Le Havre is different. Unlike many of the European cities we had visited on this trip, where medieval churches and centuries-old buildings seemed to appear around every corner, much of the Le Havre we were about to see was barely 80 years old.
The city, located where the Seine River meets the English Channel, was founded in 1517 and grew into one of France’s most important ports. Much of central Le Havre, however, was destroyed by bombing during World War II. After the war, architect Auguste Perret was given the enormous task of rebuilding the city. His use of reinforced concrete, broad avenues, and carefully planned public spaces created the distinctive Le Havre of today and eventually earned the rebuilt city center recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Le Havre was our last port before heading home, and July 8th gave us a beautiful day for exploring—sunshine, blue skies, and just enough coolness in the air to make walking comfortable. After so many interesting ports on this cruise, we were curious to see what our final stop would bring.
We left the Majestic Princess and boarded a bus that carried us from the working port into the center of the city, dropping us near the Bassin du Commerce and the unmistakable white curves of Le Volcan. It was an appropriate place to begin exploring a city where water, architecture, and rebuilding are all part of the story.
The Bassin du Commerce, once part of Le Havre’s working commercial harbor, now forms a broad stretch of water through the heart of the rebuilt city.
Bassin du Commerce
There was plenty of activity on the water that morning.
Bassin du Commerce with pedestrian bridge and boats
Part of Le Havre’s 2026 summer arts festival, entitled Un Ete au Havre (A Summer in Le Havre), features the monumental white form, “Icebergs,” which suggest melting polar ice and the vulnerability of coastal cities to climate change. The installation, is temporary and runs from June 27 through September 20, 2026.
JoAnn photographing Icebergs along the Bassin du Commerce
Modern architecture near Bassin du Commerce
Across from the Bassin du Commerce is Le Volcan, “The Volcano,” an unmistakable white structure designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and completed in 1982. Its sweeping curves seem almost playful against the straight lines and orderly concrete buildings of rebuilt Le Havre.
Also by the Bassin du Commerce is the monument Victoire et Paix, “Victory and Peace.” Inaugurated in 1924, the imposing monument was originally erected to commemorate the people of Le Havre who died during World War I.
Victoire et Paix
For all the concrete and modern architecture, we were also finding plenty of green along the way.
Green space
We decided to head over to visit Saint Joseph’s Church, but more about Saint Joseph’s later.
Saint Joseph’s Church
On our way, a bike shop with an interesting sign caught my eye.
Bike shop
A coffee shop,
Coffee shop
A store selling oysters.
And then, almost by accident, we found ourselves in the local market. You know by now that I have difficulty walking past a good market without going inside, and this one—with its meats, vegetables, vendors and shoppers—was worth the detour.
Meat display
Butcher
Vegetables
Street scene in the area of the market
We gradually made our way over to Saint Joseph’s. On our way we passed near the harbor and managed to capture some photos of the area, beginning with a building with a sail boat painted on its wall.
Wall art
Harbor with Ferris Wheel in the background
Then we were at the church. Saint Joseph’s Church is Le Havre’s most recognizable landmark, its soaring concrete tower rising more than 350 feet above the rebuilt city. Designed by Auguste Perret after World War II, the church serves both as a place of worship and as a memorial to those who died during the destruction of Le Havre. From the outside it appears massive and austere, but inside thousands of pieces of colored glass transform the concrete tower with constantly changing light. It is a remarkable building and perhaps the best single example of how Le Havre turned the devastation of war into something powerful and beautiful.
We took our time inside. I’ll let you, the reader, discover the church for yourself. Let’s start at the entrance and then just stroll around inside. Enjoy!
Entrance Saint Joseph’s Church
Stylized crucifix above the entrance
Altar
Organ and stained glass windows
Interior Saint Joseph’s with green glow
Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus
Sanctuary
Sanctuary beneath the soaring lantern tower
The Virgin Mary with the Christ Child
Looking up into Saint Joseph’s lantern tower
Light reflected on church floor
Then we were on our way to lunch. Following a little research we decided on Le Bistrot Des Halles near the market. We would have preferred an outside table under the awning, but they were all occupied so we were shown to a pleasant room inside and seated beside the windows, overlooking the street. The windows were open and the place was very comfortable.
Interior, Le Bistrot Des Halles
The lunch menu was extensive. JoAnn chose liver and onions, and I chose sweetbreads.
JoAnn menu in hand, Le Bistrot Des Halles
Once lunch was over, we started to amble back toward the Bassin du Commerce, where our bus would take us back to the ship. Our stop was near the Hotel de Ville.
Park in the vicinity of the Hotel de Ville
Hotel de Ville
Even the residential streets offered interesting combinations of balconies, window boxes, rooftops and chimneys.
Residential area
Then we were comfortably seated on our shuttle bus, headed back to the Majestic Princess.
From our cabin, we were able to see the beach.
Beach as seen from our cabin
As in all ports, a pilot came on board to guide our ship back to the sea. Waiting for him, to retrieve him from our ship was a pilot boat.
Pilot boat
On our way out of the harbor, we passed this point of land on our way back to Southampton.
Sailing out of Le Havre
Le Havre was different, just as we thought when we first stepped off the bus that morning. It didn’t have the medieval streets of Ghent or Utrecht, or the old-world grandeur we had found elsewhere on this trip, but that wasn’t really the point. Le Havre had its own story—one of destruction, rebuilding, and a city continuing to live alongside the sea. As the Majestic Princess sailed toward Southampton and the sun began to set, so ended not only our day in Le Havre, but our journey through Northern Europe.
Sunset, our last night at sea