The Old Harbour in Honfleur

The old harbour in Honfleur is in the commune of Calvados. It is on the southern estuary of the Seine.

The photo is of the old harbour (le vieux bessin). These tall town houses were built in the 16th to 18th centuries by wealthy shipowners. Nowadays the trading ships have been replaced by yachts.

The ground floors of the majority of the houses have been converted into restaurants, bars, brasseries or tea rooms. The quayside is a very desirable location with plenty of visitors even out of the main summer season. If you can manage to secure a table, either inside or outside, it’s a great place for some people watching.

The old harbour in Honfleur was very popular with Impressionist artists. Both Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet painted here.