Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Those skinny houses on the right side were designed at a time when buildings were
taxed based on their width, not height (and when knee replacements were unheard of).
How about a room on the top floor, with no elevator? Imagine moving a piano into one of
these units today. The spire halfway up the left side of the port belongs to Honfleur's old-
est church and is now home to the Marine Museum. The port, once crammed with fishing
boats, now harbors sleek sailboats. Walk toward the La Lieutenance gatehouse. In front of
the barrel-vaulted arch (once the entry to the town), you can see a bronze bust of Samuel
de Champlain—the explorer who sailed with an Honfleur crew 400 years ago to make his
discoveries in Canada.
Turn around to see various tour and fishing boats and the high-flying Normandy
Bridge (described later, under “Near Honfleur”) in the distance. Fisherfolk catch flatfish,
scallops, and tiny shrimp daily and bring them here. On the left you may see fishermen's
wives selling
crevettes
(shrimp). You can buy them
cuites
(cooked) or
vivantes
(alive and
wiggly).Theyarehappytoletyousample one(ripoffthecutelittle headandtail, andpop
the middle into your mouth—
délicieuse!
), or buy a cupful to go for a few euros (daily in
season).
