As our ship sailed south, we journeyed through the English Channel, gazing upon the iconic White Cliffs of Dover. During our stop in the charming and picturesque town of Honfleur, we splurged in purchasing an array of souvenirs: elegant purses, French sea salt in delightful containers, distinctive toys, and exquisite jeweled necklaces. If the city looks familiar, that’s because Honfleur was a favorite subject of Monet and many other artists as well, including Boudin, Corot, Courbet, Dubourg, Sisley, Bazille and Daubigny. Thanks to artistic landscapes by these masters, the town’s timber-framed houses and the appealing Vieux Bassin (Old Harbor) are part of our collective consciousness. Before the city became a refuge for 19th-century artists escaping Paris, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Honfleur was one of France’s most important ports. It was from here that, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain set sail to found Québec. Some of the city’s must-see attractions include Les Maisons Satie Musée d’Ethnographie et d’Art Populaire Normand, Musée de la Marine and Musée Eugène Boudin. The Eglise Ste- Catherine is an extraordinary wooden church. Constructed in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, it contains maritime motifs.
Oliver, Our Exceptional Hotel Manager
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