10 Best Things to Do in Le Havre
What is Le Havre Most Famous For?
The best things to do in the port city of Le Havre run the gamut from summer sunbathing to avant-garde theatre. Northwest of Paris, on the Normandy coast, the city’s role as a major French port has been decisive in its history: it was nearly levelled in Second World War bombings and was subsequently rebuilt from the ground up.
The city’s redesign was innovative and ultra-modern, featuring surprising structures like a concrete cathedral. Now, it’s a seaside city with a modernist twist. Home to a modern art museum, a performing arts venue and an award-winning botanical garden, the city offers both cultural exploration and relaxation.
What are the best things to do in Le Havre?
1. Rebuilt town centre of Le Havre
The city that rose from the ashes
Ideal para: História, Foto, Econômico
After the devastation of the Second World War, Le Havre’s city centre needed to be swiftly rebuilt. The monumental task was given to architect Auguste Perret who redesigned the city from the ground up in a bold, modernist style. There is an impressive uniformity in the design, with its measurements all multiples of 6.14. Perret’s striking Église Saint-Joseph is a cathedral unlike any other.
Long criticised for its concrete cityscape, in recent years Le Havre has gained UNESCO recognition for exceptional urban planning and innovative use of reinforced concrete. Consider an architectural tour to guide you from the new city hall down wide Avenue Foch, pointing out significant landmarks and giving insight into the city’s dramatic transformation.
Rebuilt town centre of Le Havre
2. La Plage du Havre
A pebble beach with a lively promenade
Ideal para: Famílias, Casais, Econômico
La Plage du Havre is 2 km of shoreline a short distance from the city centre. Despite its proximity to the city and the port, the beach is Blue Flag certified for its high standards of water quality and environmental management. A landscaped promenade runs parallel to the largely pebble-covered beach, with a sandy section at one end for swimmers and sunbathers.
There’s a lively scene in the summer months when beachgoers play volleyball, windsurf and socialise at the beach bars late into the evening. This city beach has plenty of amenities, with showers, playgrounds for children and beach clubs renting sun loungers and umbrellas. You’ll find snacks and drinks in the nearby cafes and restaurants.
Localização: 13-16 Bd Albert 1er, 76600 Le Havre, France
La Plage du Havre
3. Église Saint-Joseph
A mesmerising concrete cathedral
Ideal para: Foto, Econômico
L’Église Saint-Joseph, located in Le Havre’s UNESCO-recognised city centre, is a masterpiece of Brutalist architecture. The cathedral is built on the site of its predecessor, destroyed in the war, and stands as a memorial to the bombing victims and a symbol of the city’s rebirth.
The sombre concrete silhouette gives way to a serene interior flooded with coloured light filtered through thousands of stained-glass panes. The most stunning feature is the 107-metre steeple, which soars high above the rest of the city. Viewed from the inside, the octagonal tower glows red and blue and tapers as it rises, giving the effect of a tunnel boring deep into the sky.
Localização: 130 Bd François 1er, 76600 Le Havre, France
Abre: Daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Telefone: +33 (0)2 35 46 34 57
Église Saint-Joseph
4. Les Jardins Suspendus
A stunning variety of plants in hilltop greenhouses
Ideal para: Casais, Econômico
Staged in the ruins of a 19th-century hilltop fortress, Les Jardins Suspendus are a cluster of greenhouses and gardens overlooking Le Havre and the Bay of the Seine. There are more than 3,700 plant species throughout the gardens’ 17 hectares, an impressive collection characterised as ‘the whole world in a garden’.
Themed gardens display specimens from the Southern Hemisphere, East Asia and North America, including rare and endangered species under conservation. Wander through the trellises of the Rose Garden or surround yourself with delicate scents in the greenhouse collection of aromatic plants. Go for a meditative stroll in the idyllic setting and enjoy panoramic views of the city and the sea.
Localização: 65 Rue du Fort, 29 Rue Albert Copieux, 76620 Le Havre, France
Abre: Daily from 9 am to 8 pm
Telefone: +33 (0)2 32 74 04 33
Les Jardins Suspendus
5. Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux
Lesser-known Impressionist works in bright seaside galleries
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Grupos
The Musée d’Art Moderne in Le Havre is best known for its extensive collection of Impressionist paintings. The hazy, pastel scenes of the beloved art movement are displayed in light-filled galleries spanning 3 floors, with windows looking out toward the sea. Although this is a modern art museum, its collection includes pieces from the last 5 centuries.
A highlight of the collection is its works by Eugene Boudin, an Impressionist painter who lived and worked in the region. Seascapes and beaches were his most-studied landscapes, and his paintings of cows lazing in cloudy pastures often capture visitor hearts. The museum also showcases early works by Monet, plus a few works from Pissarro, Gaugin and Matisse.
Localização: 2 Bd Clemenceau, 76600 Le Havre, France
Abre: Tuesday–Friday from 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)
Telefone: +33 (0)2 35 19 62 62
Musée d'Art Moderne André Malraux
6. Funiculaire du Havre
A historic railway
Ideal para: Viagens alternativas, História, Foto
Inaugurated in 1890, the Funiculaire du Havre is one of the oldest funicular railways in France. It carries visitors between Rue Gustave Flaubert in the lower city to the upper residential area of Sainte-Adresse, which offers views over the city and the English Channel.
Initially powered by steam coaches, the electric cars in use today were installed in 1911 and have undergone renovations following the 1944 bombings and most recently in 2021. The charming railway carries about 400,000 people each year up the steep hill, offering a unique perspective of the city along the way. So, whenever you feel the need to rest your feet, hop on the fun funicular.
Localização: 55B Rue Gustave Flaubert, 76600 Le Havre, France
Abre: Hours vary by season
Telefone: +33 (0)2 35 22 35 00
Funiculaire du Havre
7. Forêt de Montgeon
Fresh air in Le Havre’s urban forest
Ideal para: Econômico, Famílias, Casais
The Forêt de Montgeon is Le Havre’s green lung and a serene retreat from the urban centre. The park covers 270 hectares of forest in the northern part of the city, just 30 minutes by public transport or 15 minutes by car from the centre.
Walking trails crisscross the park passing through oak and pine forests, past little ponds and over wide, grassy lawns. The Forêt de Montgeon is well-maintained and furnished with a children’s play area, making it a great spot for family outings.
Localização: Av. Jacques Anquetil, 76610 Le Havre, France
Abre: Daily from 5.30 am to 10 pm
Forêt de Montgeon
8. Appartement Témoin Perret
A mid-century modern apartment
Ideal para: História, Viagens alternativas
The Appartement Témoin Perret provides a glimpse into the vision for urban living in Le Havre’s post-war reconstruction period. The meticulously restored apartment is found in a typical building in the city centre, designed by Auguste Perret, the architect tasked with reimagining the levelled city. His values of functionality and simplicity are clearly represented in the space, which is furnished in the mid-century modern style that remains so popular today.
The apartment is a delight for the eyes, simply and elegantly furnished with plenty of decorative touches with that 1950s flair. The only way to visit is via a French-language guided tour, so dust off your old dictionary or be content with just the visuals.
Localização: 181 Rue de Paris, 76600 Le Havre, France
Telefone: +33 (0)2 35 22 31 22
Appartement Témoin Perret
9. Le Volcan
The city’s ultra-modern performance venue
Ideal para: Vida noturna, Grupos, Casais
It’s hard to miss Le Volcan, Le Havre’s major cultural hub, when passing through the new city centre. The iconic building follows the city’s concrete theme but departs from its boxy angles with a curving, organic shape resembling a volcanic cone.
Inside, an 800-seat auditorium stages music, theatre and dance performances tending toward the avant-garde. Past performances have included a post-modern ballet, a playful theatre piece for young audiences and an inventive staging of the Odyssey. Opera occasionally visits the venue, and its outdoor square doubles as a stage for acrobatic performances.
Localização: 8 place Oscar Niemeyer, 76600 Le Havre, France
Telefone: +33 (0)2 35 19 10 20
Le Volcan
10. Pasino du Havre
Indoor entertainment for a rainy day
Ideal para: Casais, Vida noturna
Pasino du Havre is a 4-star hotel and casino in central Le Havre. Just opposite the commercial district, the hotel is housed in a building that was formerly a trading centre, with a tall glass-and-concrete facade facing a quiet canal.
The hotel also houses the Restaurant Le Trèfle, a neon-lit bar serving classic cocktails and a spa furnished with a sauna and heated swimming pool. The Pasino casino is outfitted with lots of slots and 7 game tables, so bring your lucky charms and try out your poker face.
Pasino du Havre
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