Le Havre, France

Le Havre, France

Date: 2012-05-07

The city is a world heritage site. UNESCO's description:
The city of Le Havre, on the English Channel in Normandy, was severely bombed during the Second World War. The destroyed area was rebuilt according to the plan of a team headed by Auguste Perret, from 1945 to 1964. The site forms the administrative, commercial and cultural centre of Le Havre. Le Havre is exceptional among many reconstructed cities for its unity and integrity. It combines a reflection of the earlier pattern of the town and its extant historic structures with the new ideas of town planning and construction technology. It is an outstanding post-war example of urban planning and architecture based on the unity of methodology and the use of prefabrication, the systematic utilization of a modular grid, and the innovative exploitation of the potential of concrete.

For cruise ship, this is the gate to Paris. The distance is about 3 hours one way by bus. There are about 3000 passengers and 2000 selected the excursion to Paris. It explains why this port is popular.

There is pay shuttle bus from port to city center. The city hall is very beautiful. Photos have one high rise modern building church and one classic Notre-Dame Church. The day I visited was the day after French presidential election. It is a public holiday, the city is kind quiet with limited stores open.