The road to Honfleur took us first over the Pont de Normandy or Normandy Bridge. Completed in 1995, it spans 2km across the Seine and is the second-largest cable-stay bridge in the world. We stopped and took photos from the viewpoint …
… but the best views were as we drove over!
I have often seen pictures of Honfleur and thought it would be a lovely place to visit and finally we are here. The fishing boats may have been largely replaced with yachts, but the C17th Vieux Basin or old dock is still like a painting.
Narrow, tall, timber-framed buildings with slate roofs surround the harbour and a warren of narrow, cobbled streets wind their way into the centre of the town.
We are staying at the charming The Hotel du Dauphin in the heart of old Honfleur …
… and while the walls may date back to the C12th century, it is a stylish boutique hotel within!
Honfleur’s most famous landmark is the wooden Église Sainte Catherine, which is France’s largest wooden church. Built by a local shipbuilder and intended to be a temporary structure to replace the previous church destroyed in the Hundred Years’ War, it has a ceiling resembling two upside-down ships’ hulls.
It is surprising as the church building looks more like a market hall than a church, especially as the bell tower is completely separate.
We pottered around taking photos and taking a look in the chic French shops before sitting in the sunshine trying out the local cider …
… then visited a creperie for dinner … delicious!
In the morning, we took a walk along the dyke to the beach …
… and also caught a glimpse of the bridge.
Returning through a garden with definite Monet influences …
…. reminded us where we were heading next! …
Off Travelling Together 