Situated 200 km NE of Paris on the right bank of the Seine River Estuary, facing the English Channel, Le Havre is Frances second-largest seaport. Built in 1517 by Francois I of France in response to the silting up of the nearby port of Harfleur, Le Havre was essentially a military port with fishing and trade activity but was transformed in the 17th century into a naval base. A stronghold during WWII, the city was occupied by the Germans from 1940-1944 and was almost completely destroyed by Allied bombings. Both the city and the port were rebuilt after the war and the recent addition of the Pont de Normandie, one of the worlds longest suspension bridges, links Le Havre with the port city of Honfleur.
Tourist Office186 bld ClemenceauBP 64976059 Le HavrePhone: 33 2 32 74 04 04Fax: 33 2 35 42 38 39
