About
Le Havre is a port city on the English Channel in Normandy, in northwestern France. It is one of the country's major harbours, and its working waterfront and industrial character are part of what shapes a visit. The city is also known under the variant spelling Lé Hâvre.
A city rebuilt in concrete and light
Much of Le Havre was destroyed during the Second World War, and it was rebuilt afterwards in a modernist style under the direction of the architect Auguste Perret. That reconstruction is the reason the city is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walking through the central districts, visitors see a planned urban layout of regular streets, open squares and buildings in reinforced concrete, a very different experience from the older towns of the region.
What a visit offers
- Architecture: the postwar reconstruction is the main draw for anyone interested in twentieth-century urban design.
- The port: as a major port and industrial centre, Le Havre has a strong maritime presence, and the harbour area gives a sense of how the city works.
- The coast: its position on the English Channel gives it a seaside setting, with the sea never far from the town.
- Normandy beyond the city: the surrounding region is an easy base for exploring the wider Normandy countryside and coast.
Planning your trip
Le Havre suits visitors who enjoy architecture, port cities and a less conventional kind of French town. Those looking for a traditional medieval centre may find it a contrast with what they expected, but for many it is precisely the appeal. Allow time to walk the rebuilt centre slowly, and to take in the waterfront.