Honfleur Old Port (Vieux-Bassin)

Honfleur is arguably the most photogenic small town in Normandy, and the Vieux-Bassin (Old Harbour) at its heart is the scene that has drawn artists, sailors, and travellers for four centuries. The inner harbour is enclosed on three sides by tall, narrow slate-fronted houses — some six storeys high — whose reflections shimmer in the still water. Built in the 17th century under the direction of François de Pavillon, the harbour was the departure point for explorers including Samuel de Champlain, who set out from Honfleur to found Quebec in 1608. The harbour's quays are lined with restaurants and galleries; the east side (Quai Sainte-Catherine) is the most photographed, its mirrored house facades reflected below. A five-minute walk from the harbour stands the Église Sainte-Catherine, built entirely from wood by local shipwrights in the second half of the 15th century — the largest timber church in France. Its separate timber bell tower is equally distinctive. The Greniers à Sel (salt storehouses) on Rue de la Ville, dating from the 17th century, are among the finest examples of civil architecture in Normandy and host regular exhibitions. The Musée Eugène Boudin celebrates the Honfleur-born painter who taught Monet and gathered the Impressionist painters in this town. A walk up the hillside to the pilgrimage chapel of Notre-Dame de Grâce offers panoramic views over the harbour and Seine estuary. A leisurely visit to the harbour and church takes two to three hours; a half-day allows for the museum and hilltop walk.