Discovering Le Havre was a surprising encounter. Surprising because the city was not at all what I expected, and I actually regret having waited until the city’s 500th anniversary to finally have the chance to discover it. This City of Art and History is quite unique in France. Firstly, because with 500 years of existence, it is certainly one of the youngest major French cities. Secondly, because it is a city with a very strong character and identity: creativity, tranquility, and space are notions that one strongly feels when spending even just a weekend in Le Havre. And then, I fell under the spell (and the coherence) of this impressive city center, rebuilt in the 50s by the studio of architect Auguste Perret and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2005.
As per my usual, this article is presented as a mini city-guide of the city to give you both ideas for visits and outings, but also a selection of great addresses tested by myself and in the company of my blogger friend, Bambi à Paris.
For a little info, summer is a good time to visit the city, since it organizes a summer event called: A Summer in Le Havre.
The tip: an “A Summer in Le Havre” pass valid for 3 days at a price of 20 € and which gives unlimited access to all exhibitions scheduled as part of the 500 years of Le Havre.
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Table of Contents
Visit to the Perret show apartment in Le Havre
For this activity, you must go to the Maison du Patrimoine, an interpretive space for architecture and heritage. This tour of a show apartment with a guide-lecturer is fascinating and should not be missed to truly understand the architecture and history of the city. It is a real dive into the 50s, like a little trip back in time. This apartment is actually the reconstruction of the first housing unit designed in 1946 by the architects of the Perret Studio to rehouse war victims (an eminent historical event in the history of Le Havre).
Maison du Patrimoine 181 rue de Paris 76600 Le Havre Visit price: 5 € per person / free for those under 26 / free for everyone on the first Saturday of the month
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Visit to the Saint-Joseph Church in Le Havre
This superb creation of glass and concrete by Auguste Perret has a bell tower that dominates the city at 107 meters high and has become one of the tallest buildings in the city. Do not miss entering the church to admire its impressive interior volumes and the installation by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. For the record, this church was built in memory of the victims of the Second World War bombings.
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Take a sea trip with Navigation Normande
We took a short tour of the Port of Le Havre on a boat with the discovery of Port 2000 where the world’s largest container ships are hosted, then to finish our sea trip, we took a trip along the beach of Le Havre. It’s a very interesting excursion to do and one that allows for a fairly original and pleasant activity in good weather.
The little extra: the captain comments on all the visits and gives super interesting info!
Good to know: there are toilets on the boat (yes, I’m a girl, so what…)
duration: 1h15
Navigation Normande
Rates: 14 € for adults / 10 € for children from 4 to 17 years old) / 12 € for
students
Boarding (15 min before departure) at the Marina (Port de Plaisance)
Reservation recommended: call 06 16 80 24 10
125 boulevard Clémenceau-Digue Charles Olsen_
View over Le Havre from the very top of the City Hall Tower
The city hall has a monumental tower over 70 meters high that offers a magnificent panorama of the city. It is one of the emblematic buildings of the reconstruction of Le Havre after the war. We were lucky enough to be able to go to the very top with our guide from the Le Havre Tourism Office, which organizes panoramic tours on the 17th floor of the City Hall tower from April to October. It is definitely one of the most beautiful viewpoints over the city.
Le Havre City Hall 1517 Place de l'Hôtel de ville, 76084 Le Havre
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Discovery trail of Le Havre’s works in an urban setting
On the occasion of the 500 years of Le Havre, there are 4 trails starting from the national stage, the Volcan, which crisscross the city. All are punctuated by monumental works by different artists. To find out about the trails, you must go to the reception and information point located in the Volcan. It is also the perfect spot to sit down, charge your phone, and get lots of info about the city.
To see:
- The colorful beach huts (installation by Karel Martens) with their stripes of color. It is also an opportunity to take a tour on the large pebble beach of Le Havre which is very pleasant.
- The containers by Vincent Ganivet (which are super photogenic).
- “Impact”, the work created by Stéphane Thidet above the commercial basin of Le Havre.
- The sculpture by Lang and Baumann on the beach.
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Take a dip at Les Bains des Docks in Le Havre
This superb aquatic complex whose design was conceived by architect Jean Nouvel offers a new approach to the swimming pool in an immaculate setting inspired by Roman baths: sports or recreational pools, spa, balneotherapy, fitness, swimming school, sauna, hammam, fitness rooms, relaxation and wellness area, a 50-meter pool, and numerous recreational pools for children.
Les Bains des Docks
Quai de la Réunion, 76600 Le Havre
open 7/7 from 10 am to 8 pm (including public holidays) / Friday closing at 10 pm (closing at
3 pm on December 24 and 31)
Price: single entry at 4.90 € for adults and 2 € for children (from 3 to 12 years old) / balneo + pool entry at 12.90 €_
My Good addresses in Le Havre
As per my usual, I have made you a small selection of good gastronomic addresses tested during this short stay in Le Havre.
Le Chat Bleu, the good taste of here and elsewhere
This address with insane charm is at once a tea bar, wine bar, cocktail bar, a place to eat tapas,… In short, everyone will find something for themselves, at any time of the day. For our part, we took the opportunity to have a little tapas and cocktail evening on the establishment’s rooftop terrace.
To taste:
- different small plates of tapas to share (between 6.50 € and 8 €)
- a lovely cocktail menu like the Norman planter (8.50 €)
Le Chat Bleu 6 rue du Roi Albert 76310 Sainte-Adresse open from Tuesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 8 pm / late nights on Thursdays and Fridays until 11 pm / Sunday from 4 pm to 7 pm
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La Colombe Niemeyers restaurant
This nice establishment is located between the Volcan, the national stage, and the city library. We took advantage of its beautiful location and its terrace to have lunch in the sun.
On the menu: Malagua detox cocktail (7 €), melon soup, salad with scallops, Bouchot mussels in Normandy cream (a killer!) and for dessert a chocolate/basil charlotte and a meringued apple compote.
Colombe Niemeyers restaurant 8 place Oscar Niemeyer 76600 Le Havre Price: starter + main course 17 € / main course + dessert 15 € / starter + main course + dessert 22 € The little extra: a very nice terrace with a view of the Volcan for sunny days
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Lunch on the terrace on the waterfront at L’Amarino
A friendly, unpretentious restaurant with Italian accents, which allows you to have lunch in the sun facing the sea, which is always very pleasant when you are on vacation.
L’Amarino
Boulevard Albert 1er, 76600 Le Havre
Price: menu at 19.99 € (served every day for lunch and dinner)_
Where to sleep in Le Havre? Best Western ARThotel
This 3-star hotel is ideally located right in front of the Volcan, this strange building that we owe to the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (built between 1978 and 1982) and which has become one of the city’s emblems. In addition, there are plenty of very funny (and artistic) details in this establishment, such as the personalization of the bedroom doors, or the elevator/shower that has its little effect when you go up for the first time… I also really liked the very pretty view from my room with a terrace.
Best Western ARThotel 147 rue Louis Brindeau 76600 Le Havre Room with terrace from 109 €
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I hope that with all this I will have made you want to discover or rediscover Le Havre and if you, too, have your own good addresses for this destination, do not hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find all my articles on the Normandy region below:
⇒ All my articles on Normandy
MY ARTICLES ON THE DEPARTMENTS OF NORMANDY
⇒ The Orne
⇒ The Seine Maritime
⇒ The Eure
⇒ The Calvados
⇒ The Manche
Photo credits: Melle Bon Plan (photos taken with the Kodak PixPro AZ526) Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use
