8 Essentials: what to see and do in Le Havre (France) in 1 day

Le Havre It is one of those cities where until you truly understand its history, you are not able to appreciate the value it has.

To such an extent that what happened here has led to Le Havre to be declared Heritage awarded by the Unesco as an example for everyone.

The influence of the Second World War in Normandy It is enormous, and the consequences are more than palpable throughout the region.

The bombers were continuous, to such an extent that 80 percent of the city ​​of Le Havre It ended up completely destroyed.

Why is Le Havre a World Heritage Site?

Once the war ended, a plan for the comprehensive reconstruction of the city, which led to almost all the buildings that were near the sea being demolished.

For this reason, when you can see the city from above today, you can clearly see that most of the buildings date back to the war and maintain a constructive unity.

And precisely for that reconstruction of Le Havre It has recognition among cities Heritage awarded by the Unesco.

It was so devastated that the city center had to be rebuilt to house 45.000 people, and much of the value lies in what was done in record time, because it only took a little over 15 years.

Architect behind the Le Havre reconstruction project

El Le Havre reconstruction project It was commissioned by one of the most famous architects in France at the time, who lived in Paris.

His name was August Perret, who has become authentic symbol of the city Le Havre and ended up leaving a very palpable mark on the city.

Furthermore, it must be taken into account that for reconstruction there was no free bar of money or resources.

There was limited money and limited time, because it was necessary to relocate the largest number of people possible in the shortest possible time, and this greatly conditioned the type of architecture of the city.

Functionalist architecture in Le Havre

When rebuilding Le Havre, what prevailed is that the buildings were functional and for this concrete structures were used.

But the real key to the success of this project functionalist architecture It was the harmony between the dimensions, because August Perret He found a perfect balance between the construction material and the proportions of the building.

Using concrete beams, he saw he could achieve very large open spaces, avoiding the need to put more pillars that would limit the construction, and he also realized that if he increased the size of the beam, in the same proportion he could expand the distance between them. .

This is summarized in that it was capable of constructing large buildings with a very simple, cheap and fast structure.

And that was precisely what was necessary, since the time of the reconstruction of Le Havre It was vital for the thousands of people affected by the bombings.

But let's not think that this was synonymous with low quality, they were simply cheaper materials than those that were common at that historical moment; What there was neither waste nor luxuries.

In this functional architecture, what matters is that it is well thought out for the use to which it is going to be given.

Functional and modern buildings in Le Havre

Seen from today's point of view it is different. but when it was built at the time they were really modern buildings.

This can be seen, for example, in the portals of houses, in which the walls are also made of concrete, which is aesthetically less beautiful than tiles or tiles.

But if you advance a little, you reach some stairs that are designed to be climbed very easily, due to the way they are built and the distance between steps.

And you have more things like these inside, such as, for example, the accesses and connections between rooms.

Something as common today as the user experience was already present at that time, and this is one reason why the reconstruction of the city of Le Havre has been declared Heritage.

Low cost and speed of construction, without leaving aside quality where it is important.

Perret He also had a team of architects who, following his guidelines, had the ability to personalize the part of the city that they were responsible for rebuilding, so that during your visit you will be able to see that all the buildings in the city are very similar, but with different peculiarities or characteristics. .

What to see and do when visiting Le Havre

Tu visit of Le Havre It will be focused on places related to this reconstruction, but we are also going to highlight others places you should know.

House museum of functionalist architecture in Le Havre

In addition to touring the city center seeing the exterior of the buildings rebuilt after the Second World War, probably the most interesting visit is to enter a real house, to take a trip back in time and see with your own eyes what the inhabitants of Le Havre upon entering their new homes.

To make a visit like this, it is necessary to sign up for a tour, since otherwise it is impossible to access them.

The good thing about it is that during the visit to the house-museum they explain all the details of the reconstruction that took place in the city.

St Joseph's Church in Le Havre

And just in case Perret He thought that he had not left enough mark on the city's buildings, he wanted to give it another twist with the construction of the St Joseph's Church.

In your tour of Le Havre It will be very easy for you to recognize it because it has something unusual such as a 100 meter high tower; Let's not forget that it is built of concrete, a very heavy material.

And also the shape of its interior is unusual, very far from the classic floor plans of traditional churches; It is like a central stage completely surrounded by seats.

MUMA Museum of Modern Art in Le Havre

In the Le Havre coastal area, specifically, next to the beach, you can visit the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art, which shows a very interesting collection of impressionist art so characteristic of Normandy.

Authentic works of art, paradise for painting lovers, where you can see paintings, among others, by Eric Boidon, the one who was a teacher of Many.

Beaches and promenade of Le Havre

Le Havre has a wonderful beach and boardwalk, which has made this city a very common place for seasonal tourism.

Its proximity to Paris has facilitated the presence of second homes for the wealthy citizens of the French capital, so on a tour of this area you will be able to see truly striking buildings, from traditional Norman architecture to the most modern architecture.

And if that were not enough, here begin the kilometers of Cliffs so spectacular that they reach Etretat y Fecamp.

Oscar Niemeyer's volcano in Le Havre

Among so many functionalist constructions with octagonal lines, in the heart of the city is the greatest architectural madness of Le Havre, a volcano.

It is a hyperbolic building of Oscar Niemeyer, the same Brazilian architect who built the city of Brasilia in Brazil, which contrasts with the rest of the city with its free and fluid lines.

It was built between 1978 and 1982 with a curious volcano shape, it is integrated into an architectural complex with cultural facilities, and inside it houses a hall with 1.200 seats.

Le Havre Town Hall

Finally, another emblematic place in the city is the Le Havre Town Hall.

Don't expect a classic or historic building, where town halls are usually installed, it is also a building of the functional architecture that characterizes the city.

It has a huge tower, inside which you can perfectly see the dimensions of the concrete columns that allowed these enormous open spaces to be created.