Honfleur is a charming little town on the Seine estuary in northern France’s Normandy region. It’s a great stop to explore if you’re looking for somewhere quaint and relaxing to spend the day.
The main attraction of Honfleur is its old port, lined with picturesque narrow slate-roof timber houses. It’s one of the most colourful and buzzing parts of the town.
Sainte-Catherine Church
Honfleur is a picturesque, historic port town tucked away on the coast of Normandy. Its cobbled streets and old-fashioned harbor make this seaside resort a great choice for a romantic getaway in France.
The wooden main church of Sainte-Catherine reflects the little town’s roots as one of the country’s foremost ports. Its roof looks like twin overturned ship hulls, and its bell tower is detached from the rest of the church.
A visit to Sainte-Catherine is a must for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Honfleur’s rich history. The church’s interior also houses a museum, where visitors can explore works by renowned impressionist painters such as Gustave Courbet and Eugene Boudin.
Honfleur Salt Cellars
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Honfleur was one of France’s largest ports. The Vieux Bassin (old harbour) remains the heart of the city, dotted with jumbled rows of teetering merchants’ houses that date from that period.
The old port is a picture-perfect spot to enjoy a coffee, glass of wine and a bite to eat with a waterfront view. The light changes with the day, with buildings reflected in the water at different times.
Aside from the historic port, the town also offers a plethora of museums and attractions that are sure to make your Honfleur trip unforgettable. You can check out the Maritime Museum, whose collection of ship models, engravings and paintings speak of the city’s rich maritime history. Or pay a visit to Muse Eugene Boudin, named after the Honfleur-born artist who is considered one of the early pioneers of the Impressionist movement.
Le Vieux Bassin
Honfleur is a small port town on the historic Seine estuary that was once an important trading hub. Today, it is a popular tourist destination with its picturesque harbour (Le Vieux Bassin) and the beautiful architecture of its wooden main church.
This quaint city has a wealth of interesting sights and activities, some of which can be enjoyed on a budget. Start your stay with a stroll around Le Vieux Bassin and you’ll soon discover that the majority of Honfleur’s top attractions can be reached on foot.
For an added dose of culture, make time to visit Honfleur’s museums. One of the best is the Eugene Boudin museum, which houses works from Claude Monet’s mentor and other Impressionist artists.
Honfleur Museum
If you’re a fan of art, Honfleur Museum is worth checking out. Named after the painter Eugene Boudin, this impressive gallery is home to over 200 of his works as well as some of the most famous Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet and Courbet.
Located just a few minutes walk from the Vieux Bassin, Honfleur Museum is a great place to spend some time. It offers a collection of paintings and sketches by Boudin, as well as work by other famous impressionists such as Dufy, Jongkindsome and Monet.
Also worth a visit is the Jardin des Personnalites, a bucolic garden that showcases busts of the likes of Claude Monet and Eugene Boudin, as well as composer Erik Satie and the poet Charles Baudelaire. The pond and pathway are a lovely spot to stroll around, especially during the summer months when the flowers are in bloom.
Erik Satie Museum
Honfleur is home to the quirky Erik Satie Museum, a whimsical house museum where visitors can experience an interactive journey of scenography and sound that pays tribute to this avant-garde composer. It’s not a traditional house museum, and the experience is unlike any other you’ve ever had.
The museum has a series of dark rooms filled with inventive exhibits, including a giant mechanised monkey and a white self-playing piano. A pedal-powered carousel also comes to life as you pedal your way through the space, playing one of Satie’s boisterous carnival pieces.
The music of Erik Satie is an integral part of the experience, and each of the 21 pieces in the collection are humorous and playful. For instance, the piece "Le Golf" starts with a light, rhythmic melody that evokes the joy of playing the game, but evolves into increasingly complex harmonies and dissonances as it progresses.
