In this article, we’ve selected the best things to do in Le Havre, the city of our birth and heart.<\/p>\n\n This review is completely independent<\/strong>, based on our experiences.\nWe visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full. <\/p>\n\n Although its charm may not jump out at you at first glance, the architecture of the city center has been a UNESCO World Heritage<\/strong> Site since 2005.<\/p>\n\n To grasp its subtleties, we recommend strolling along Rue de Paris<\/strong>, which leads from the waterfront to the imposing H\u00f4tel de Ville.<\/p>\n\n Here, there are no scrolls carved into the stone or half-timbered houses, but rather reinforced concrete<\/strong> buildings, the favorite material of Auguste Perret, the great architect of the reconstruction of a city 82% destroyed in September 1944.<\/p>\n\n In addition to the American-style layout<\/strong> of the city, with its wide avenues that you’ll enjoy strolling along, take time to admire these shades of concrete<\/strong>: brushed, rough, grey, pinkish (a shade obtained by adding powdered Vosges sandstone to the concrete)! <\/p>\n\n Each building is built on a highly geometric structure <\/strong>with a 6.24 m spacing between each column (6.24 corresponding to the maximum span and having the advantage of being easily divided by 2, 4, 6…). Each column is connected horizontally by a beam. We’re simply talking aboutpost-and-beam architecture<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n To find out more about Le Havre’s architecture, visit the Maison du Patrimoine – Atelier Perret<\/strong> – 181 rue de Paris.<\/p>\n\n The reconstruction of Le Havre lasted almost 20 years, from 1945 to 1964, a period of innovation and changing lifestyles. Perret’s innovative architecture is also reflected in the interiors, which have been redesigned to offer the best of modernity <\/strong>(garbage chutes, bathrooms with bathtubs, centralized forced-air heating…) to the 30,000 people of Le Havre who lost everything in the bombardments.<\/p>\n\n Our grandparents were among the first to be rehoused in the post-war period, after several years selling their wares in construction site barracks (they were shopkeepers). We were lucky enough to spend a large part of our youth in a very pleasant Perret apartment.<\/p>\n\n In 2005, the town had the good idea of offering visitors the chance to explore a show apartment<\/strong>. It corresponds in every respect to those presented to Le Havre residents during the city’s reconstruction, with a reconstruction of the furniture and appliances offered at the time. The aim was to convince the people of Le Havre to succumb to the “charm” of reinforced concrete…<\/p>\n\n The 50-minute tour takes you back to a time when everything was possible again!<\/p>\n\n Reservations are strongly recommended<\/a>, as group sizes are very limited!<\/p>\n\n Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the waterfront:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hilton Hotel with its modern decor and balconies – see prices, photos and availability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Downtown, in the heart of Perret architecture:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n H\u00f4tel Pasino, for ultra-spacious rooms – <\/strong>See prices, photos and availability<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hotel Vent d’Ouest, a charming place to stay – See prices, photos and availability<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/a>See our complete selection of the best hotels in Le Havre<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n During your stay, the Andr\u00e9 Malraux Museum is a must-see.<\/p>\n\n First and foremost for its building, ideally positioned opposite the entrance to the port, with large windows to delicately bring the skies and light of Normandy<\/strong> into the works of the painters on display. A technical and architectural feat that creates a warm, inviting atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n For its rich collections, mainly around Impressionism<\/strong> and Fauvism<\/strong>. Le Havre, a city that has inspired so many artists, played an important role in the history of these 2 major artistic movements. During your visit, you can admire paintings by Claude Monet, Eug\u00e8ne Boudin, Raoul Dufy…<\/p>\n\n More information, including prices and opening times, can be found in our full article on the MuMa<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n The Church of St. Joseph is a must-see.<\/p>\n\n Designed by Auguste Perret, it is the symbol of Le Havre’s post-war renaissance. With its 107-metre-high lantern tower, it is the city’s spiritual and secular beacon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n In addition to the use of reinforced concrete, it will surprise you with its luminous ambience emanating from the 12,768 colored mouth-blown tiles<\/strong> that make up its non-figurative stained glass windows. We strongly recommend that you visit at a time when the sun is shining on the church, so that you can make the most of it.<\/p>\n\n Access free of charge. You can’t miss it when you visit Le Havre. In the heart of downtown, in the extension of the Bassin du Commerce, 2 volcano-shaped<\/strong> buildings, all in white, contrast with the rigorous Perret architecture.<\/p>\n\n They are the work of the brilliant architect Oscar Niemeyer<\/strong>, responsible for Brazil’s new capital, Brasilia.<\/p>\n\n Le Volcan not only houses a theater<\/strong>, but also, since 2015, a magnificent library<\/strong> that is the pride of the people of Le Havre. Take the time to explore this space dedicated to culture and open to all. You’ll discover what goes on behind the scenes of these buildings, but also the meticulous decoration that makes the place truly unique and conducive to reading. We love it!!!<\/p>\n\n Access free of charge. Among Le Havre’s favorite activities, the beach is of course an epicenter and a must-do for all visitors!<\/p>\n\n In fact, the town is blessed with a long seafront<\/strong> that runs for a full 5 km without you having to cross a single road. Ideal for runners like us and a true paradise for all slide fans.<\/p>\n\n As you approach the sea, however, you’ll need to learn the secrets of pebble walking<\/strong>. At first, you’ll look like a penguin, but we’ve all been there, so there’s no need to feel ashamed!<\/p>\n\n Explore to the “end of the world <\/strong>” at the northern end of the beach. You can discover the limestone cliffs characteristic of the C\u00f4te d’Alb\u00e2tre (the most famous being those atEtretat<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n Once again, we’ve put together a comprehensive article on everything you need to know about Le Havre beach <\/a>(aren’t we kind?).<\/p>\n\n All the information you need for your trip:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n We continue this list of must-sees, with a tour that will take you on a discovery of the works of art that dot our city’s rich cultural past.<\/p>\n\n We start with La Cat\u00e8ne. This sculpture of 21 containers <\/strong>was created by French artist Vincent Ganivet <\/strong>for the 500th anniversary of the city of Le Havre. With its bright colors and natural setting at the intersection of the port and downtown Perret, it has become Le Havre’s “Eiffel Tower”<\/strong>. To be verified, but surely the most Instagrammed place in Le Havre.<\/p>\n\n Now located at the end of the 300-meter-long breakwater that protects Le Havre’s marina, this 6.24-meter-high<\/strong> statue by Fabien M\u00e9relle<\/strong> depicts a father with his daughter looking out towards the horizon. Take the time to watch it silhouetted against the sky and the Perret architecture in the background – it’s magical! A must for our many seaside walks.<\/p>\n We continue up the waterfront, this time with the work of Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann (L\/B)<\/strong>, a Swiss-American creative tandem. As an extension of the “porte oc\u00e9ane” (a group of 2 buildings at the end of avenue Foch, which opens onto the sea), this work, which was intended to be temporary, has in 5 years become an essential part of the town’s heritage.<\/p>\n\n We love the play of light and shadow, the multi-dimensional setting<\/strong> that lets you watch the setting sun from different angles.<\/p>\n\n Continuing along the seafront, a change of artistic era with the famous “estacade” for regattas<\/strong>. We’re right opposite the Palais des R\u00e9gates, a favorite haunt of Le Havre’s high society since the late 19th century.<\/p>\n\n Countless painters have depicted it, from Impressionist Claude Monet to the greatest Fauvist painters (Marquet, Raoul Dufy…). <\/p>\n\n Un \u00c9t\u00e9 au Havre is a major artistic event taking place from June 22 to September 22 throughout the city of Le Havre. During this festival (launched in 2017 to celebrate 500 years of Havre), the city is transformed into an open-air art gallery. Works appear in various locations around the city. See the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Another leap forward in time, as street artist Jace<\/strong> brings his favorite character, the Gouzou<\/strong>, to life on various city walls. It has become a constant companion for the people of Le Havre. You can find all Jace’s tags on this page<\/a> and by clicking on them you’ll get the address where they can be seen!<\/p>\n\n See all our tips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n To get a good idea of the layout of downtown Le Havre, we invite you to take a step up to theorientation table<\/strong> halfway up boulevard du Pr\u00e9sident F\u00e9lix Faure. If you’re brave, you can get there on foot from the seafront, otherwise there’s plenty of parking out front.<\/p>\n\n You’ll enjoy a beautiful view of the waterfront and Le Havre city center. If the weather is clear, you can also make out the towns of Honfleur<\/a>, Deauville<\/a> and even Caen<\/a>, which lie on the other side of the mouth of the Seine.<\/p>\n\n As you climb up, you’ll come across a massive neoclassical building, theDufayel building <\/strong>and the Nice-Havrais<\/strong> building. Built at the beginning of the 20th<\/sup> century to accommodate high society vacationing in Sainte-Adresse<\/strong>, Le Havre’s seaside resort. A special feature of the building’s history is that it housed the Belgian government in exile during World War 1 <\/sup>, making this small commune of just a few thousand inhabitants the capital of Belgium<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n The orientation table is a 10-minute drive from the town hall and a 45-minute walk from the coast.<\/p>\n\n Looking for a bit of height? Let yourself be tempted by a helicopter <\/strong>flight from Le Havre’s small airport. 2 possible circuits:<\/p>\n\n See availability and make reservations<\/a><\/p>\n\n Change of scale and atmosphere with this small, colorful 2-hectare English-style park<\/strong> in the heart of downtown Le Havre, along the majestic Avenue Foch. Between the small pond, the bandstand and the remarkable tree species, there’s a truly special atmosphere that we love to come and breathe in as the seasons go by.<\/p>\n\n It is a crossroads for generations of Le Havre residents, with young people preferring the freedom of the lawns and older people the wisdom of the benches…<\/p>\n\n In the city center.<\/p>\n\n These gardens are located in the former fortress of Sainte-Adresse <\/strong>and magnificently overlook the lower town of Le Havre, offering a beautiful view of the port and the sea.<\/p>\n\n Over the 17 hectares<\/strong>, you can admire 3,700 species<\/strong> grouped by continent, a veritable ode to travel. Once again, the natural setting and the object seem to respond to each other, enhancing the experience tenfold!<\/p>\n\n In addition to the rich plant collections that have earned it the “jardin remarquable et botanique” label, two contemporary works of art are on view in spring and summer. A friendly tearoom invites you to take a well-deserved break!<\/p>\n\n The Hanging Gardens are a 10-minute drive from the town hall and a 40-minute walk from the coast.<\/p>\n\n Opening hours: <\/p>\n\n Irrigated both by imports from the port and the rich agricultural production of the surrounding countryside, Le Havre is a great place to eat<\/strong>. We couldn’t fail to mention it in this article on what to do in Le Havre, whatever your scale may think.<\/p>\n\n The Halles centrales, a covered market open all day (except Sunday afternoons), is a gourmet stronghold housing 22<\/strong> top-quality food<\/strong> shops (butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetables).<\/p>\n\n![\"What](\"https:\/\/normandielovers.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/best-things-to-do-Le-Havre-Normandy-visit.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n1. Perret architecture: a must in Le Havre<\/h2>\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-RKkWB9q\/0\/f4b48ecb\/L\/i-RKkWB9q-L.jpg\")
2. The Perret show apartment<\/h2>\n\n
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WHERE TO STAY<\/span> IN Le Havre<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3. MuMa: Mus\u00e9e d’art du Havre<\/h2>\n\n
![\"MuMa](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-3dwhhz9\/0\/000738dc\/L\/i-3dwhhz9-L.jpg\")
4. Saint-Joseph church<\/h2>\n\n
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5. The Volcano<\/h2>\n\n
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6. Le Havre Beach<\/h2>\n\n
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![\"The](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/Travel\/France\/Le-Havre-2\/i-JDxGn6W\/2\/133a286e\/L\/IMG_3210-L.jpg\")
USE OUR GUIDE TO PLAN A
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![\"Box](\"https:\/\/normandielovers.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Box-Ebook-Normandy-EN.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n7. Tour of works of art in the city: Catenas, statues…<\/h2>\n\n
The container catena<\/h3>\n\n
![\"the](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-FRS98GS\/1\/cb7d5093\/L\/i-FRS98GS-L.jpg\")
Sculpture “Jusqu’au bout du monde” (To the end of the world)<\/h3>\n\n
![\"Sculpture](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/Travel\/France\/Le-Havre-2\/i-8Qj6mPZ\/0\/5083612e\/L\/digue_Havre_sculpture-L.jpg\")
UP3 statue<\/h3>\n\n
![\"UP3](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/Travel\/France\/Le-Havre-2\/i-rGD5dW3\/2\/74c84dc6\/L\/IMG_3160-L.jpg\")
The regatta pier<\/h3>\n\n
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Summer in Le Havre” Festival<\/h3>\n\n
8. Street Art in Le Havre: Where’s the Gouzou?<\/h2>\n\n
![\"Gouzou](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/Travel\/France\/Le-Havre\/i-pSnFWfj\/4\/9bca8a72\/L\/IMG_0569-L.jpg\")
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR<\/span> IN Normandy<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n9. The orientation table and Nice Havrais<\/h2>\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/Travel\/France\/Le-Havre\/i-67VGWbJ\/1\/a1bc8f2e\/L\/IMG_1743-L.jpg\" "\\"Things")
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10. Helicopter flight<\/h2>\n\n
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![\"View](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/photos\/i-nQJth6s\/0\/a3a935fb\/L\/i-nQJth6s-L.jpg\")
11. Square Saint Roch<\/h2>\n\n
![\"Square](\"https:\/\/photos.smugmug.com\/Travel\/France\/Le-Havre\/i-4CctF7b\/1\/e6d8bb3f\/L\/IMG_1847-L.jpg\" "\\"Square")
12. Hanging gardens<\/h2>\n\n
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13. Le Havre gourmand: enjoying gastronomy<\/h2>\n\n
The central halls<\/h4>\n\n
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