Everything about Honfleur totally explained
Honfleur is a
commune in the
Norman département of
Calvados in
France, located on the southern bank of the estuary of the
Seine, very close to the exit of the
Pont de Normandie. It is especially known for its old, beautiful picturesque port, characterized by its houses with slate-covered frontages, painted many times by artists, including in particular
Gustave Courbet,
Claude Monet and
Johan Jongkind, forming the
école de Honfleur which contributed to the appearance of the
Impressionist movement . The Sainte-Catherine church, which has a bell-tower separate from the principal building, is the largest church made out of wood in France.
History
The first written mention of Honfleur is a reference by
Richard III, duke of Normandy, in
1027. By the middle of the
12th century, the city represented a significant transit point for goods from
Rouen to
England.
Located on the estuary of one of the principal rivers of France with a safe harbour and relatively rich hinterland, Honfleur profited from its strategic position from the start of the
Hundred Years' War. The town's defences were strengthened by
Charles V in order to protect the estuary of the Seine from attacks from the
English. This was supported by the nearby port of
Harfleur. However, Honfleur was taken and occupied by the English in
1357 and from
1419 to
1450. When under French control, raiding parties often set out from the port to ransack the English coasts, including partially destroying of the town of
Sandwich, in
Kent,
England, in the 1450s.
At the end Hundred Years' War, Honfleur benefited from the boom in maritime trade until the end of the both after the end of the
18th century. Trade was disturbed during the wars of religion in the
16th century. The port saw the departure of a number of explorers, in particular in
1503 of
Binot Paulmierde Gonneville to the coasts of
Brazil. In
1506, Honfleurais
Jean Denis departed to
Newfoundland island and the mouth of the
Saint Lawrence. An expedition in
1608, organised by
Samuel de Champlain, founded the city of
Quebec in modern day
Canada.
After 1608, Honfleur thrived on trade with
Canada, the
Antilles, the
African coasts and the
Azores. As a result the town was one of the five principal ports for the
slave trade in France. During this time the rapid growth of the town saw the demolition of its fortifications on the orders of
Colbert.
The wars of the
French revolution and the
First Empire, and in particular the continental blockade, caused the ruin of Honfleur. It only partially recovered during the
19th century with the trading of wood from northern Europe. Trade was however limited by the silting up of the entrance to the port and development of the modern port at
Le Havre. The port however still functions today.
Famous Honfleurais
Administration
Honfleur is the chief town of a canton including the communes of
Ablon,
Barneville-la-Bertran,
Cricquebœuf,
Équemauville,
Fourneville,
Genneville,
Gonneville-sur-Honfleur, Honfleur,
Pennedepie,
Quetteville,
La Rivière-Saint-Sauveur,
Saint-Gatien-des-Bois and
Le Theil-en-Auge.
These 13 communes also form the
communauté de communes du Pays de Honfleur.
In
1973 Honfleur amalgamated with the commune of
Vasouy (143 inhabitants in 1999, the INSEE code used to be 14725), which lays out of the statute since then of common partner.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Honfleur'.
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