Honfleur, France

St. Catherine’s Church

The Church of St. Catherine is the oldest wooden building in France, dating back to the 15th century. The peculiarity of this church is the unusual shape of its roof, resembling an upturned ship. And that’s because the temple was built by shipbuilders, who were then called “masters of the axe” and who did not use nails at all. Strangely enough, the church bell tower is located some distance from the church itself. This is how medieval builders ensured fire safety, since in those days lightning often struck high wooden structures-because the other houses in any settlement were one-story. Today, part of the exhibition of the Eugène Boudin Museum is located here.

St Leonard’s Church

From the outside, the Church of Saint Leonard looks like an overturned ship-simply because the original 12th-century church, destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War and the religious wars of the 16th century, was rebuilt by local shipwright craftsmen. They gave the building the shape familiar to their eyes. Of course, the architecture of the Church of Saint Leonard mixes many different styles, from Gothic to elements of classicism. The 18th-century octagonal bell tower and the ceilings painted with frescoes inside the church are especially impressive.

Salt warehouses

The salt storehouses of Honfleur were built in the 17th century from stones taken from a demolished fortress wall and resembled an impregnable citadel. Back then, this was justified: salt was worth its weight in gold and was subject to a special royal tax-the gabelle. Townspeople could buy this product only at a special warehouse. In addition, the local fishermen stored their catch in the salt storehouses. The view of the warehouse from the inside, like many other medieval buildings in Honfleur, resembled inverted ships with transverse wooden beams and a semicircular roof. This was because shipbuilders considered only such shapes to be the most reliable. Today, two medieval salt warehouses have been preserved in Honfleur.

Monument to Mu-Mu

The Mu-Mu Monument in Honfleur is one of the most modest memorial monuments in the city. It is dedicated to Mu-Mu the puppy-a famous character from I. S. Turgenev’s story. The monument itself is made of bronze. It was installed at the request of Yuri Grymov, who was the director of the film of the same name. This spot was chosen by no means at random. Turgenev visited Honfleur, where he repeatedly met with his friends. According to some assumptions, it became known that driven to despair by depression, the writer Maupassant tried to commit suicide right here. That is why the monument’s second name is “A Monument to Loneliness and Love.” It is surrounded by magnificent greenery and looks wonderful, attracting a huge number of visitors.

Honfleur Seafront Promenade

The favorite place for walks for local residents and tourists is the wonderful promenade of the city of Honfleur, named after Saint Catherine, where you can see the sea gates and the old harbor. Its waters reflect the light from the windows of ancient houses. Artists are always to be found along the promenade. From here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Church of Saint Catherine-one of the city’s main attractions. Tourists consider it their duty to take away from Honfleur a photo of the promenade, which was once depicted in their paintings by the first Impressionist artists. Eugène Boudin, Claude Monet, and many other painters worked here.

Eugène Boudin Museum

The French hold the work of their predecessor of Impressionism, Eugène Boudin, in high regard. Not only did he lay the foundations of a new artistic direction, but he also helped his student, Claude Monet, unfold his talent. In Honfleur, where Boudin was born, there is a museum bearing his name. In the galleries, visitors can see works not only by the celebrated master, but also by his followers, including paintings by Claude Monet himself, as well as works by Raoul Dufy, Othon Friesz, and many others. In addition, the gallery features a small section dedicated to the history of Norman costume, where, in particular, an interesting collection of antique buttons and headwear from a wide variety of eras is on display.

The House-Museum of Erik Satie

Musician, composer, artist and an extravagant personality - Erik Satie was born in Honfleur in 1866 in a small half-timbered house, which today hosts a museum dedicated to his name. In terms of its style and unusual character, this museum could well rival the Dalí museums. Each visitor receives a player with headphones at the entrance and throughout the tour listens to simple, minimalist music by Satie. It helps visitors better understand the images that formed in the musician’s head, as well as the peculiar names of his compositions. For example, “Three Pieces in the Shape of Pears” or “Dried Embryos.” In the rooms of the house museum, there are installations devoted to this distinctive music by Satie - a gigantic pear with wings, a spotless empty room, with a white piano located in the center.

Guided Tour of Honfleur

Honfleur is a small coastal town that inspired many 19th-century artists: Boudin, Monet, Courbet... During the excursion, you’ll stroll along the shoreline, see picturesque streets and old houses, and learn the history of this place, in particular the journey of Samuel de Champlain, who, having reached the shores of modern-day Canada, founded the city of Quebec. You’ll admire the astonishing Church of Sainte-Catherine - the largest wooden church in France. Honfleur is a beautiful harbor. The walk will stay with you for its bright light, calm weather, and abundance of flowers. If you wish, you can try local drinks - cider, pommeau, and calvados - and also buy them after the tasting at one of the city’s wine cellars.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can view it after booking your cruise in your “Customer Personal Area”.