The wash-house and well itinerary
A nice way to discover the old streets of Honfleur
1- The well « Place du Puits »
8 (approximately) place du Puits, 14600 Honfleur.
Located at the corner of rue (street) du Puits and rue (street) Bucaille.
This well is listed in the inventory of Historic Monuments on December 11, 1930. A very old well is mentioned as early as 1557. The current well was built between 1807 and 1835. It was moved in 1935. Destroyed during World War II by a German truck, it was rebuilt in 1949.
2- Saint-Etienne wash-house
27 Rue de la foulerie, 14600 Honfleur.
A wash-house built in 1896 whose source is at the very bottom of the reservoir. Also called Fountain of Dogs. In the 17th century, it was called the Saint-Etienne fountain. It was repaired in 1624.
Visit the house and garden of a local artist
Take the opportunity while you are rue/street de la foulerie to visit La Forge, the « House and Garden of Imagination » created by the artist Florence Marie. A must-see of originality !
LA FORGE
25 rue de la foulerie, 14600 Honfleur.
Open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday : guided tours at 3pm and 4:30pm.
Other days by appointment (only by phone) : 02 31 89 49 39 / 06 44 03 70 33.
3- Saint-Léonard wash-house
Located next to Saint-Léonard church.
My advice along your way : stop to Jardin du Tripot to discover the old tanners’ district and have a break at the tea-room boutique » La Maison du Tripot » (32 rue de la Chaussée, Honfleur), located in an old house with a terrace overlooking the garden and the stream. A quiet and lovely place not in a too touristy street.
Saint-Léonard wash-house
In the 15th century there was already a fountain near the same place called the Fountain Saint-Jean.
Fed by the springs of the Côte Vassal, this wash-house is the oldest in the city. Its restoration dates back to 1807 when Michel LION DUMONTRY was mayor of Honfleur.
Take the opportunity to also visit there the imposing church of Saint-Léonard, whose first existence dates back to 1186.
It was then destroyed and rebuilt several times which explains the different styles in its architecture.
4- Quai Lepaulmier wash-house
This wash-house, inaugurated in 1867, sits adjacent to the Honfleur Tourist Office, replacing a former one that stood on Rue de la Ville.
Honfleur shares a twinning relationship with the German town of Wörth am Main, commemorated by a plaque donated by Wörth am Main in 2006, displayed on a wall of this wash-house. In 2016, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their friendship, Wörth am Main gifted Honfleur with a wrought iron statue crafted by Alois Straub, a blacksmith from the German city. This statue, symbolizing the bond between the two cities, stands directly in front of the wash-house.
