Honfleur

A visit to Honfleur is itself a complete history lesson, from the 100 years war through the voyages of discovery to the New World during the 17th century to the art of the impressionists. As a fortified place during the second half of the 14th century, you can still use the old "Caen Gate", the last remaining piece of the original fortifications, most of which was demolished when the town and port were being expanded during the 17th century. SITE

In the medieval part of the town, known as the "Quartier de l'Enclos", you can see the "Rue de la Ville", the old main commercial and trading street in the town, still displaying its medieval architecture and buildings from a bygone area, such as the old salt stores. As you go around this area, you can step back the past as you walk along the "Prison Street" and step onto "Little Butchers Street" making your way to the Eglise Saint Etienne dating from the 14th century, making it the eldest church in the town.

On the other side of the "Caen Gate" and "La Lieutenance" rises the Eglise Sainte Catherine, the largest wooden church in France, built by the ship carpenters of Honfleur shortly after the 100 years war. You can see that the bell tower besides the church was put, rather unusually, on the top of the bell ringer's house. Honfleur is also a favourite retreat for painters who come to paint the harbour and the colourful 17th century houses surrounding the "Sainte Catherine's Quay", the same images that can be seen on Claude Monet's paintings or his friend and mentor, Eugene Boudin SITE.

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