| Le Havre, the gateway to Paris
Le Havre, the premier French cruise port of the European West Coast holds major assets to develop cruise tourism.
1st French port for external trade & containers traffic, 5th European port, Le Havre enjoys a privileged geographical and nautical situation. Gateway between the Northern Seas and the Atlantic Ocean, the port of Le Havre is accessible 24 hours a day.
Le Havre, cruise destination
Le Havre de Grâce was established in 1517 by Francis I, King of France.
In September 1944, 80% of the city centre was destroyed and the port was completely devastated.
It has taken twenty years for Le Havre to find a new lease of life. In July 2005, UNESCO added the city centre, rebuilt by Auguste Perret, to its World Heritage List. Le Havre city centre is the first 20th century urban settlement in Europe to be added to the World Heritage List.
Le Havre, World Heritage, birthplace of impressionism: more than a city, a site, to be discovered!
The modern city of Le Havre, is also a city of Art and History with an outstanding heritage: the Malraux Museum (first impressionist collection in France after Orsay Museum in Paris), the Historic showflat, the shipowner’s mansion, the Hanging gardens….
The old docks harbour site is coming to life again with a huge project. The restored area which will connect the port to the city is rising step by step. The aquatic complex designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel has been delivered in 2008. The shopping mall “Les Docks” has open mid-October 2009. The Ocean and sustainable development centre from Jean Nouvel (expected by 2012) is also part of the project: it will be composed of a 120m high metallic structure dominating Le Havre with panoramic restaurant allowing visitors a 360° view over Le Havre and the bay of the Seine river.
Le Havre, in the heart of Normandy
Normandy offers you its own special version of France, with its local dishes, verdant landscapes, historical towns, and friendly people. With its 350 miles of coastline and richly varied regions, Normandy gives the visitor a wonderful choice of landscapes, sceneries and culture: the stunning beauty of the cliffs at Etretat or the long sandy beaches, steeped in history, from Caen to Arromanches, the Seine Valley winding between wooded hills and chalk escarpments, and the patchwork of fields and hedges of the Calvados region with its orchards and timber-framed cottages. Le Havre is the right stopover to discover Normandy.
Le Havre, the gateway to Paris
The city of love and fashion is one of Europe’s largest capitals. Churches, squares, markets and museums, including the Louvre, the world’s largest museum with the famous ‘Mona Lisa’ portrait. And finish the day on the Eiffel Tower! Paris is the most popular excursion for cruise passengers calling at Le Havre.
Le Havre registered the trade mark Le Havre, the gateway to Paris in order to reinforce its position as the port to the French Capital.
Cruise Development
Le Havre Tourist Office, has been developing and promoting cruise activity for 17 years. Within this period, the number of cruise passengers calling at Le Havre have increased fivefold reaching 86,000 in 2009 (50 calls).
The port of Le Havre has the capacity to host the biggest cruises ships in service in the world, round the clock. No doubt this, added to the exceptional geographical position of Le Havre, will attract more and more cruise lines.
In 2010 68 calls are scheduled aiming 115 000 passengers, with several maiden calls including : AIDAblu, Celebrity Eclipse, Costa Deliziosa, and not less than 21 calls from Aida Cruises, 12 calls from Princess Cruises and 4 calls from Cunard Line. The season started as soon as February and will end in December.
With the recent implementation of turnaround facilities in 2010 the cruise welcome centre which opened in 2007 has become a CRUISE TERMINAL.
The new train service between Le Havre and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport enables direct transfers to / from the French capital.
Le Havre aims to meet the cruise lines’ expectations to draw the French clientele on the cruise market. Cruise Lines have already shown their interest: Costa Crociere will operate turnarounds from Le Havre with Costa Magica in 2011 and Costa Deliziosa in 2012. |
