Daytrip to Honfleur- Why It Is Worth The Trip

ByAmanda Luhn Updated on

Normandy is one of my favorite places to visit in France. You could spend weeks trying to see all the “must do spots”- WW2 beaches, medieval history, foodie places, etc. And I have spent the weeks trying to see it all. Fun fact- some of these places were entirely skippable in my book.

Honfleur was on my list because it was an Impressionist favorite. I wanted to see the harbour and cobblestoned streets that were so beautiful they inspired Monet to paint it multiple times. And he was just one of the Impressionist painters that painted here.

I wasn’t sure if the town would live up to its billing as one of the prettiest in France or it would be spoiled by tourist hordes but the good news is that, while touristy, you can still appreciate its charm. And its distinctive wooden church is remarkable- definitely worth the visit for that alone in my book.

We added a stop in Honfleur while on our way from Caen to Charles de Gaulle Airport and it was a wonderful way to spend a few hours. It was enough time to walk around the older part of town, enjoy a meal by the harbour and see the main sites.

While spending the night in Honfleur would probably be a great way to enjoy the town after the day trippers like me go home and see the harbor lit up at night, if you only have a day or even half a day like us, I would still make the trip.

Colorful historic buildings and cafes line a waterfront marina with several docked boats reflecting in the calm water under a cloudy sky.
The harbour in Honfleur was beautiful even on an overcast day.

What To See In Honfleur

While the tourism bureau has a pretty long list, for me the best things were the Vieux Bassin or “Old Harbor,” Eglise Sainte Catherine- the magnificent wooden church, and exploring the quaint cobblestoned streets with their half-timbered houses and shops selling Normandy specialties.

Vieux Bassin/ “Old Harbor”

The main draw is the harbor with its fishing boats and cafes lining the sides. The building surrounding the harbor are distinctively tall and narrow with slate roofs. They aren’t as colorful as I would have thought for a place that inspired so many artists but if sit for a coffee or a lunch break, you will start to notice the reflections on the clam waters of secure harbour. And the light at sunrise or sunset is supposed to hit the buildings differently. I will have to come back to witness that one day.

At the entrance to the harbour is a distinctive stone building which is marked as La Lieutenancy on Google Maps. This is the oldest building in Honfleur, a remnant of its original fortifications and once the residence of its royal lieutenant in charge of the city, hence the name. The building guarded the Caen Gate to the city which you can still walk through.

As an American, I was interested in the plaque on the side of building that is a memorial to Samuel Champlain who set sail multiple times from Honfleur on his way to explore Canada and Acadia in the US. He gave Lake Champlain its name in Vermont as well as founded Quebec.

  • A harbor with sailboats docked along calm water, bordered by colorful old buildings with many windows. The sky is overcast, and the foreground features a cobblestone walkway and a decorative metal post.
    Vieux Bassin of Honfleur
  • A stone building with an exterior wooden staircase stands by a waterfront, with boats in the harbor and people walking on a cobblestone square under a cloudy sky.
    La Lieutenancy
  • A historic stone building with arched entry, located by a cobblestone street and waterfront. A large blue Kuehne+Nagel truck is parked nearby. The sky is overcast, and a few people walk around.
    The Caen Gate is part of La Lieutenancy
  • People walk along a cobblestone street next to an old stone archway and historic buildings with colorful facades under an overcast sky.
    A small bust of Champlain and a plaque detailing his voyages sits next to the Caen Gate

Eglise Ste Catherine

The tallest wooden church in France, I found this church to be one of my favorites. Maybe its because among all the gothic, this church stands out. Built by the local population who wanted a church of their own and couldn’t afford fancy architects or massive stone structures, they built what they knew- which was fishing and ships. The church is constructed like an upside down ship’s hull and I find it fascinating.

And to add to the unusualness of it all, the bell tower is separate from the rest of the church. It is located just across the square from the main part of the church. It was a practical decision from a practical people as bell towers were the most likely to be struck by lightning and therefore burn down.

It is free to visit the church and you can also go up the bell tower in July and August from 10am-12pm and 2pm-6pm.

  • A cobblestone street with half-timbered buildings, a pointed clock tower, and colorful flags hanging above a crowd in a town square under a cloudy sky.
    Approaching the Eglise Ste Catherine with the Bell Tower on the left and the main part of the church on the right
  • A historic timber-framed clock tower and adjacent buildings with a souvenir stand in front; people walk and browse on a cobblestone street decorated with colorful flags under a cloudy sky.
    The Bell Tower of Ste Catherine
  • A historic timber-framed church with a steeply pitched roof, wooden beams, and flags hanging above the entrance, stands on a cobblestone street under a cloudy sky.
    The exterior of Eglise Ste Catherine.
  • Wide-angle view of a large, wooden church interior with high arched ceilings, stained glass windows, empty wooden pews, and banners hanging from the beams. Paintings and flags decorate the upper walls.
    Inside the double-hulled church. You can really see the upside-down boat design.

Other Things To Do In France

Normandy

Visiting Normandy And World War II Battlefields With Kids

Paris

Paris With Kids– A Kid-Proof, Day-by-Day Family Itinerary

Berges de Seine – A Must Do Walk in Paris

10 Things To Do In Paris With Kids That Even Parents Will Love

Where To Stay In Paris With Family

Your Kids Will Love These Playgrounds In Paris

Europe Travel Hack: Fly To London To Reach France, Belgium, And The Netherlands For Less

Amanda co-founded Simply Awesome Trips with her best friend because they were always sharing their written itineraries with each other. A devout researcher who enjoys finding quirky facts about a place as well as a fantastic bike trail, Amanda loves to share what she's found with others and will talk your ear off about her favorite places.

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