Modern architecture in Normandy

When it was inaugurated in 1995 such a cable-stay bridge was cutting edge technology, and at over 2km it was the longest in the world. It took 7 years to build and is part of the “Estuary Motorway” that straddles the Seine and links Honfleur to Le Havre at this point.

Inspired by Roman thermal baths, the 5000 sq-metre aquatic centre designed by Jean Nouvel offers a wide range of activities such as an Olympic size swimming pool, sauna, hammam, and fun and games for young and old alike. All in a very clean, pure, rectilinear environment, a stone’s throw from the centre of Le Havre.

This futuristic looking building, the Alexis de Tocqueville public library, opened in 2017 and is set in the old industrial port area of Caen on the modern presqu’île de Caen. It’s the work of the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

The colourful, tipped, photovoltaic decks, broken up into many colours is known as “le 108”, the headquarters of the Rouen-Normandy Urban area. It stands as a tribute to Claude Monet and to the Impressionists. You can find it on the left bank, between the Flaubert Bridge and the 106 concert hall, also well worth a visit! In 2024, the 105 also opened its doors. It houses an immersive Viking museum, restaurants and cafés.