What to visit in Honfleur ?
Practical Info
Office of Tourism
When you arrive in Honfleur, I advise you to get a map of the city from the Tourist Office and ask for information if you need :
Honfleur Office of Tourism
Quai Lepaulmier
14600 Honfleur
Ph : 02 31 89 23 30
Email : contact@ot-honfleur.fr
Where to park ?
It can be complicated to park in Honfleur during the high season due to the influx of visitors and tourists.
You will find many car parks but most of them are paid parkings (and expensive) : some are paying from 8am until 8pm, others 24/24 … So here are my recommendations:
FREE CAR PARKS
You can park for free at the following car parks (of course during the high season, not sure to find space but you can try..). They are not located right in the town center but about 10-minute walk :
– The « Garden of celebrities » (= Jardin des Personnalités) close to the Naturospace : 130 spaces (this is where I always park when I go to Honfleur)
– The Naturospace : 110 spaces.
– 10 rue Nicol at Parking Beaulieu : 121 spaces.
A NOT TOO EXPENSIVE CAR-PARK
Another good option is the paid car park located along the East Pier (=Bassin de l’Est) with a 6-euro day package (a good price if you spend the whole day in Honfleur).
BLUE ZONES
These parking spaces are delimited by a blue marking on the ground and the parking is limited to 30 or 45 minutes free of charge, but you need a parking disc that you place behind your windshield set to your arrival time.
This was created for people who have to make some quick purchases in the city.
You can buy a parking disc (which can be useful in all towns) in a tobacco shop.
Markets in Honfleur
– Traditional weekly market : every Saturday 8:30am-1pm , from Cour des Fossés to Place Sainte Catherine : food, local products, flowers, clothes, souvenirs…
– Organic market : every Wednesday 8:30am-1pm ( until 4pm on July & August), place Sainte Catherine.
– Brocante/flea market : every first Sunday of the month, place Sainte Catherine. 30 professional exhibitors all day.
– Night market : every Wednesday evening in summer from 6pm (July/August only), Cours des Fossés and rue de la Ville.
Honfleur Normandy Outlet
A choice of national and international brands.
Located 3 kms from Honfleur city center, towards the highway.
HONFLEUR NORMANDY OUTLET
Avenue de Normandie, 14600 Honfleur (at the foot of the Normandy’s bridge).
– Website HERE.
– Open every day from 10am to 7pm
– Closed May 1, December 25 and January 1.
Want a coffee or a hot drink while doing your shopping? Go to the Lindt bar and store, the coffee is excellent !
Visit
Interesting sites in the city center
Le Vieux Bassin : the Old Harbor
This beautiful old harbour in the heart of Honfleur is famous for its high and narrow old houses of all colours which overlook the dock on three sides, and is undoubtedly the most photographed part of the town !
La Lieutenance
Overlooking the Vieux-Bassin, the Lieutenance is a vestige of the fortifications that were built in the 14th century and was the home of the French king’s Lieutenant (hence its name) until the 17th century.
In April 2023, the venue opened to the public, serving as both an Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Center (CIAP) and an artist residency, providing them with an inspiring space.
Sainte-Catherine church
A stunning church dating from the 15th century built entirely of wood. The ceiling has the shape of an overturned boat hull. This church replaced an old stone church of the 12th century destroyed during the Hundred Years War.
The first nave (on the left) was certainly built before 1468 by the inhabitants of the city after the departure of the English (Honfleur was occupied by the English from 1415 to 1466).
With few means at their disposal, they used, as raw material, wood from the Touques forest (near Honfleur) and their knowledge of shipbuilding.
A second nave, parallel to the first was added in 1496. Two theories to this extension : either to accommodate the growing population of sailors and ship-owners or for technical reasons.
Did you know ?
In the early 19th century, renovations saw the church’s wooden beams covered with plaster and its pillars transformed into cylindrical columns. Additionally, a neoclassical porch featuring Greek columns replaced the original one with an antique pediment
By the late 19th century, efforts were made to restore the church to its original appearance, removing the plaster and returning the interior to its former state. In 1929, the Greek porch was demolished, and it wasn’t until 1957 that the façade, as it stands today, was constructed.
Henri de Saint-Delis, a Norman Impressionist painter living in Honfleur immortalized this aspect of the church in his painting « La Place Sainte-Catherine en 1922. »
The Separate Bell Tower of Sainte-Catherine church
Opposite the church stands the oak bell tower, constructed atop the bell ringer’s house. It’s open to visitors and houses religious artifacts such as sculptures and mementos from the Charities and the Notre-Dame de Grâce chapel located on the heights of Honfleur.
Le Jardin du Tripot
The Tripot Garden : a little further from the tourist bustle and close to Saint-Léonard church.
Opening times (free access):
– September 1-April 30 : 8am-7pm
– May 1-August 31 : 8am-9pm.
A very beautiful place not very frequented by tourists so very peaceful…where you discover La Claire, a river crossing Honfleur, and the old tanners’ district. Indeed, during the renovation, vestiges of old tanneries were brought to light. This activity was set up here to take advantage of the rivers. The whole network of canals recalls this past activity.
Located street Bréard (next to the Tourist Office), this small garden was inaugurated in 2013 and invites you to stroll in a haven of tranquility in the historic center.
Stroll along the waterways embellished with works of art : a mosaic fresco, two very original fountain sculptures and a giant snail covered with mosaic : a beautiful and relaxing discovery !
A GOOD TIP FOR A BREAK
Stop by the tea-room boutique :
LA MAISON DU TRIPOT
A charming old house with a terrace overlooking the Garden of Tripot and the stream : delicious home-made pastries, breakfasts, brunches, lunches and snacks.
32 rue de la Chaussée, 14600 Honfleur.
Ph : 02 31 98 61 85
Open from Wednesday to Sunday 8am-6pm
Website HERE.
Away from the touristic places of the city : the wash-house and well itinerary
I propose you to follow the itinerary of the wash-houses to discover as you walk through, charming paved alleys, small passages, half-timbered houses, Saint Léonard church and La Forge, a very original artist’s house !
The three wash-houses and the well are all beautifully restored. This is a nice walk through the old streets of Honfleur to travel back in time.
Interesting sites a little further from the city center
Butin Beach (Plage du Butin) and Garden of Celebrities
A beautiful sandy beach located beyond the peaceful « Garden of Celebrities» ( Le Jardin des Personnalités).
In this 10-hectare garden, you will discover the busts of people who have marked the story of Honfleur and also a pond, many roses and trees : a very pleasant place, relaxing and peaceful.
I advise you to go on foot from the city center, this is a nice walk (around 30 minutes on foot from the old harbour to the beach). You can also park closer on the free car-park near the Naturospace.
From the beach you will see the huge container ships entering the port of Le Havre just opposite… At night, the harbor of Le Havre offers a beautiful view full of lights prettier than the day in my opinion…
My selection of interesting places outside the city
Chapel of Notre-Dame de Grâce
Head up to the hilltop of Côte de Grâce for a breathtaking view of the Seine estuary and the Normandy bridge !
To get there : from Honfleur’s old harbor, follow the signs for « Chapelle Notre-Dame de Grâce« : 1.1 km (0.68 mile) = 5 minutes drive through very narrow (!) streets or about a 20-minute walk via Charrière de Grâce Street.
Note : The road is steep in both cases !
This place is a must-see if you are in Honfleur : situated in Equemauville on a hill ( called « le plateau de Grâce ») above Honfleur, the site offers a gorgeous panorama of the Seine estuary and the Normandy bridge that links Honfleur to the port-city of Le Havre.
- The chapel itself is worth a visit : dating back to the 17th century, it replaces another chapel founded in 1023 by Richard II, Duke of Normandy which was destroyed in a cliff collapse in 1538.
- Inside, you’ll find numerous thanksgiving plaques, paintings, and ship models offered by sailors.
- This chapel is dedicated to Notre-Dame de Grâce (Lady of Grace), protector of sailors and has been a place of pilgrimage for a long time.
- Each year, at Pentecost, children carry models of boats in procession from Place Sainte Catherine in Honfleur to the Chapel.
- Although the chapel is located in the town of Equemauville, it has belonged to the city of Honfleur since the French Revolution.
- The exterior bells are also very beautiful, another reason to stop there!
Want to have lunch in the countryside 1 minute drive from the chapel ?
Go to the traditional restaurant :
LA FERME DE LA GRANDE COUR
More info HERE.
The Normandy Bridge
This beautiful and impressive bridge spanning the Seine river between Honfleur and Le Havre was designed by the French engineer Michel Virlogeux. Its construction lasted 7 years ! It opened in 1995, when it was the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, at just over 7,000 feet.
Its structure and shape have been designed to withstand winds of more than 300 km/hr (186 mph).
Although built as a toll bridge for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists can cross for free and enjoy incredible panoramic views of the Seine estuary.
You want to rent an electric bike
to discover Honfleur and its surroundings ?
Click HERE.
Manoir d'Apreval in Pennedepie : visit a cider producer.
10 minutes by car from Honfleur by the coastal road to/from Trouville-Deauville.
A beautiful family run domain which produces pure fruitjuices, cider, pommeau and calvados. A good way to discover the Normandy terroir. You cannot be in Normandy and not visit a cider and calvados distillery…!
- In July and Agust, you can reserve :
– Every day except on Monday and Thursday : a guided tour (in French at 11am & in English at 3pm) of the domain including a tasting of their products (around 5 euros per person).
– A summer picnic basket composed of local products and a bottle of chilled cider or apple juice (around 16,50 euros per adult & 11,50 euros per child) - Outside July and August, the shop is open (see below opening days and hours) to buy all their products. So feel free to drop by!
MANOIR D’APREVAL
14600 Pennedepie
Ph : 02 31 14 88 24
Email : apreval@apreval.com
Website HERE.
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Open from Monday to Friday all year round
and at week-ends from mid-March until mid-November.
*
10am-1pm & 2pm-6pm (7pm in July-August)
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A good restaurant close to Manoir d'Apreval in Pennedepie
Le Moulin Saint Georges
A restaurant owned by a Belgian-Argentinian couple passionate about cooking. Excellent cuisine with notes of Argentina. Meat and sea food. Warm welcome.
Reservation is highly recommended !
LE MOULIN SAINT-GEORGES
Chemin de la mer
14600 Pennedepie
Ph : 02 31 81 48 48 / 06 24 19 39 00
Email : info@moulinsaintgeorges.fr
Website HERE.
*
Opening days
Monday, Thursday, Friday 7pm-9pm
Saturday : 12pm-2pm & 7pm-9pm
Sunday : 12pm-2pm
Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday
