The estuary's great port city, an hour's drive away. Its centre, rebuilt by Auguste Perret after the war, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: pale concrete, straight lines, the church of Saint-Joseph and its lantern tower. Also worth seeing: the MuMa and its Boudins facing the sea, and the beach right in the city.
Right in the centre, two white concrete shells by Oscar Niemeyer: the big 'Volcano' (the national theatre) and the small one (the library). An inhabitable sculpture set on the esplanade, a step from the Bassin du Commerce and the Saint-Joseph tower.
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The beach & the seafront
A pebble beach right in the city, lined with a promenade and wooden huts. Beyond, the Saint-Joseph lantern tower watches over the sea — the late-day light on Perret's pale concrete is worth the trip.
Practical
Getting there — what to know
In fine weather for the light on the pale concrete and the sea; the MuMa is perfect on grey days.
Distance
≈ 70 km · 1 h drive
See
Perret centre (UNESCO), Saint-Joseph church, MuMa, beach
Tip
Half a day, combined with Honfleur via the Normandy Bridge
MuMa
André Malraux Museum of Modern Art · rich Impressionist collection, facing the sea
