The harbour of Le Havre is France’s second largest, second after Marseille, and the biggest in France for containers (and Europe’s 5th largest). Every day you can see many big cargo ships arrive or depart from this port.
The map could not be loaded. Please contact the site owner.
In fact, there are two main harbours; the “historical one” and “Port 2000“. The first one is used primarily for the petrol/oil industry, the latter for containers.
Apart from daily oil tankers and massive container ships, you will see almost daily enormous cruise ships, ranging from the Queen Mary 2 to small school cruise ships. Most of these ships arrive early in the morning and leave at sunset.
Le Havre is also becoming the main area for the assembly and dispatch of off-shore windmills. You can regularly see special boats coming and going that put off-shore windmills into the sea.
Container Harbour
The harbour that sees mostly container ships is called “Port 2000” because the building of the harbour started in the year 2000. The biggest container ships in the world dock here, the biggest is some 400 meters long.
The mega container ship can carry some 18,000 containers. These containers are colour coded for their content. For example, white containers are refrigerated containers containing food.
Fishing Harbour
Le Havre has a very active fishing fleet. Apart from coastal fishing boats, they also have long distance trawlers. Fish are brought in by these boats and the biggest portion goes into trucks that head for the Paris “Les Halles” market. But a portion gets sold in stalls located close by.
Each stall in the fish market belongs to a fishing boat.
Pleasure Boat Marina
Le Havre has two big pleasure boat marinas located next to each other. The harbour is accessible day and night, no matter the tide. The harbours can accommodate up to 1040 boats with a maximum depth of 3 meters and a length of 18 meters.
TIP: Contact the pleasure boat harbour master via telephone on 02.35.21.23.95 or via VHF canal 09.
A third pleasure boat harbour is also available, called “Port Vauban”, but this one is located inside the city. You will be required to pass through lock and a low bridge. Both open to boats twice a day. The trip from the main harbour entrance to the Port Vauban harbour takes about 40 minutes.
The Docks
The docks are no longer used as docks. All the warehouses that were present there have been transformed into a high-end shopping mall, conference/theatre, exhibition centre and swimming pool.
The Docks shopping centre/mall is nicely designed but not that big. Choices are slightly upmarket and there are some not-so-bad restaurants. Outside you can even waterski.
The Lighthouses
There are two active lighthouses in Le Havre, both located at the entrance of the historical harbour:
Both lighthouses were fortified by the Germans during WWII with concrete bunkers.
The “jetee Nord” (Northern pier) lighthouse was initially built in in the 19th century but was demolished when the entrance to the harbour was modified. It was rebuilt in 1904 and measures 15 meters high.
The second lighthouse at the harbour entrance, called “jetee Sud” (Southern pier) was initially built in 1861 but replaced in 1904. It also measures 15 meters high.
In the l’Eure Bassin (close to the university and merchant marine school ENSM) is a lighthouse ship. It was built in 1935, and her last career position in 1948 was close to Le Havre where she was until 1981 when she was replaced by a buoy.
There is another lighthouse, much older, but I could not find any information about it.
Summary
For the people who like boats and their harbours, Le havre is a great place. You are able to see most of it from anywhere along the waterfront. There is also a boat tour (with several daily sailings) of the two commercial boat harbours.
Related Posts
Le Havre is a city that has been rebuilt completely after WWII with a particular and special style. It's so unique that it was put on the United Nation UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The beach of Le Havre is the prime destination of the city's inhabitants and for many who come from as far away as Paris. As is the case with most of Upper Normandy, the beach is made out of pebbles, not sand. But in the summer months it gets very…
Of all the things to see in Le Havre, this is probably the number one item. Le Havre is not a touristy city with a lot of monuments, but the Saint-Joseph church is special, very special. Le Havre's St. Joseph church with its high tower The St. Joseph church is first…
The Jardins Suspendu, in English the Hanging Gardens is a vast garden on the heights of Le Havre overlooking the city. The whole garden area is built on an old fort. The building of the Fort de St. Adresse started in 1854. Although not directly involved during the First World War…
The modern art (take the word "modern" lightly) museum of Le Havre, the Andre Malraux museum also known as the MuMa, is France's 2nd largest museum of impressionist paintings. The museum was named after the former Minister of Culture, Andre Malraux, who opened the museum in 1961. This museum was…