A short walk from our hotel was Eglise Saint Leonard and War Memorial 1870--a bronze statue of a woman holding a sword in her right hand. Her left hand rests on the bow of a ship with the coat of arms of Honfleur.
Very modern glass building housing the library (on the right) and the TI (on the left). You can rent an audio tour of Honfleur for €5 at the TI. They also have adorable souvenirs.
We saw carousels all over France. This one was located at Vieux Bassin (Old Port) in Honfleur.
The town smells good because of the cocoa mulch used in flower beds.
Eglise Saint-Etienne--Honfleur's oldest church--is located in the Vieux Bassin. It dates from the 14th-15th century.
The Old Port is lined with colorful houses which were originally built for the town's fishermen. The houses are narrow and have no elevators. Imagine trying to move your furniture into the upper floor of one of these houses.
Many consider Honfleur the birthplace of Impressionism. Monet and Boudin set up their easels along the waterfront to capture the images.
I love the cobblestone streets in town.
The streets are even more atmospheric at night.
Eglise Ste. Catherine. This church replaced an earlier stone one. During WW II, a bomb fell through the roof but didn't explode, keeping the wood church intact.
The roof looks like the hull of a ship--not surprising since the community who built it was full of sailors and fishermen.
Some oak columns are supported by stone bases to make them equal in height.
The bell tower for the church is in a separate building to avoid putting too much stress on the church's roof. Rick Steves didn't think it was worth the €2 to go inside so we didn't
On a small hill--the Cote de Grace, you'll find the Chapel of Notre Dame de Grace. It was built in the early 1600s.
Inside, you'll find model boats hanging from the ceiling.
Just a little further down the hill, you can get a good view of the Pont de Normandie or Normandy Bridge.
2017 05 23
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