Situated at the mouth of the River Seine, the UNESCO-listed city of Le Havre combines concrete grandeur with seaside cool, boasting lively bars and restaurants and a thriving arts scene.
Don’t miss
01
Le Volcan (The Volcano)
This vast edifice, nicknamed the ‘Volcano’ in French, is Le Havre’s arts centre and theatre, designed by renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, and built in 1982. The architecture is a white veil of concrete, bringing curves into the angular city designed by Perret.
02
St. Joseph’s Church
An amazing building! Designed by Auguste Perret, the construction of this church began in 1951 and was completed after his death by his working group in 1957. Its 107m-high tower, containing 12,768 panes of coloured glass, is a spiritual beacon and the landmark of the city. Dedicated to the memory of the victims of the bombings, the Church of Saint Joseph is symbolic of this reconstruction period in Europe, and stands out as one of the architectural masterpieces of the 20th century.
03
André Malraux Museum of Modern Art – MuMa Le Havre
This modern building, a wonderful light box of glass, contains a fabulous collection of Impressionist works, the largest in France outside Paris. While contemplating seaside works by the greatest names in French 19th and early 20th century art, watch all manner of real boats and ships slipping past, going in and out of the Seine estuary just beyond the building.
04
Perret show flat
This show flat is designed to help visitors understand how Perret and his working group rehoused the inhabitants of Le Havre after 80% of the city was destroyed during World War II. This fully-furnished flat provides an insight into what post-war modernity looked like, and the architectural innovation that led to Perret’s city becoming a World Heritage Site.
05
The skate park
It’s the largest free outdoor skate park in France. And what’s more, it’s right on the seafront! Young and old alike will have a great time, while passers-by will stop to admire their skills.
06
Marina and beach
Le Havre’s marina has 1,150 berths, and many famous races and international sailing events set sail from here. Its 2km shingle beach with promenade and cycling lane is a mere 500m away from the city centre. Visitors can try their hand at fishing, snorkelling and rowing, and there is also a big wheel, large skate park and a wide range of bars and restaurants situated right on the beach, which serve tasty local cuisine.
07
The port
Le Havre is one of the largest commercial ports in Europe. The Port Centre explores the globalisation of trade and the transport of goods from antiquity to the present day. Then take a tour of Port 2000.
As well as…
- Les Jardins suspendus (Hanging Gardens): Le Havre is one of the greenest cities in France, with 96 parks, gardens and squares covering almost 2,000 acres. Opened to the public in 2008, the city’s Hanging Gardens are built on an old 19th century Napoleonic fort overlooking the Seine estuary, and boast panoramic views of the sea and port. Explore the four bastions of the fortress, discovering rare plants found by botanist explorers, before moving on to the greenhouses, full of richly scented plants and species from all over the world.
- Catène de Containers: Built in 2017 ahead of Le Havre’s 500th anniversary celebrations, this art installation by Vincent Ganivet of brightly coloured shipping containers stacked in two arches has rapidly become a much loved and photographed landmark in the city.
- Notre-Dame Cathedral: This church is one of the very few buildings in the city centre to have survived the devastation of World War II. Damaged by the bombings, the impact of war can still be seen on the bell tower. Perret gave the church prominence in the 1950s by building a square around it, which draws attention to how the building sits at pre-war ground level, which is lower than the rest of the street. Notre Dame was granted cathedral status in 1974.
- Les Bains des Docks: Among the many exciting architectural projects to take place in Le Havre in recent years is this state-of-the-art aquatic centre comprising a pool, spa and gym, designed by award-winning architect firm Ateliers Jean Nouvel as part of an effort by Le Havre to revitalise its docklands.
- Concerts, exhibitions and shows are regularly held at Le Tétris, in the Tourneville fort. Another popular venue for culture lovers is the Scène nationale in the Volcano.
A weekend in Le Havre
Our train trip ideas
Explore Normandy at your own pace and enjoy a more responsible holiday. You’ll also find some of our best addresses: hotels, restaurants and places to visit, all accessible without a car.
Treat yourself to a Michelin-starred meal
Opposite the Place Saint Roch, Michelin-starred chef Jean-Luc Tartarin and his team welcome you to an elegant setting in perfect harmony with the food and wine on the ‘à la carte’ menu. Adjacent to the restaurant is Les Tartarinades, a delicatessen run by his wife Annabelle, where you can buy takeaway meals, jams, coulis, etc. at very reasonable prices.
Things to see and do near Le Havre
- Just a stone’s throw from Le Havre, Harfleur has retained its character. It’s like stepping back into the town’s medieval past.
- In Montivilliers, on the outskirts of Le Havre, don’t miss a visit to the abbey church.
- When you’re in Le Havre, you only have to travel a few kilometres for a complete change of scenery. The world-famous cliffs of Étretat for instance are less than 30 km from Le Havre. A Nomad coach service runs between Le Havre and Étretat.
- You can also cross the majestic Pont de Normandie. You will reach another picture-perfect setting: Honfleur and its historic harbour.
- In high season, you can take the sea shuttle from Le Havre to Trouville-sur-Mer and Deauville.
Useful information for your stay
How do I get to Le Havre (by public transport)?
- By train from Paris Saint Lazare via Rouen.
- By coach with Blablacar or Flixbus
Le Havre by bike
- The city has a good network of cycle paths.
- Le Havre is on the route of two major cycle routes: La Seine à Vélo® and La Vélomaritime®.
Market days in Le Havre
The most emblematic market takes place on Sunday mornings around the Halles centrales.