Le Havre, which is France's biggest ocean port, 125 miles North West of Paris, has since been linked to the rest of the country by the Normandy Bridge. Le Havre has a population of 186 700 habitants in an area covering 4,684 hectares (11570 acres).Located in the Seine bay, Le Havre is located 15 miles from Honfleur (25 min.), 20 miles from Etretat (35 min.), 28 miles from Fécamp (50 min.), 47 miles from Rouen (1 hour) and 2 hours from Paris.

Le Havre is the city which sustained the most severe damage during World War II. It is also the city which was best reconstructed after the war. Mentioned in a large number of history and architecture-related books, visited by architects from all over the world, forgotten and later criticized, this architecture is now the object of renewed interest not only from schools of architecture and international institutions in charge of preserving the modern heritage, but also from the public at large. It is progressively becoming a destination for cultural tourists.

Le Havre is not only a large commerical port or an industrial centre, the city has also a beach and a yachting harbour, a beach which was awarded this year the Pavillon bleu label. Down-town, the aquatic site is very present, with the sea edge, the inland docks and the various sea traffics (vessels and container carriers, trans-Channel ferries, liners, and any yachting engines). The site is relatively protected from North-North-West winds by the cliff of the plateau and its overhang of the Pointe de la Hèvre, a paradise for windsurfers. The sea water is of good quality, thanks to the currents along the coast from the North and thanks to large recent sanitation works which have suppressed all discharge to the sea. Le Havre has a great nautical and bathing tradition. http://www.lehavretourisme.com/gbdefault.htm