive.

More Places of Interest in Le Havre, France

As previously stated, our time here was too brief. Here are several places I would have loved to see if we had more time!

• Les Jardins Suspendus
  • This botanical garden has a lovely collection of plants and greenhouses. I hear the views of the city are spectacular. Check their open dates and times. Les Jardins was closed when we were in town.
  • Les Jardins Suspendus
• André Malraux Museum of Modern Art (MuMa)
  • This modern art museum has a great collection of Impressionists, especially some of their local artists. 
  • MuMa Website
• Port of Le Havre
  • The port is emphatically gigantic! Our day in Le Havre was brief, and our weather was gray and rainy. I would have spent more time walking and biking around the area on a sunnier day. 
• Model Apartment of Auguste Perret/ Heritage House
  • This apartment was showcased at the 1947 World’s Fair for its inspiring 1950s design. Today, guided tours are required. Due to the tight space, reservations are recommended.
• La Plage du Havre
  • The beach is a 30-minute walk down the boardwalk from the port. Although not a sandy beach, it is a great place to enjoy a scenic view on a clear day. There are lots of restaurants and bars to enjoy in the neighborhood. 

Some Final Thoughts About Le Havre, France

I am grateful we got to spend time here. Le Havre looked very different from the rest of our coastal Normandy road trip. The contrast of this modernized city made me reflect upon its significant role in history. Le Havre is worth a stop if you are in the area. My husband and I agreed we would both like to return one day when we can slow down and enjoy more of it. I am very interested in learning more about Le Havre if you have any insights to share!