Must-See

This little maritime city, which has somehow escaped the ravages of time, has managed to preserve the traces of a rich historical past, which make it one of the most visited towns in France, with its picturesque backstreets and old houses. Its international renown is partly due to the authenticity of its narrow paved streets and timber-framed house-fronts, its little shops, charming hotels and typical restaurants, but also to the variety of its monuments and the wealth of its cultural and artistic heritage. 
Honfleur offers the warm welcome of a little town.
Simultaneously fishing harbour, marina and commercial port, Honfleur has succeeded in making the most of its rich historical and artistic heritage.

Honfleur, a town of painters and Impressionism, possesses that something extra that makes it irresistible. The changing light on the Seine estuary inspired Courbet, Monet, Boudin and many others. Today dozens of galleries and artists' studios continue to display a wide choice of classical and modern paintings.  

The Big Event 

 1608 - 2008
Honfleur celebrates Quebec !

In 1608, Samuel de Champlain sailed from Honfleur for an expedition which was destined to lead to the foundation of Quebec.

In 2008 the people of Honfleur are joyously celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Quebec and invite you to the party !
An especially festive programme awaits you in Honfleur. For all the details, please go to the Tourist Office web site, from where you may down-load the programme from the chapter on the special 400th anniversary festivities.
For a foretaste, here are the main features of the programme : games/ visits and literary walks in the footsteps of Champlain, exhibitions and films, Festival of the New World : from Honfleur to Quebec (end of June) with an Amerindian village, painting exhibitions, theatre, concerts, country dancing, old sailing ships, maple syrup, etc., without forgetting the Festival of humour which this year will have a flavour of Quebec.
 

Worth a visit 

• The exceptional Vieux-Bassin, (old dock) in the heart of the town, and the high, narrow old houses which overlook the harbour on three sides.
• The Lieutenance (Lieutenancy) and the Porte de Caen (Caen Gate), relics of the old fortifications.
• Saint Catherine's Church built entirely of wood.
• The Church of Saint-Étienne has become the museum of Old Honfleur, where you will discover the fascinating story of explorers such as Roberval, who left for Canada in 1541, or the Marquis de la Roche (1596).   
• The Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Chapel has relics of the first explorations that marked the beginning of the first colonisations in New France (Canada). One of the oldest sanctuaries in the area still stands on the plateau de Grâce, surrounded by ancient trees.
• The Greniers à sel (Salt granaries):  these vast stone buildings dating from 1670 could store up to 10,000 tons of salt. Today they are the prestigious framework for exhibitions, concerts and conferences.  
  
• Staying in Honfleur is also... strolling along the backstreets, to find monuments, museums and traditional markets, boarding a boat for a trip around the estuary, going to a concert or an exhibition in the salt granaries, or spending a few quiet moments on the beach ....
  
• With its exceptional geographical position, Honfleur can be the point of departure for any number of escapades inland in the Auge country, to discover the route du cidre or the route des fromages, and also for walks around the Seine estuary in the steps of the impressionists...