Le Havre
is glowing grandeur
Welcome to Le Havre
A Unesco World Heritage Site since 2005 and a regular port of call for cruise ships, Le Havre is a love letter to modernism, evoking, more than any other French city, France’s postwar energy and optimism. All but obliterated in September 1944 by Allied bombing raids that killed 3000 civilians, the centre was completely rebuilt by the Belgian architect Auguste Perret – mentor to Le Corbusier – whose bright, airy modernist vision remains, miraculously, largely intact.
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Le Havre activities
Le Havre Shore Excursion: Private Day Tour of U.S. D-Day Sites
While your ship is in Le Havre, take this private tour of key American D-Day locations, when Allied forces landed in Normandy to retake Europe from the Germans during World War II.Meet your guide at Le Havre harbor and travel to Normandy’s coast in your comfortable private vehicle. On the way, listen as your guide recounts the story of the Allied invasion, led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The operation was set to launch on June 4, 1944, but due to poor weather conditions, the future US president postponed the mission. After a more promising forecast the next evening, Eisenhower gave the go-ahead for more than 150,000 American, French, Canadian and British troops to descend on five code-named beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Visit Pointe du Hoc, where Army Rangers stormed a German clifftop battery. Learn how they managed to scale the 100-foot (30-meter) cliff on rope ladders and capture the German post despite being heavily bombarded.Head for Omaha Beach, the most challenging beach for landings because of its strong tides and formidable cliffs. Hear accounts of the brave US soldiers who waded ashore from a landing craft only to enter a relentless crossfire from the Nazi forces. Omaha saw the highest D-Day casualties with thousands of soldiers reported dead, wounded or missing.In the afternoon, visit the poignant Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,387 Americans are buried. The vast graveyard overlooks the “Easy Red” sector of Omaha Beach, near where many of the buried soldiers were killed. Then, visit the cemetery's visitor center to remember the heroes of D-day and the Battle for Normandy. View the compelling displays charting the attack, and see the vivid videos and photos that bring the campaign to life.Continue to the well-preserved Longues-sur-Mer battery, a German stronghold situated a 200-foot (60-meter) cliff. The original big guns still stand on the clifftop, a sobering sight to see as you marvel at the courage of the British Devonshire Regiment who captured the battery on June 6.After your tour, reflect on you day as you journey back to Le Havre port where your excursion finishes.Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to Le Havre port for this activity. In the rare event that your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
Le Havre to Juno Beach Center, Abbey d'Ardenne Private Tour
While your ship is moored in Le Havre, take this private full-day tour of some key Canadian D-Day locations, when Allied forces landed on Normandy’s beaches to liberate German-held Europe in 1944.Meet your guide at Le Havre port and make the journey to Normandy's coast in your private vehicle. As you travel, your guide shares engrossing insight about D-Day, from its planning to execution on the nights of June 5 and 6, 1944, when more than 150,000 American, French, Canadian and British troops landed on five code-named Normandy beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.Travel to the fascinating Juno Beach Center museum, located behind the dunes of the beach. Walk around the exhibits and view the remnants of the landings scattered outside, including military equipment and the beach obstacles laid by the Germans to foil the invaders.See the east and west sectors of Juno Beach on either side of the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer as your guide tells you about the Canadian regiments allocated to each sector. View the D-Day relics still on the shore and consider the courage of the 14,000 soldiers who landed here, only to be assaulted by German troops as they rapid fired machine guns.After lunch (own expense) visit the Canadian Cemetery where more than 2,000 Canadian and several British and French soldiers are laid to rest, among them the 359 Canadians killed on D-Day. Note the maple symbols that decorate its entrance, and view the graves and touching epitaphs on the newer limestone headstones.Perhaps the most intense stop on your tour is a visit to the 12th-century Abbey d’Ardennes, where German forces swiftly executed 20 Canadian soldiers after D-Day. An eerie feeling takes over as you walk around the garden, which now holds a poignant memorial inscribed with the victims' names.Reflect on the day as your guide drives you back to Le Havre port where your excursion finishes.Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to Le Havre port for this activity. In the rare event that your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.Please note: Due to special events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, this tour could be amended on June 5–7, 2014. It may not be possible to access the beaches, in which case alternative sites will be included instead.
Private tour of Versailles from le Havre
The guide will pick you up at 7h 30 to drive you to Versailles. This is a 2 hours drive, while your guide will explain the historical points needed to understand the visit. Once there the entrance to the palace is often scheduled around 10 to avoid the lines. Once inside you will enjoy the state apartments followed by the gardens where the fountain show is included the days that they are on. After this walk you can enjoy a meal in the park or other restaurant of your convenience followed by a tour of the grand Trianon and the petit Trianon plus queens hamlet
Le Havre Shore Excursions: Versailles Guided Tour
On your way to Versailles you will be able to learn lots of interesting historical facts and details about the place. Once you arrive there, you will enter right away without waiting in line and your private tour will begin. The tour will start with exploring the Royal Chapel and the Grand Apartment of the King. Then, the tour will continue with a visit of the Reception and the Ball Room, Abondance Salon, Venus Salon, Mars Salon, Diana Salon, Apollo Salon, Mercury Salon. The Hall of Mirrors is another part of the Palace of Versailles that you must visit including the War Room and the apartment of the queen. The tour will not finish here. After exploring the palace, your guide will take you to the Gardens and allow you to explore the beautiful fountains and surroundings. It is now time for a lunch break according to your choice and preferences. After lunch, the tour will continue with a visit of the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon which were Marie Antoinette's properties where she lived with her friends. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your ship in Le Havre so that you can continue with your cruise.
Full-Day Small-Group Mont Saint Michel and Honfleur Tour from Le Havre
The tour departs from Le Havre. Aboard a spacious minibus, you will have access to Wifi and educational tablets to prepare your visit. Your driver guide will also be available for any questions you may have.Your guided tour starts at the Mont Saint Michel. On top of the island, admire the stunning view of the bay before visiting the medieval abbey. With your professional guide, stroll through the picturesque streets of the monastery and historic village. Spend some time browsing the shops, sampling local specialties and enjoying a traditional lunch (not included) at a local restaurant. After leaving the Mont St Michel, arrive in the port town of Honfleur in the late afternoon. Once there, you will have free time to walk around the cobblestone streets and discover the atmosphere that was a source of inspiration for famous painters like Claude Monet. See the Old Port, Place Sainte Catherine, and the Bell Tower.After your visit, your guide will take you back to Le Havre.
Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Rouen from Le Havre
Meet your guide at 8:30am and set off to Rouen in a spacious minibus (free WiFi and educational tablets available on-board). Once in Rouen, set out on a tour of the Normandy capital. See the Old Courthouse, the Cathedral (immortalized by Monet in his paintings), the Jeanne d'Arc Tower, and much more. Stroll through the antique district and see its charming wooden houses, and walk down the famous rue du Gros Horloge.After stopping for lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant, visit the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can admire works by artists such as Veronese, Caravaggio, Rubens, Poussin, Fragonard, Ingres, Monet, Sisley, Pissarro, Renoir, and Caillebotte.Afterwards, enjoy the views along the Seine River, before returning back to Le Havre.