Rouen to Honfleur and Le Havre: Private day trip

Stroll through Honfleur's enchanting Vieux Bassin (old harbor), lined with tall, narrow houses painted in vibrant colors that have inspired artists for centuries including Eugène Boudin, Monet, and countless Impressionists who captured the constantly changing light on these picturesque facades. Visit Sainte-Catherine Church, France's largest wooden church built by shipbuilders after the Hundred Years' War using naval construction techniques, with its remarkable timber framework and separate bell tower across the square that creates a unique architectural ensemble. Explore the narrow cobblestone streets filled with art galleries showcasing contemporary and historical works, including the Eugène Boudin Museum with its collection of pre-Impressionist seascapes that influenced the entire movement. Walk along the active harbor to watch fishing boats unload their daily catch and pleasure craft navigate the narrow channel, then climb to the Côte de Grace chapel for panoramic views over the Seine estuary where France's greatest river meets the English Channel. Sample authentic Norman specialties like Calvados apple brandy aged in oak barrels, traditional hard cider, and incredibly fresh seafood including oysters, mussels, and sole at waterfront restaurants while soaking in the maritime atmosphere that has remained virtually unchanged for centuries and continues to attract artists from around the world.

Discover Le Havre's remarkable post-war architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site designed by Auguste Perret after Allied bombing destroyed 80% of the historic city center during World War II. Start at the striking St Joseph Church with its 107-meter concrete tower serving as a lighthouse visible from far out at sea and stunning interior light effects created by 12,768 pieces of colored glass that transform throughout the day creating an ever-changing kaleidoscope of color. Visit the MuMa (Museum of Modern Art André Malraux) housing one of France's finest Impressionist collections with works by Monet, Renoir, Boudin, and Dufy who were all inspired by this unique coastal light and constant harbor activity. Walk through the revolutionary city center to appreciate Perret's pioneering use of reinforced concrete and innovative urban planning that created a model for post-war reconstruction across Europe, featuring wide boulevards, geometric buildings, and integration of green spaces. Explore the bustling commercial port, France's second-largest after Marseille, handling containers from around the world, and climb to the Jardins Suspendus (Hanging Gardens) in former coastal fortifications for spectacular panoramic views over the harbor, English Channel, and the elegant Normandy Bridge spanning the Seine estuary in a graceful 856-meter arc connecting Upper and Lower Normandy.