Walt took these pictures in the little port town of Honfleur back in the 1990s. Honfleur is on the on the Seine estuary across from Le Havre. It's only an hour from Rouen by car if you take the most direct route. Or you can make a day of it by driving the smaller roads that run along the banks of the Seine to see, for example, Duclair, Jumièges, the Abbaye de Saint-Wandrille, and other picturesque places. Walt took these photos nearly 30 years ago with a film camera. They're slides that we scanned.
In the 19th century, Honfleur was an artists' paradise, as the Micheline Guide puts it. It was a favorite place for the artists who would become known as "impressionists." Centuries earlier, explorers including Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain sailed from Honfleur to explore North America and founded Québec (New France). Be warned that Honfleur attracts a lot of tourists, so it might be best to avoid going there on weekends or holidays.
In addition to the very picturesque old harbor, I have a special recollection of a church whose nave is covered by what looks like an upside down ship, very strange.
ReplyDeleteChamplain was very lucky to find a big lake to give his name to!
The Église Sainte-Catherine in Honfleur is something very rare western Europe — a church built entirely of wood, with the exception of its foundations.
DeleteWe rented a Gite in Normandy one August, not realizing that we arrived just as the great summer exodus from Paris was taking place. Still it was worth every minute.
ReplyDeleteThese photos are excellent. Honfleur is a feast for our eyes. We ate mussels and frites with friends there once upon a time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see the buildings with shingled facades - it makes me think of Cape Cod or the northeast coastal buildings in the US. Don't think I've seen that before in France.
ReplyDeleteHonfleur attracted several Australian Impressionist artists during the time - check out Australian Impressionist - Heidelberg School artists.
ReplyDelete