Le Havre

For other uses, seeLe Havre (disambiguation).

Le Havre Lé Hâvre(Norman)
Subprefectureandcommune
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Le Havre
Le Havre Le Havre
Coordinates:49°29′N0°06′E
Country	France
Region	Normandy
Department	Seine-Maritime
Arrondissement	Le Havre
Canton	Le Havre-1,2,3,4,5and6
Intercommunality	Le Havre Seine Métropole
Government
• Mayor(2020–2026)	Édouard Philippe(Horizons)
Area 1	46.95 km2(18.13 sq mi)
• Urban (2018)	194.9 km2(75.3 sq mi)
• Metro (2018)	995.8 km2(384.5 sq mi)
Population (2021)	166,058
• Rank	15th in France
• Density	3,500/km2(9,200/sq mi)
•Urban (2018)	234,945
• Urban density	1,200/km2(3,100/sq mi)
•Metro (2018)	337,086
• Metro density	340/km2(880/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00(CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	76351/76600, 76610, 76620
Website	lehavre.fr
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret
Criteria	Cultural: ii, iv
Reference	1181
Inscription	2005 (29thSession)
Area	133 ha
Buffer zone	114 ha
1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Le Havre(/ləˈhɑːv(rə)/ləHAHV(-rə),French:[ləɑvʁ(ə)];Norman:Lé Hâvre[lɛˈhɑvʁ(ə)]) is a major port city in theSeine-Maritimedepartmentin theNormandyregion of northernFrance.It is situated on the right bank of theestuaryof theriver Seineon theChannelsouthwest of thePays de Caux,very close to thePrime Meridian.Le Havre is the most populous commune of Upper Normandy, although the total population of the greater Le Havreconurbationis smaller than that ofRouen.AfterReims,it is also the second largestsubprefecturein France. The nameLe Havremeans "the harbour" or "the port". Its inhabitants are known asHavraisorHavraises.

The city andportwere founded byKing Francis Iin 1517. Economic development in theearly modern periodwas hampered byreligious wars,conflicts with the English, epidemics, and storms. It was from the end of the 18th century that Le Havre started growing and the port took off first with the slave trade then other international trade. After the 1944 bombings the firm ofAuguste Perretbegan to rebuild the city in concrete. The oil, chemical, and automotive industries were dynamic during theTrente Glorieuses(postwar boom) but the 1970s marked the end of the golden age ofocean linersand the beginning of the economic crisis: the population declined, unemployment increased and remains at a high level today.

Changes in years 1990–2000 were numerous. The right won the municipal elections and committed the city to the path of reconversion, seeking to develop theservice sectorand new industries (aeronautics,wind turbines). The Port 2000 project increased the container capacity to compete with ports of northern Europe, transformed the southern districts of the city, and ocean liners returned. Modern Le Havre remains deeply influenced by its employment and maritime traditions. Its port is the second largest in France, after that ofMarseille,for total traffic, and the largest Frenchcontainerport.

In 2005,UNESCOinscribed the central city of Le Havre as aWorld Heritage Sitebecause of its unique post-WWII reconstruction and architecture.TheAndré Malraux Modern Art Museumis the second of France for the number ofimpressionist paintings.The city has been awarded two flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of Cities and Villages in Bloom.

Toponym

The name of the town was attested in 1489, even before it was founded byFrançois Iin the formle Hable de GracethenVille de Gracein 1516, two years before its official founding.The learned and transient name ofFranciscopolisin tribute to the same king, is encountered in some documents then that ofHavre Marat,referring toJean-Paul Maratduring theFrench Revolutionbut was not imposed. However it explains why the complementary determinant-de-Gracewas not restored.This qualifier undoubtedly referred to the Chapel of Notre Dame located at the site of thecathedral of the same name.The chapel faced the Chapel Notre Dame de Grace ofHonfleuracross the estuary.The common nounhavremeaning "port" was out of use at the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th centuries but is still preserved in the phrasehavre de paixmeaning "safe haven". It is generally considered a loan fromMiddle Dutchfrom the 12th century.A Germanic origin can explain the "aspiration" of the initialh.Havre de Grace, Maryland,in the United States retains the "de Grace" from colonial times.

New research however focuses on the fact that the term was attested very early (12th century) and inNorman textsin the formsHable,hafne,havene,havne,andhaulemakes a Dutch origin unlikely. By contrast, aScandinavianetymology is relevant given the old Scandinavianhöfn(genitivehafnar) orhafnmeaning "natural harbour" or "haven" and the phonetic evolution of the termétravewhich is assuredly of Scandinavian origin is also attested in similar forms such asestableand probably dates back to the ancient Scandinavianstafn.

History

Main articles:History of Le HavreandTimeline of Le Havre

Le Havre in the late 19th century

When founded in 1517, the city was namedFranciscopolisafterFrancis I of France.It was subsequently namedLe Havre-de-Grâce( "Harbor of Grace"; henceHavre de Grace, Maryland). Its construction was ordered to replace the ancient harbours ofHonfleurandHarfleurwhose utility had decreased due to silting.

The history of the city is inextricably linked to its harbour. In the 18th century, as trade from theWest Indieswas added to that of France and Europe, Le Havre began to grow. On 19 November 1793, the city changed its name to Hâvre de Marat and later Hâvre-Marat in honor of the recently deceasedJean-Paul Marat,who was seen as a martyr of theFrench Revolution.By early 1795, however, Marat's memory had become somewhat tarnished, and on 13 January 1795, Hâvre-Marat changed its name once more to simply Le Havre, its modern name. During the 19th century, it became an industrial center.

At the end of World War I Le Havre played a major role as the transit port used to wind up affairs after the war.

The city was devastated during theBattle of Normandywhen 5,000 people were killed and 12,000 homes were totally destroyed before its capture inOperation Astonia.The center was rebuilt in amoderniststyle byAuguste Perret.

Heraldry

	Current arms of Le Havre. Thesalamanderis thebadgeof Francis I; thelionis from theBelgian coat of arms;it replaced afleur-de-lisin 1926 to remember theBelgian government in exilein Le Havre during theFirst World War).	Gules, a salamander argent crowned or enflamed the same in chief azure three fleurs de lis or cantoned sable with a lion or armed and langued gules.
	Arms of Le Havre under theFirst French Empire	Gules, a salamander argent crowned in Or enflamed the same, in chief azure with 3 mullets of Or quartered azure with a letter N surmounted by a mullet of Or.

Geography

Location

Further information:Le Havre Seine MétropoleandBaie de la Seine

Le Havre is located 50 kilometres (31 miles) west ofRouenon the shore of theEnglish Channeland at the mouth of theSeine.Numerous roads link to Le Havre with the main access roads being theA29 autoroutefromAmiensand theA13 autoroutefrom Paris linking to theA131 autoroute.

Map of Le Havre: to the south the Seine estuary; to the west theEnglish Channel.

Administratively, Le Havre is a commune in theNormandyregion in the west of the department ofSeine-Maritime.The urban area of Le Havre corresponds roughly to the territory of theAgglomeration community of Le Havre(CODAH)which includes 17 communes and 250,000 people.It occupies the south-western tip of the natural region ofPays de Cauxwhere it is the largest city. Le Havre is sandwiched between the coast of theChannelfrom south-west to north-west and the estuary of the Seine to the south.

Geology and terrain

Further information:Pays de Caux

Le Havre belongs to theParis Basinwhich was formed in theMesozoicperiod. The Paris Basin consists ofsedimentary rocks.The commune of Le Havre consists of two areas separated by a natural cliff edge: one part in the lower part of the town to the south including the harbour, the city centre and the suburbs. It was built on formermarshlandandmudflatsthat were drained in the 16th century.The soil consists of several metres ofalluviumor silt deposited by theSeine.The city centre was rebuilt after the Second World War using a metre of flattened rubble as a foundation.

The upper town to the north, is part of thecauchoisplateau:the neighbourhood of Dollemard is its highest point (between 90 and 115 metres (295 and 377 feet)above sea level). The plateau is covered with a layer offlintyclayand a fertilesilt.The bedrock consists of a large thickness ofchalkmeasuring up to 200 m (656 ft) deep.Because of the slope the coast is affected by the risk of landslides.

Climate

Climatic Graphfor Le Havre

Due to its location on the coast of the Channel, the climate of Le Havre istemperateoceanic.Days without wind are rare. There are maritime influences throughout the year. According to the records of the meteorological station of theCap de la Heve(from 1961 to 1990), the temperature drops below 0 °C (32 °F) on 24.9 days per year and it rises above 25 °C (77 °F) on 11.3 days per year. The average annual sunshine duration is 1,785.8 hours per year.

Precipitation is distributed throughout the year, with a maximum in autumn and winter. The months of June and July are marked by some thunderstorms on average 2 days per month.One of the characteristics of the region is the high variability of the temperature, even during the day.The prevailing winds are from the southwest sector for strong winds and north-north-east for breezes,snowstorms occur in winter, especially in January and February.

Le Havre under snow

The absolute speed record for wind at Le Havre – Cap de la Heve was recorded on 16 October 1987 at 180 kilometres per hour (112 miles per hour).

The main natural hazards are floods, storms, andstorm surges.The lower town is subject to a risingwater table.The lack of watercourses within the commune prevents flooding from overflows. Le Havre's beach may rarely experience flooding known as "flooding from storms". These are caused by the combination of strong winds, high waves, and a largetidal range.

Comparison of local Meteorological data with other cities in France

Town	Sunshine (hours/yr)	Rain (mm/yr)	Snow (days/yr)	Storm (days/yr)	Fog (days/yr)
National average	1,973	770	14	22	40
Le Havre	1,786	709	11	13	53
Paris	1,661	637	12	18	10
Nice	2,724	767	1	29	1
Strasbourg	1,693	665	29	29	56
Brest	1,605	1,211	7	12	75

Climate data for Le Havre (located in Cap de la Heve, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	15.0 (59.0)	20.0 (68.0)	24.5 (76.1)	26.5 (79.7)	30.0 (86.0)	34.7 (94.5)	38.1 (100.6)	36.3 (97.3)	33.6 (92.5)	28.5 (83.3)	20.0 (68.0)	16.4 (61.5)	38.1 (100.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	7.6 (45.7)	8.0 (46.4)	10.5 (50.9)	13.3 (55.9)	16.2 (61.2)	19.0 (66.2)	20.9 (69.6)	21.2 (70.2)	19.1 (66.4)	15.5 (59.9)	11.3 (52.3)	8.4 (47.1)	14.3 (57.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)	5.7 (42.3)	6.0 (42.8)	8.1 (46.6)	10.4 (50.7)	13.3 (55.9)	16.0 (60.8)	18.0 (64.4)	18.4 (65.1)	16.4 (61.5)	13.1 (55.6)	9.3 (48.7)	6.5 (43.7)	11.8 (53.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	3.9 (39.0)	3.9 (39.0)	5.6 (42.1)	7.5 (45.5)	10.3 (50.5)	13.1 (55.6)	15.1 (59.2)	15.6 (60.1)	13.7 (56.7)	10.8 (51.4)	7.4 (45.3)	4.7 (40.5)	9.3 (48.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−13.8 (7.2)	−12.5 (9.5)	−7.8 (18.0)	−1.0 (30.2)	1.2 (34.2)	4.4 (39.9)	8.0 (46.4)	8.4 (47.1)	3.3 (37.9)	−0.2 (31.6)	−8.5 (16.7)	−8.6 (16.5)	−13.8 (7.2)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	67.5 (2.66)	53.7 (2.11)	52.5 (2.07)	52.3 (2.06)	56.5 (2.22)	58.0 (2.28)	48.7 (1.92)	66.0 (2.60)	65.4 (2.57)	86.2 (3.39)	87.5 (3.44)	95.5 (3.76)	789.8 (31.09)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm)	12.4	11.2	10.1	9.6	9.0	8.6	7.8	9.2	9.1	12.4	13.5	14.7	127.7
Average snowy days	2.3	3.0	2.1	1.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.5	11.0
Averagerelative humidity(%)	87	85	84	81	81	83	83	82	82	85	86	87	83.8
Mean monthlysunshine hours	62.9	87.7	136.2	179.5	214.6	224.4	237.8	218.5	168.3	124.5	74.7	56.7	1,785.8
Source 1:Météo France
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, snowy days and sun, 1961–1990)

Environment

Saint-Roch Square.

A study byAphekomcomparing ten large French cities showed that Le Havre is the least polluted urban commune of France.Le Havre is also the third best city in France with more than 100,000 inhabitants for air quality.ACarbon accountingshowed in 2009 that the municipality ejected some 32,500 tonnes ofCO₂per year.In 2011 the average annual emissions ofsulfur dioxideby industry was between three micrograms per cubic metre in the centre of Le Havre to twelve micrograms per cubic metre in the district of Caucriauville.

The municipality has set a target to reduce emissions of CO₂by 3% per year.To achieve thissolar panelshave been installed on several municipal buildings (city hall, hanging gardens).Since 2008, Le Havre has been part of the network ofEnergy Citiesand, in this context, it applies the steps ofAgenda 21and an Environmental Approach to Urban Planning. The city has received many awards of eco-labels several times (Energy of the Future label in 2009–2011, sustainable Earth label in 2009). Since 1998, Le Havre's beach has received theBlue Flagyearly thanks to its range of facilities, which extend over 30,000m².

Le Havre has kept extensive green areas (750 hectares or 41m²per inhabitant), the two largest areas are the Montgeon Forest and Rouelles Park which are both located in the upper town. The gardens of the Priory of Graville and the hanging gardens offer views of the lower city. In the city centre, Saint-Roch Square and the City Hall Gardens provide the people with urban recreation areas. Variousecosystemsare represented in the Beach Gardens and the Hauser Park (caves). Finally, the Plateau of Dollemard was classified as a "Sensitive Natural Area" of the department in 2001 to protect its landscape and ecosystems on the cliff.The streets are lined with 13,000 trees of 150 different varieties.

Layout

Le Havre skyline in 2005

Lower city

City rebuilt after 1945

Plan of Le Havre and its town centre rebuilt after theSecond World War

Largely destroyed by the Allies during theSecond World War,the city was rebuilt according to the plans of the architectAuguste Perretbetween 1945 and 1964. Only theCity Halland theChurch of Saint Joseph(107m-high) were personally designed by Auguste Perret. In commending the reconstruction workUNESCOlisted the city of Le Havre on 15 July 2005 as aWorld Heritage Site.This area of 133 hectares is one of the few inscribed contemporary sites in Europe.The architecture of the area is characterized by the use of precast concrete using a system of a modular frame of 6.24 metres and straight lines.

Another notable architectural work of the central city is that of theHouse of Culturebuilt in 1982 by the Brazilian architectOscar Niemeyerand nicknamed "the Volcano" because of the shape of the building.From 2012, this place was refurbished both inside and outside with fairly significant changes approved by the architect including greater openness to the outside of the plaza.

The Notre Dame and Perrey neighbourhoods are mainly residential. Les Halles is one of the commercial hubs of the city. The Saint Francis neighborhood was also rebuilt beginning in 1950but in a radically different architectural style: the buildings are brick and have pitchedslateroofs. This is the restaurant district and the fish market.

Neighbourhoods

The neighborhood of the church of Saint-Vincent extending toward the coast

To the east and north of the rebuilt central city are a stretch of old neighbourhoods (Danton, Saint-Vincent, Graville, Massillon, etc.) which were spared the bombings of World War II. The buildings, usually in brick, dated to the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries. The shops are concentrated along several major roads in the Rond-Point neighbourhood. During the 1990s and 2000s, these neighborhoods have seen major redevelopments, particularly in the context of an OPAH: improvement of habitat by rehabilitation or reconstruction, creation of public facilities, and revitalization of business.

At the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century, the area around the railway station has undergone a major transformation. As the station is the gateway to the city with the main avenues intersecting here. New buildings have sprung up (University of Le Havre,the conservatory, headquarters of the SPB (Provident Society Bank), and ofCMA CGM,Novotel,Matmut, new CCI) some of which were designed by renowned architects. The bus station, certifiedNFsince 2005, has been refurbished. North of the station, another construction project in place of the dilapidated island of Turgot-Magellan will be opened in 2013,including 12,500 m²(135,000 sq ft) of office space and an eight-storey hotel, complete with shops on the ground-floor.

Southern districts

Commercial area of the south side of theVauban Docksin 2009

The southern districts of Le Havre are mainly used for industrial and port activities. There are buildings in brick from the 19th century, large developments (Chicago, Les Neiges), worker estates, SMEs, warehouses, dock and port facilities, and transport infrastructure.

The southern districts have for some years experienced profound change due to European funding. It is revitalizing areas neglected by industrial and port activities by developing tertiary activities. Thus, the docks have been completely transformed into sports and entertainment complexes (Dock Océane), a mall (Docks Vauban), and an exhibition hall (Docks Café).Les Bains Des Dockswas designed by the architectJean Nouvel.At the end of 2012 students from Sciences-Po Europe Asia and from INSA integrated new buildings next to the ISEL (Higher Institute of logistics studies) and the future ENSM (Ecole Nationale Supérieure Maritime).The new medical axis around the newClinic des Ormeauxwas built in the neighbourhoods where many homes are planned with the aim of promoting social mix. TheCity of the Sea and of Sustainable Development(Odyssey 21) will be organized around a metal tower one hundred metres high designed byJean Nouvel:the project was suspended in 2007 but the work should finally begin in 2013.The municipality has to attract some 300,000 visitors per year.

Upper town

The cemetery of Sainte-Marie

The upper town is composed of three parts: the "coast", the suburban districts of the plateau, and large peripheral housing estates.

The neighbourhoods on the "coast" (the Dead Cliff) are residential – more prosperous in the western part (Les Ormeaux, Rue Felix Faure) and more modest to the east (St. Cecilia, Aplemont). The Jenner tunnel passes under the "coast" and connects the upper town to the lower town. It is also on the coast that there are twofortificationsof the city, FortsSainte-Adresseand Tourneville, and the main cemetery (Sainte-Marie cemetery). With the demise of the military functions of the city, the forts are gradually being converted: Fort Sainte-Adresse houses theHanging Gardensand Fort Tourneville hosted the Tetris project in 2013 – an axis of contemporary music with concert halls and rehearsal studios.

To the north of the "coast" suburban districts such as Rouelles, Sainte-Cecile, la Mare au Clerc, Sanvic, Bleville, and Dollemard were developed during the first half of the 19th century.In their extension North-west between Bleville and Octeville airport a new area is being developed: "Les Hauts de Bleville". This eco-district made up of housing units toHQEstandards, a Joint Development Area (ZAC), and a school should have a total of 1,000 housing units.

The peripheral suburbs of the commune grew in the postwar period. These are largehousing estatesin Caucriauville, Bois de Bleville, Mont-Gaillard, and Mare-rouge where a disadvantaged population is concentrated. In October 2004 the National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU) signed with the municipality of Havre the first agreement to finance the rehabilitation of these areas. This finance agreement provides more than 340 million euros for the housing estates in the northern districts, where about 41,000 people reside. This development extends the budget for theGrand Projet de Ville(GPV). It allows the demolition and rebuilding of more than 1,700 homes.

Transport

Further information:Transport in Le HavreandLe Havre station

Le Havre railway station

For a long time Le Havre has exploited the strengths of its coastal location but also suffered from its relative isolation. This is why the accessibility of the city has been improved with the harbour highway A131 (E05) which links Le Havre to theA13 autorouteoverTancarville Bridge.The city is one hour fromRouenand one and a half-hour fromÎle-de-France.More recently theA29 autoroute(E44) has connected Le Havre to the north of France and passes over theNormandy Bridgewhich makesAmiens(in the north-east) two hours away andCaen(in the south-west) one hour.

TheTERnetwork was modernized with the creation of theLERline in 2001 and direct services toFécampin 2005. ThirteenCorail trainsof theParis–Le Havre linelinkLe Havre stationwith Bréauté-Beuzeville,Yvetot,RouenandParis Saint-Lazare station.In addition there is aTGVdaily service to Le Havre: it has connected the city toMarseillesince December 2004 serving Rouen,Mantes-la-Jolie,Versailles,Massy,Lyon,Avignon,Aix-en-Provence,andSaint Charles stationin Marseille.There are also local services from Le Havre station to Rolleville and Fécamp.Le Havre-Graville stationin the eastern part of the city is served by trains to Rolleville.

No direct rail link connects Le Havre andCaenyet many projects – known as the "Southwest Line" – to link Le Havre to the left bank of the Seine downstream from Rouen, near the estuary of the river, were studied in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century but none have been realized. By public transport it is necessary to go to Rouen by train or bus (using No. 20Green Bus). There is a Gray Coach toÉtretatandFécampand there is VTNI for destinations in the Seine valley and Rouen who provide inter-urban services on behalf of the Department ofSeine-Maritime.Finally, the company AirPlus provides a shuttle service to the railway stations and airports of Paris.

A Ferry (LD Lines) in the port of Le Havre.

For air transport, there isLe Havre Octeville Airportwhich is located 5 km (3 mi) north of Le Havre at the town ofOcteville-sur-Merand managed byCODAH.

The main destination is theTransport hubofLyon.Many holiday destinations are offered each year (Tunisia,Balearic Islands, Portugal, Greece,Bulgaria,etc.) through local travel agencies that charter aircraft.There is also theFlying clubJean Maridorat the airport.

The Channel maritime links withPortsmouthin southern England withP&O Ferriesended on 30 September 2005 to be taken over byLD Lineswho had changed the configuration. Two services to Portsmouth are provided dailyfrom the Terminal de la Citadelle until ceasing operations in 2014, the route has since been taken over byBrittany Ferries.The link to Ireland was moved to the port ofCherbourg.

Crossing times to Portsmouth vary from five hours and thirty minutes to eight hours.Popular alternative routes going to areas close to Le Havre includeNewhaventoDieppe,andPooletoCherbourg.

Urban transport

Further information:Le Havre tramway,Funiculaire du Havre,andTransport in Le Havre

Mercedes-Benz Citaroof theCTPO

Tramway du Havre

The city and the metropolitan area has a dense transport network. This solves the problem of a break between the lower town and the upper town and the two parts of the city are connected by long boulevards, winding roads, many stairs, afunicular,and finally the Jenner tunnel.

TheCODAHtransport network is calledLiaand is operated by theOcean Port Transport company(CTPO), a subsidiary ofVeolia Transport.The overhaul of the bus network in 2008 helped to ensure a better service for all the towns in the metropolitan area. The CTPO operates a bus network consisting of 19 regular urban routes and six evening routes called the "Midnight Bus".The Le Havre urban area is served by 165 vehicles and 41 regular bus routes with an average of 100,000 passengers per day.From January 2011 there has been a regular shuttle service specific to the Industrial Zone and Port of Le Havre, thus adding to the cross-estuary service of VTNI.Since 1890 the funicular has provided a link between the upper town and the lower town in four minutes with a cable car.

Le Havre had a tramway system from 1894 until it closed in 1957. More recently a new tramway system, with 23 stations and 13 km (8 mi) of route,was built, and opened on 12 December 2012. The first part of the line connects the beach to the station climbing to the upper town through a new tunnel near the Jenner tunnel then it splits into two: one link going to Mont-Gaillard, the other to Caucriauville.

Finally, since 2001 Le Havre agglomeration has operated the LER, a TER line connecting the Le Havre station toRollevillepassing through five otherSNCFrailway stations of the urban area.

From 2005, development work forSegregated cycle facilitieshave increased including a connection to theGreenwaywhich promises to be an important network of quality. Between 2007 and 2011, the total length of cycle paths has doubled to 46 km (29 mi) in total length.It is possible to rent bicycles through agencies of the Océane bus or from the town hall (Vel-H)which has them on hand. Finally, 140 taxis work in Le Havre and serve 25 stations.

Politics and administration

Le Havre is one of two sub-prefectures of Seine-Maritime and the second largestsubprefecturein France afterReims.It is the capital of theArrondissement of Le Havrewhich includes 149 communes.It is also the largest member of theLe Havre Seine Métropole.

The Sub-préfecture

Since 2015, the city of Le Havre is divided oversix Cantons,some of which also cover neighbouring communes.For the parliamentary elections, Le Havre spans two constituencies: theseventh(former cantons I, V, VI, and VII) and theeighth(former cantons II, III, IV, VIII, IX).

Political trends and results

Several politicians have spent part of their lives in the city: Jules Lecesne (1818–1878),Jules Siegfried(1837–1922), andFélix Faure(1841–1899) were elected as municipal councillors and MPs. A pool, a shopping centre and a street have been named afterRené Cotyfrom Le Havre, who served asPresident of the French Republicfrom 1954 to 1959.Christine Lagarde(born 1956) attended high schools in Le Havre before becomingMinister of the Economyand Director-General of theInternational Monetary Fundin 2011.

Since 23 October 2010 themayorhas been Édouard Philippe (UMP). He also holds the presidency of theCODAHand has held a seat in the National Assembly for the 7th district of Seine-Maritime since 2012.He succeededAntoine Rufenacht(UMP), who was mayor of Le Havre for fifteen years before resigning, as the head of the municipality. The city of Le Havre has long been the strongest bastion of theCommunist Party of France,who directed it from 1956 to 1995.Overall, the inhabitants of Le Havre in the 7th electoral district (city centre and western neighbourhoods) tend to vote for the right while those of the 8th electoral district (eastern neighbourhoods) tend to choose the candidate of the left. For example, in the presidential election of 2007, the 7th electoral district voted for Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP) by 55.05% against 44.95% for Ségolène Royal (PS) while in the 8th electoral district 55.02% voted for the Socialist candidate.However, the results of the 2012 presidential elections gave the PS wins in both districts with a smaller margin in the 7th (Hollande: 51.71% / Sarkozy: 48.29%) than in the 8th (Hollande 64.21% / Sarkozy: 35.79%).

Municipal administration

The number of inhabitants in Le Havre is between 150,000 and 199,999 so the number of councillors is 59 members. Themayor,41 aldermen and 17 deputies form thecouncilof Le Havre elected in 2008.It meets on average once a month at the town hall. The debates are generally public except for certain proceedings.

Le Havre has experienced many territorial extensions by anne xing neighbouring communes:

• 1852: Ingouville and parts of Graville-l'Eure and Sanvic
• 1919: all of Graville-Sainte-Honorine
• 1953: Bleville
• 1955: all of Sanvic
• 1971: part ofHarfleur(a district of Caucriauville)
• 1973: Rouelles (with the status of associated commune, 3,184 inhabitants in 2006)

Mayors

Mayorsof Le Havre from the French Revolution to 1940

From	To	Mayor	Party	Position
1790	1790	Pierre Duval
1790	1791	Jean-Jacques Christinat
1791	1791	Frédéric Heroult
1791	1793	Jacques-Ambroise Rialle
1793	1794	Jean-Marc Belot
1794	1794	François Bayle
1794	1795	Louis Lemesle
1795	1797	Jean-Martin Gregoire
1797	1797	Jacques Ambroise Rialle
1797	1797	Marie Glier
1797	1799	Alexandre Lacorne
1799	1800	Marie Glier
1800	1800	Pierre Fortin
1800	1821	Guillaume-Antoine Sery
1821	1830	André Begouen-Demeaux
1830	1830	Lahoussaye
1830	1831	Michel Delaroche
1831	1848	Adrien Lemaistre
1848	1849	Jules Ancel
1849	1849	Alexandre Bertin
1849	1849	Frédéric Perquer
1849	1853	Adrien Lemaistre
1853	1853	Isidore Maire
1853	1855	Jules Ancel
1855	1858	Edouard Larue
1858	1864	Just Viel
1864	1870	Edouard Larue
1870	1874	Ulysee Guillemard
1874	1874	Emmanuel Bigot de la Robillardiere
1874	1878	Jules Masurier
1878	1878	Ulysee Guillemard
1878	1886	Jules Siegfried
1886	1890	Paul Marion
1890	1896	Louis Brindeau
1896	1904	Théodule Marais
1904	1908	Théodore Maillart
1908	1914	Henry Genestal
1914	1919	Pierre-François Morgand
1919	1940	Léon Meyer

Mayors from 1940

From	To	Mayor	Party	Position
1940	1941	Jean Risson
1941	1941	Georges Patrimonio
1941	1944	Pierre Courant
1944	1947	Pierre Voisin	PCF
1947	1947	Albert le Clainche
1947	1947	Pierre Adolphe Jean Voisin
1947	1954	Pierre Courant
1954	1954	Eugène Gas
1954	1956	Léopold Abadie
1956	1959	René Cance	PCF
1959	1965	Robert Monguillon	SFIO
1965	1971	René Cance	PCF
1971	1994	André Duromea	PCF
1994	1995	Daniel Colliard	PCF
1995	2010	Antoine Rufenacht	RPR,UMP
2010	2017	Edouard Philippe	UMP,LR
2017	2019	Luc Lemonnier	LR
2019	2020	Jean-Baptiste Gastinne	LR
2020		Edouard Philippe	LR

Public institutions and services

The Palace of Justice

The Le Havre Palace of Justice is located on the Boulevard de Strasbourg. With its annex, it includes a high court, a juvenile court, and a commercial court. The city also has a Labour Court and District Court. Among the legal services offered there are legal aid services and the application of penalties. Le Havre depends on theCourt of Appealof Rouen. The prison, which dates from theSecond Empire,was completely destroyed in 2012. The new prison for Le Havre was completed in 2010 atSaint-Aubin-Routoteast of the Le Havre agglomeration. It has an area of 32,000 m2 on a site of 15 hectares and can accommodate 690 people.

TheHospital Group of Havreis a public health facility managed by a supervisory board chaired by theMayorof Le Havre. Its main structures are Flaubert Hospital (the oldest, located downtown), the Monod Hospital (inMontivilliers), the Pierre Janet Hospital (psychiatry), the house for adolescents, day hospitals, and seniors' residences. It is the largest employer in the CODAH. Built in 1987, the Jacques Monod Hospital offers a full range of care in medicine, surgery, gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health follow-up care, rehabilitation, reintegration, and public health.

Finally, there are several private clinics that offer complete care: the private clinic of the Estuary groups together the old clinics ofPetit Colmoulinsand François I. The private clinic of Ormeaux is located in the neighbourhood of Eure.

During the first half of the 20th century, the 129th regiment of infantry of the line was stationed at Le Havre and left an important mark on the city so a street was named after them. The 74th Infantry Regiment of commandos was present from 1963 to 1976. Finally, Le Havre is the godmother city forBPC Mistral.The ceremony was held at the City Hall on 15 November 2009, during a stopover at the Building.

National politics

For elections to theNational Assembly,Le Havre is divided betweenSeine-Maritime's 7thand8th constituency.They are currently represented byAgnès Firmin-Le BodoandJean-Paul Lecoq.

Twin towns and sister cities

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Le Havre istwinnedwith:

• Dalian,China
• Magdeburg,Germany
• Saint Petersburg,Russia
• Southampton,England, United Kingdom
• Tampa,United States

Demographics

Downtown Le Havre

Le Havre experienced a population boom in the second half of the 19th century. Subsequently, the population drain of theFirst World Warwas offset by the annexation of the town of Graville (the city gained 27,215 people between 1911 and 1921). During theSecond World Warthe population decreased significantly (a loss of 57,149 people between 1936 and 1946) because of the exodus and bombings. After the war the commune saw its population increase until 1975. Since then population has decreased again, especially between 1975 and 1982: during these years of industrial crisis the population fell by 18,494 people. The trend continued in the 1980s although at a slower pace. The current policy of the municipality is to build new housing to attract new residents with the goal of exceeding 200,000 inhabitants, a level that was reached in the 1960s. The population of the commune of Le Havre was 191,000 inhabitants in 1999 which placed the city at 12th place among the most populated cities in France and in the first place inNormandy.In 2018INSEEcounted 169,733 people living in the commune of Le Havre, while theurban areaof Le Havre had 234,945 inhabitants and themetropolitan areaof Le Havre had 337,086 inhabitants.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 20,620 — 1800 19,000 −1.16% 1806 19,482 +0.42% 1821 20,768 +0.43% 1831 23,816 +1.38% 1836 25,618 +1.47% 1841 27,154 +1.17% 1846 31,325 +2.90% 1851 56,964 +12.70% 1856 64,137 +2.40% 1861 74,336 +3.00% 1866 60,055 −4.18% 1872 85,825 +6.13% 1876 92,068 +1.77% 1881 105,867 +2.83% 1886 112,074 +1.15% 1891 116,369 +0.75% 1896 119,470 +0.53%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 130,196 +1.73% 1906 132,430 +0.34% 1911 136,159 +0.56% 1921 163,374 +1.84% 1926 158,022 −0.66% 1931 165,076 +0.88% 1936 164,083 −0.12% 1946 106,934 −4.19% 1954 139,810 +3.41% 1962 185,029 +3.56% 1968 205,236 +1.74% 1975 217,882 +0.86% 1982 199,388 −1.26% 1990 195,854 −0.22% 1999 190,905 −0.28% 2007 179,751 −0.75% 2012 173,142 −0.75% 2017 170,147 −0.35%
Source: EHESSand INSEE

Between 2012 and 2017, thebirth ratewas 14.3 per thousand and themortality ratewas 10.4 per thousand: even though theRate of natural increaseis positive it does not compensate for the clearly negativenet migration rate(-0.7%).In 2017 19% of Le Havre's population was under 15 years old and 39% were under 30 years old,which was above the average for metropolitan France.24% of men and 26% of women were over 60 years old.The most populous quarters are the city centre, Sanvic, Caucriauville, Anatole France/Danton and Côte Ouest/Ormeaux.In 2009 theforeign populationwas estimated at 8,525 persons or 4.8% of the population.12,148 immigrants lived in Havre, or 6.8% of the urban population.Most had North African (5060) or African (3114) origins.

With the economic changes that have affected the city, theProfessions and Socio-professional categories(PCS) have changed dramatically since the 1980s: between 1982 and 1999, the number of workers has declined by about a third (−10,593), their share of the activelabour forcewas 16% in 1982 and 12.5% in 1999.The population of workers is concentrated in the southern suburbs close to the port and the industrial zone.At the same time the numbers of executives and intellectual professions increased by 24.5%, which is explained in part by the creation and development of theUniversity of Le Havre.In 2017 the city had a lower proportion of managers and intellectual occupations than the national average (14.4% against 18.1%).The proportion of workers (22.5%) was higher than the national average (19.9%).Going from 16.7% to 21.7% of the labour force, the rate of unemployment has increased between 2007 and 2017, and it remains higher than in the rest of the country (13.9%).The proportion Le Havre people in short-term employment (CDD and interim work) is higher than the national average.Finally, the proportion of Le Havre people with a degree from higher education dramatically increased from 17.3% in 2007 to 23.2% in 2017against 29.9% for entire France.

Economy

General

Although well developed and diversified, the local economy relies heavily on industrial sites, international groups, and subcontractedSMEs.The Le Havre economy is far from decision centres which are located mainly in Paris and major European economic cities. There is therefore a low representation of head offices in the city with the exception of some local economic successes such as the Sidel Group (now a subsidiary ofTetra Pak) – a distributor of interior furniture, and theship-ownerDelmaswhich was recently acquired by theCMA-CGMgroup.

Major employers in the Le Havre area

Name	Commune	Sector
Renault Sandouville	Sandouville	Automobile
Centre Hospitalier Général	Le Havre	Health
Le Havre Commune	Le Havre	Administration publique
TotalEnergies	Gonfreville	Raffinage
Port Authority of Le Havre	Le Havre	Port Services
Aircelle	Gonfreville	Aeronautical Construction
Total Petrochemicals	Gonfreville	Petrochemicals
SNCF	Le Havre	Transport
Dresser-Rand	Le Havre	Mechanical Equipment
Chevron	Gonfreville	Petrochemicals

Port

Main article:Port of Le Havre

Container Terminal, near the François Ilock.

Fishing Port

With 68.6 million tons of cargo in 2011, the port of Le Havre is the second largest French seaport in trade volume behind that ofMarseilleand 50th largest port in the world.It represents 60% of total French container traffic with nearly 2.2 million Twenty-foot equivalent unit|EVP]s in 2011.At the European level, it is eighth largest for container traffic and sixth largest for total traffic. The Port receives a large number ofoil tankersthat transported 27.5 million tonnes of crude oil and 11.7 million tonnes of refined product in 2011.Finally, 340,500 vehicles passed through theRoll-on/roll-offterminal in 2010.75 regular shipping lines serve 500 ports around the world.The largest trading partner of the port of Le Havre is the Asian continent which alone accounts for 58% of imports by container and 39.6% of exports.The rest of the traffic is distributed mainly to Europe and America.

Le Havre occupies the north bank of the estuary of theSeineon theChannel.Its location is favourable for several reasons: it is on the most frequented waterway in the world; it is the first and last port in theNorth Rangeof European ports – the largest in Europe which handles a quarter of all global maritime trade.As adeepwater port,it is accessible to all types of ships whatever their size around the clock.At the national level, Le Havre is 200 kilometres (124 mi) west of the most populous and richest region in France:Île-de-France.Since its founding in 1517 on the orders ofFrançois I,Le Havre has continued to grow: today it measures 27 km (17 mi) from east to west, about 5 km (3 mi) from north to south with an area of 10,000 hectares (24,711 acres).The last big project calledPort 2000increased the handling capacity for containers.

The port provides 16,000 direct jobsto the Le Havre region, to which must be added indirect jobs in industry and transport. With approximately 3,000 employees in 2006, the activities of distribution and warehousing provide more jobs,followed by road transport (2,420 jobs) and handling (2,319 jobs).

In 2011, 715,279 passengers passed through the port of Le Havreand there were 95 visits bycruise shipscarrying 185,000 passengers.The port expects 110 cuise ship calls in 2012. Created in 1934, the leisure boat harbour of Le Havre is located to the west and is the largest French boat harbour in theChannelwith a capacity of 1,160 moorings.Finally, there is a small fishing port in the Saint-François district and aHawker centre.

Industry

The EDF Thermal power plant of Le Havre.

Most industries are located in the industrial-port area north of the estuary and east of the city of Le Havre. The largest industrial employer (2,400 employees) of the Le Havre region is the Renault public company in the commune ofSandouville.The second important sector for the industrial zone ispetrochemicals.The Le Havre region has more than a third of French refining capacity. It provides about 50% of the production of basic plastics and 80% of additives and oilswith more than 3,500 researchers working in private and public laboratories. Large firms in the chemical industry are mainly in the communes of Le Havre (Millenium Chemicals Le Havre),Montivilliers(TotalEnergies,Yara,Chevron Oronite SA,Lanxess,etc.) andSandouville(Goodyear Chemicals Europe). A total of 28 industrial establishments manufacture plastics in the Le Havre area many of which are classed as SECESO.

There are several firms in the aerospace industry: SAFRAN Nacelles, a supplier toAirbus,Boeing and other commercial air-framers, making jet engine nacelles andthrust reversers,is located inHarfleurand employs 1,200 people from the Le Havre area.Finally,Dresser-Rand SAmanufactures equipment for the oil and gas industry and employs about 700 people.In the energy field, theEDF thermal power plantof Le Havre has an installed capacity of 1,450MW and operates using coal with 357 employees.TheAREVAgroup announced the opening of a factory for buildingwind turbines:installed in the port of Le Havre, it should create some 1,800 jobs.The machines are designed forOffshore wind powerin Brittany, the UK, andNormandy.

Other industries are dispersed throughout the Le Havre agglomeration: theBrûlerie du Havre,which belongs to Legal-Legoût, located in the district of Dollemard that roasts coffee,Sidellocated both in the industrial area of Port of Le Havre andOcteville-sur-Merdesigns and manufactures blow moulding machines and complete filling line machines for plastic bottles.

Services sector

The two largest employers in the service sector are theGroupe Hospitalier du Havrewith 4,384 staffand theCity of Le Havrewith 3,467 permanent employees.The city has long been home to many service companies whose activity is related to port operations: primarily the ship-owning companies and also themarine insurancecompanies. The headquarters ofDelmas(transport and communications, 1,200 employees) and SPB (Provident Society Banking, insurance, 500 employees) have settled recently at the entrance to the city. The head office of Groupama Transport (300 employees) is also present.

The transport sector is the largest economic sector in Le Havre with 15.5% of employment. Logistics occupies a large part of the population and theISELtrains engineers in this field. Since September 2007 the ICC has welcomed local students in their first year in the relocated Europe-Asia campus of theInstitute of Political Studies of Paris.Higher Education is represented by theUniversity of Le Havrewhich employs 399 permanent professors and 850 lecturersas well as by engineering companies like Auxitec and SERO.

There are many growth factors in the tourist industry:blue flagrating, World Heritage status from UNESCO, the labelFrench Towns and Lands of Art and History,cruise ship development, a policy of value-creation from heritage, and theCity of the Seaproject. In January 2020 the city had 26 hotels with a total of 1,428 rooms.

Le Havre is the seat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Le Havre. It manages theLe Havre Octeville Airport.

Culture

Events and festivals

Breton Festival in the Saint-François district

Le Havre's festival calendar is punctuated by a wide range of events.

In spring aChildren's Book Festivalwas recently created. In May there is theFest Yves,a Breton festival in the Saint-François district. On the beach of Le Havre and Sainte-Adresse there is ajazzfestival calledDixie Daysin June. In July,detective novelsare featured in the Polar room at the Beach hosted byThe Black Anchors.Between the latter also in the context ofZ'Estivalesis an event offering many shows ofstreet artthroughout the summer supplemented by the festival of world musicMoZaïquesat the fort of Sainte-Adresse in August since 2010. In mid-August there is aFlower paradewhich passes through the streets of the central city.

In the first weekend of September the marine element is highlighted in theFestival of the Sea.This is a race between Le Havre andBahiain Brazil. Also every November there is a fair held in the Docks Café. The Autumn Festival in Normandy, organized by the departments ofSeine-MaritimeandEure,and the Region ofNormandy,runs from September to November and offers numerous concerts throughout the region as well as theatre performances and dance. In late October, since 2009, there is rock music festival which has been at the fort of Tourneville since the moving of thePapa's Productionassociation site there. The West Park Festival, after its inauguration in 2004, has been held in the park of the town hall of Harfleur.

Since 1 June 2006 aBiennale of contemporary Arthas been organized by the groupPartouche.

Cultural heritage and architecture

View of the rebuilt central city: the belfry of the town hall and the bell tower of theChurch of Saint-Joseph du Havre.

Graville Abbey

Many buildings in the city are classified as "historical monuments", but the 2000s marked the real recognition of Le Havre's architectural heritage. The city received the label "City of Art and History" in 2001, then in 2005UNESCOinscribed the city of Le Havre as aWorld Heritage Site.

The oldest building still standing in Le Havre is the Graville Abbey. The other medieval building in the city is the Chapel of Saint-Michel of Ingouville. Because of the bombing in 1944, heritage from themodern erais rare:Le Havre Cathedral,theChurch of Saint Francis,theMuseum of the Hotel Dubocage of Bleville,theHouse of the ship-ownerand the old palace of justice (now theNatural History Museum) are concentrated in the Notre-Dame and Saint-François areas. The buildings of the 19th century testify to the maritime and military vocations of the city: theHanging Gardens,theFort of Tourneville,Vauban docks,and theMaritime Villa.The heritage of the 1950s and 1960s which were the work of theAuguste Perretworkshop forms the most coherent architecture: theChurch of Saint Francisand the Town Hall are the centrepieces. The all curved architecture of the"Volcano",designed byOscar Niemeyer,contrasts with that of the rebuilt centre. Finally, the reconstruction of many districts is a showcase for the architecture of the 21st century. Among the achievements by renowned architects are the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (René and Phine Weeke Dottelond),Les Bains Des Docks(Jean Nouvel). °

Churches

• Le Havre Cathedral:the first stone of the building was laid in 1536. It is the seat of the Bishop of Le Havre.
• Church of Saint Joseph,one of the most recognized symbols of the city. The belltower is one of the tallest in France, rising to a height of 107 metres. It was designed byAuguste Perret.
• Church of Saint Michel
• Church of Saint Vincent
• Church of Saint François
• Church of St. Anne
• Church of Saint Marie
• Chapel of Saint Michel d'Ingouville (15th century)
• Graville Abbey, a monastery dedicated to Sainte Honorine, set in grounds on the northern bank of theSeine River.
• Presbyterian Reform Church (Église Réformée), 47 rue Anatole France, built in 1857, bombed in 1941, the roof and ceiling were rebuilt in 1953 by two architects from the famousAuguste Perretoffice: Jacques Lamy and Gérard Dupasquier, The only building in town offering both ancient and the new Perret school of architecture in the same building. Holy Office each Sunday morning at 10.30.

Museums

Five Museums in Le Havre have the distinction of being classified asMusées de France(Museums of France)an official label granted only to museums of a high status. The five museums are:

Museum of modern art André Malraux – MuMa

Overview of theMuseum of modern art André Malraux - MuMa

The most important of the five,Museum Malrauxwas built in 1955 by theAtelier LWDand was opened in 1961 byAndré Malraux.This museum houses a collection of art from the lateMiddle Agesuntil the 20th century. The impressionist paintings collections are the second most extensive in France after those of theOrsay Museumin Paris. The museum houses some paintings ofClaude Monet,Auguste Renoir,Raoul Dufy,Edgar Degas.

Musée du Vieux Havre (Museum of old Le Havre)

An old house in Le Havre, now Musée du Vieux Havre

A Museum dedicated to the history of Le Havre with many objects from theAncien Régimeand the 19th century: furniture, old maps, statues, and paintings.

Musée d'histoire naturelle (Museum of Natural History)

Founded in 1881 but heavily damaged during World War II, the Museum of Natural History is housed in Le Havre's former law courts, built in the mid-18th century; the façade and monumental staircase are listed as historical monuments. The museum houses mineralogy, zoology, ornithology, palaeontology and prehistory departments as well as 8,000 early 19th-century paintings from the collection of local naturalist and travellerCharles-Alexandre Lesueur(1778–1846).The museum was destroyed during Allied bombings on 5 September 1944. The library was lost, along with its collections of photographs, scientific instruments and archives. The mineral and geological collections were all destroyed, including a rare collection of local mineral specimens ofNormandy.The destruction of the museum was so intense, that all the catalogues, lists of donations, lists of purchases and other archives prevented even a precise inventory of all that was lost. "

The Shipowner's house

From the 18th century; like the Museum of Old Havre it is dedicated to the History of Le Havre and contains many relics from theAncien Régimeas well as furniture, old maps, statues, and paintings.

Museum of the Priory of Graville

The Museum at the Priory of Graville displays many items of religious art including statues, madonnas, and other religious objects many of which are classified by the Ministry of Culture. It also houses the Gosselin collection of 206 model houses created by Jules Gosselin in the 19th century.

Others

Other less important museums reflect the history of Le Havre and its maritime vocation. Theapartment-control(Apartement-Temoine) was a standard apartment designed by in 1947–1950 and shows a place of daily life in the 1950s. The maritime museum displays objects related to the sea and the port. Finally, there are numerous exhibitions in the city such as theSPOT,a centre forcontemporary art,art galleries, andLe Portique– a contemporary art space opened in 2008; the municipal library of Le Havre regularly organizes exhibitions.

Saint Roch Square

Other attractions include:

• The former tribunal (18th century)
• The Town Hall: the modernbelfrywhich now contains offices
• The "Volcan" cultural centre built byOscar Niemeyer
• Square St. Roch
• Japanese Garden

Theatres, auditoriums and concerts

There are two main cultural axes in Le Havre: the central city and the Eure district. TheEspace Oscar Niemeyerconsists of a part of the "Great Volcano", a national theatre seating 1,093(which houses theNational Choreographic Centreof Le Havre Haute-Normandie directed by Hervé Robbe) and secondly the "Little Volcano" with a 250-seat multi-purpose hallfor live performances. The wholeEspace Oscar Niemeyerhas been worked on since 2011: thelittle volcanowill be transformed into a multimedia library. As for the performances at theGreat Volcano,they are now taking place in the old ferry terminal until the end of construction. Other cultural institutions of the city centre are being transformed: the cinema of art and a trial ofLe Siriusfacing the university will reopen in 2013.Le Tetrisat the fort of Tourneville will, in 2013, be a place devoted to contemporary music. Other cultural venues are scattered in the city centre: the cinemaLe Studio,the theatre of the City Hall (700 seats),theLittle Theatre(450 seats),theThéâtre des Bains Douches(94 seats),Akté theatre(60 seats), and thePoulailler(Henhouse)) (associative theatre with 50 seats) host numerous shows each year. The National Choreographic Centre of Le Havre Haute-Normandie specialises in the creation and production of dance shows. Other shows and performances are given in other places and at the Conservatory Arthur Honegger.

The second cultural centre of the city is in the Eure district near the Basin Vauban. Docks Océane is a multi-purpose hall (concerts, shows, and sporting events) which can accommodate up to 4,700 spectators in 1,800 square metres (19,000 sq ft).The largest cinema in Le Havre is located on the Docks Vauban (2,430 seats).The Docks Café is an exhibition centre of 17,500 square metres (188,000 sq ft) used for shows, fairs, and exhibitions. TheMagic Mirrorsoffers many concerts managed by the city and leased to private organizers.

Following the closure ofCabaret Electricwhich was located in theEspace Oscar Niemeyerin 2011 a new auditorium,Le Tetris,is under construction at the Fort of Tourneville. It was scheduled to open in September 2013 with a large festival free-of-charge.It will consist of two halls with 800 and 200 seats, exhibition space, housing for artists in residence, a restaurant etc.Le Tetriswill be a venue for contemporary music as well as theatre, dance, and visual arts. An "expectation" outside the walls was held on the site of the fort during 2012 and early 2013.

Libraries and archives

The main library is located in the city centre, named after the writerArmand Salacrou.It has branches in all districts. A new multimedia library at the "Volcano" is being refurbished for 2014. Thousands of references are available in specialized libraries in the Higher School of Art, the Museum of André Malraux, and the Natural History Museum. Medieval manuscripts andIncunablesare conserved at the public library. The archives of the city, at the Fort of Tourneville, possesses documents from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

Representations in visual arts

Claude Monet,Impression, Sunrise,1872, painted in the Port of Le Havre.

The Port of Le Havre and the light on the estuary of the Seine inspired many painters:Louis-Philippe Crepin(1772–1851),Jean-Baptiste Corot(1796–1875),Eugène Isabey(1803–1886),Theodore Gudin(1802–1880),Adolphe-Felix Cals(1810–1880),Jean-François Millet(1814–1875) in 1845,Gustave Courbet(1819–1877) etc.. It is toEugène Boudin(1824–1898) who created many representations of Le Havre in the 19th century. The artist lived for a time in the city. Thanks to its proximity toHonfleur,Le Havre was also represented by foreign artists such asWilliam Turner,Johan Barthold Jongkind,Alfred Stevens,andRichard Parkes Bonington.

Camille Pissarro,The Outer Harbour of Le Havre, Morning, Sun, Tide,1902,Museum of modern art André Malraux - MuMa

Claude Monet(1840–1926), a resident of Le Havre from the age of five, in 1872 paintedImpression soleil levant(Impression, Sunrise), a painting that gave its name to theimpressionistmovement. In 1867–1868, he painted many seascapes in the Le Havre region (Terrasse à Sainte-Adresse(Garden at Sainte-Adresse), 1867Bateaux quittant le port(Boats Leaving the Port), 1874). TheMusée Malrauxhouses some of his paintings: Waterlilies, London Parliament et Winter Sun at Lavacourt. Two other Impressionists,Camille Pissarro(1830–1903) andMaxime Maufra(1861–1918) also represented the port of Le Havre which also inspiredPaul Signac(1863–1935),Albert Marquet(1875–1947), andMaurice de Vlaminck(1876–1958).

Then came the school ofFauvismin which many artists did their training at Le Havre:Othon Friesz(1879–1949), Henri de Saint-Delis (1876–1958),Raoul Dufy(1877–1953),Georges Braque(1882–1963), Raymond Lecourt (1882–1946), Albert Copieux (1885–1956), who followed the course of theSchool of Fine Arts of Le Havrein the time of Charles Lhuillier. They left a number of paintings on the theme of the city and the port. In 1899,Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec(1864–1901) paintedLa serveuse anglaise du Star(The English waitress of Star) (Museum Toulouse-Lautrec, Albi) of a girl he met in a bar in the city.

Other painters who painted Le Havre and/or its surroundings such as Sainte-Adresse can be cited in particular:Frédéric Bazille,John Gendall,Thomas Couture,Ambroise Louis Garneray,Pablo Picasso(Souvenir du Havre).Jean Dubuffetstudied at the School of Art in Le Havre.

Cinema

With nearly 70 films, Le Havre is one of the provincial cities most represented in the cinema.Several directors have chosen the port facilities as part of their movie:

• L'AtalantebyJean Vigo(1934)
• Le Quai des brumesbyMarcel Carné(1938)
• Un homme marche dans la villebyMarcello Paglierotook place in the port and the Saint-François district after the Second World War.
• Ce qu'ils imaginentby Anne Théron (2004)

The city has also hosted the filming of several comedies such as:

• Le CerveaubyGérard Oury(1968)
• La Beuze(2002)
• Disco(2008)
• La Fée,also presented at theDirectors' Fortnightin 2011.

The film bySophie Marceau,La Disparue de Deauville,made in 2007, contains many scenes around the port of Le Havre, in the Coty shopping centre of Coty and in the streets of the central city.

The filmLe HavrebyAki Kaurismäkireceived two prizes at the2011 Cannes Film Festivaland also theLouis Delluc Prize.It was nominated three times for the37th César Awards.

Literature

Statue of the writerBernardin de Saint-Pierrein front of the Law Courts in Le Havre.

Le Havre appears in several literary works as a point of departure to America: in the 18th century,Father PrevostembarkedManon LescautandDes GrieuxforFrench Louisiana.Fanny Loviot departed from Le Havre in 1852, as an emigrant to San Francisco and points further west, and recounted her adventures inLes pirates chinois(A Lady's Captivity among Chinese Pirates in the Chinese Seas,1858).

In the 19th century, Le Havre was the setting for several French novels:Honoré de Balzacdescribed the failure of a Le Havre merchant family inModeste Mignon.Later, the Norman writerGuy de Maupassantlocated several of his works at Le Havre such asAu muséum d'histoire naturelle(At the Museum of Natural History) a text published inLe Gauloison 23 March 1881 and again inPierre et Jean.Alphonse Allaislocated his intrigues at Le Havre too.La Bête humaine(The Human Beast) byÉmile Zolaevokes the world of the railway and runs along theParis–Le Havre railway.Streets, buildings, and public places in Le Havre pay tribute to other famous Le Havre people from this period: the writerCasimir Delavigne(1793–1843) has a street named after him and a statue in front of the palace of justice alongside another man of letters,Bernardin de Saint-Pierre(1737–1814).

In the 20th century,Henry Millerlocated part of the action in Le Havre in his masterpieceTropic of Cancer,published in 1934.Bouvillewas the commune where the writer lived who wrote his diary inLa Nausée(The Nausea) (1938) byJean-Paul Sartrewho was inspired by Le Havre city where he wrote his first novel. There are also the testimonies ofRaymond Queneau(1903–1976), born in Le Havre, the city served as a framework for his novelUn rude hiver(A harsh winter) (1939). The plot ofUne maison soufflée aux vents(A house blown to the winds) byÉmile Danoën,winner of the Popular Novel Prize in 1951, and its sequelIdylle dans un quartier muré(Idyll in a walled neighbourhood) were located in Le Havre during theSecond World War.Under the namePort de BrumeLe Havre is the setting for three other novels by this author:Cerfs-volants(Kites),L'Aventure de Noël(The Adventure at Christmas), andLa Queue à la pègre(Queue to the underworld).Michel LeiriswroteDe la littérature considérée comme une tauromachie(Of literature considered like a bullfight) in December 1945.

Diana Gabaldonset the second novel in herOutlanderseries,Dragonfly in Amber(1992), partly in Le Havre.

Twomystery novelstake place in Le Havre:Le Bilan Maletras(The Maletras Balance) byGeorges SimenonandLe Crime de Rouletabille(Crime at the Roulette table) byGaston Leroux.InRouge Brésil(Red Brazil), winner of theGoncourt Prizein 2001,Jean-Christophe Rufindescribes Le Havre in the 16th century as the port of departure of French expeditions to theNew World:the heroVillegagnonleaves of the port to conquer new lands for the French crown which become Brazil. Martine–Marie Muller tells the saga of a clan ofStevedoresfrom Le Havre in the 1950s to the 1970s inQuai des Amériques(Quay of the Americas).

Benoît Duteurtrepublished in 2001,Le Voyage en France(Travel in France), for which he received thePrix Médicis:the main character, a young American impassioned by France, lands at Le Havre which he describes in the first part of the novel. In 2008, Benoît Duteurtre publishesLes pieds dans l'eau(Feet in the water), a highly autobiographical book in which he describes his youth spent between Le Havre andÉtretat.The city hosted writers such asEmile Danoën(1920–1999) who grew up in the district of Saint-François, Yoland Simon (born 1941), and Philippe Huet (born 1955). Canadian poetOctave Crémazie(1827–1879) died at Le Havre and was buried in Saint Marie Cemetery. The playwrightJacques-François Ancelot(1794–1854) was also a native of Le Havre. Two famous historians,Gabriel Monod(1844–1912) andAndré Siegfried(1875–1959) were from the city.

Le Havre also appears in comic books: for example, inL'Oreille cassée(The Broken Ear) (1937),Tintinembarks on the vesselCity of Lyonsailing to South America. The meeting between Tintin andGeneral AlcazarinLes Sept Boules de cristal(The Seven Crystal Balls) (1948) is in Le Havre, according to notes byHergéin the margins ofLe Soir,the first publisher of this adventure. The first adventure ofRic Hochet(1963), the designerTibetandAndré-Paul Duchâteau,Traquenard au Havre(Trap at Le Havre) shows the seaside and the port. Similarly, in 1967, for the albumRapt sur le France(Rapt on France), the hero passes by the ocean port.Frank Le Gall,inNovembre toute l'année(November all year) (2000) embarks Theodore Poussin at Le Havre on theCap Padaran.

Music

Le Havre is the birthplace of many musicians and composers such as Henri Woollett (1864–1936),André Caplet(1878–1925)andArthur Honegger(1892–1955).There was also Victor Mustel (1815–1890) who was famous for having perfected theharmonium.

Le Havre has long been regarded as one of the cradles of French rock andblues.In the 1980s many groups have emerged after a first dynamic development in the 1960s and 1970s. The most famous personality of Le Havre rock isLittle Bobwho began his career in the 1970s. The port tradition in many of the groups was repeated in the unused sheds of the port, such as Bovis hall which could hold 20,000 spectators. A blues festival, driven by Jean-François Skrobek, Blues a Gogo existed for eight years from 1995 to 2002. Several artists have been produced such as:Youssou N'Dour,Popa Chubby,Amadou & Mariam,Patrick Verbeke etc. It was organized by the Coup de Bleu association whose former president was head of music CaféL'Agorain the Niemeyer Centre which produced the new Le Havre scene. During these same years, theFestival of the Future,the local version of theFête de l'Humanité(Festival of Humanity), attracted a large audience.

Currently, the musical tradition continues in the Symphony Orchestra of the city of Le Havre, the orchestra of Concerts André Caplet, the conservatory, and music schools such as the Centre for Vocal and Musical Expression (rock) or the JUPO (mainlyjazz), associations or labels like Papa's Production (la Folie Ordinaire, Mob's et Travaux, Dominique Comont, Souinq, Your Happy End etc.). The organization by the association of West Park Festival since the 2000s inHarfleurand since 2004 at the Fort of Tourneville is a demonstration. Moreover, since 2008, the associationI Love LHwas started and promotes Le Havre culture and especially its music scene by organizing original cultural events as well as the free distribution of compilation music by local artists.

Board game

Main articles:Le Havre (board game)

Le Havreis a board game about the development of the town of Le Havre. It was inspired by the gamesCaylusandAgricolaand was developed in December 2007.

Norman language

Main articles:Norman languageandCauchois dialect.

The legacy of theNorman languageis present in the language used by the people of Le Havre, part of which is identified as speakingcauchois.Among the Norman words most used in Le Havre there are:boujou(hello, goodbye),clenche(door handle),morveux (veuse)(child), andbezot (te)(last born).

Education

Schools

Le Havre is located in theAcademy of Rouen.The city operates 55kindergartens(254 classes) and 49 communal primary schools (402 classes).The department manages 16 colleges and the region ofNormandymanages 9 schools.The Jules Valles college in Caucriauville is classified as asensitive institutionand eleven colleges are in a priority education zone (ZEP). Aboarding school of excellence,the Claude Bernard college, opened in 2011. The first college in Le Havre dates to the 16th century, the high school François I was founded during theSecond Empireand is the oldest in Le Havre. The philosopherJean-Paul Sartre(1905–1980) andRaymond Aron(1905–1983) taught there. The writerArmand Salacrou(1899–1989) studied in this institution.

Public junior high schools (collèges)

• Collège Claude Bernard
• Collège des Acacias
• Collège Descartes
• Collège Eugène Varlin
• Collège Gérard Philipe
• Collège Guy Moquet
• Collège Henri Wallon
• Collège Irène Joliot-Curie
• Collège Jacques Monod
• Collège Jean Moulin
• Collège Jules Vallès
• Collège Léo Lagrange
• Collège Raoul Dufy
• Collège Romain Rolland
• Collège Théophile Gautier
• Collège Marcel Pagnol

Private junior high schools

• Collège du Sacré Cœur
• Collège Saint-Joseph
• Collège Les Ormeaux
• Collège Montesquieu

Public sixth-form colleges/senior high schools

• Lycée Claude Monet
• Lycée général et technologique Porte-Océane
• Lycée François I
• Lycée général et technologique Robert Schuman
• Lycée Jules Siegfried

Private sixth-form colleges/senior high schools

• Lycée Saint-Joseph

Public vocational high schools

• Lycée technique et professionnel Françoise de Grâce
• Lycée professionnel Jules Lecesne(Hotel trades and services)
• Lycée professionnel Jules Siegfried(Electronic and Mechanical trades)
• Lycée professionnel Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier(Transport and Logistics – Metallic structures – automobiles)
• Lycée professionnel Auguste Perret(Housing trades)
• Lycée professionnel Claude Monet(Accounting – Secretarial)
• Lycée professionnel Porte Océane(Accounting – Secretarial)
• Lycée professionnel Robert Schuman(Industry)

Private vocational high schools

• Lycée professionnel Germaine Coty
• Lycée professionnel Saint Vincent de Paul
• Lycée professionnel Jeanne d'Arc

Special schools and higher education

The interior of theUniversity of Le Havrelibrary

The Vauban Basin and the ISEL building (right)

In 2011 there were approximately 12,000 students in all disciplines in Le Havre.Opened in 1986, theUniversity of Le Havreis recent, medium-sized and well located: the largest campus is virtually in the centre of the city near railway andtramstations.The campus includes a University Library (2006), a gym, several dining halls with student housing, a structure incorporating a theatre, an orientation service, and student associations. In 2010–2011, 6,914 students were enrolled including 5,071 undergraduates, 1,651 Masters students, and 192 postgraduate students.The university also trains 317 engineering studentsincluding the Logistical Studies Higher Education Institute (ISEL). It offers 120 Diplomas of State prepared by the Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of International Affairs, and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Many courses are offered are related to the port operations, logistics, industry, andsustainable development.Twelve languages are taught and 17% of students are foreigners.The University of Le Havre is also a research centre with nine laboratories. It works in partnership with other higher education institutions (INSA Rouen,IEP,IUFM,and Normandy University). TheUniversity Institutes of Technologyof Le Havre occupies two main sites: one in the upper town in the Caucriauville-Rouelles district which was opened in 1967 and another in the Eure district since 2011. The IUT has a total of 1,881 students divided into ten departments preparing for the DUT.There is also a branch of the teacher training institute of Rouen (IUFM) for two courses (CAPET of technology and CRPE school teacher).

In addition there is a large number of specialized higher education institutions covering a wide range of different areas. Founded in 1871,theÉcole Supérieure de Commerce du Havre,one of the oldest in France, has merged withSup Europeandl'IPERto create theNormandy Business Schoolin 2006. This school had over 2,800 students on its five campuses (Le Havre,Caen,Deauville,OxfordandParis) in 2015.Since the 2007 school year, theInstitute of Political Studies of Parisopened a Euro-Asia cyclein Le Havre. TheNational School of The Merchant Marinetrains Officers of the First Class for the Merchant Marine: currently located at Sainte-Adresse, it will move to theBassin Vaubanin 2015 in a building that will house 1,000 students.TheNational Higher School of Petrol and Motors(ENSPM) is a school for specialist petroleum engineers, petrochemists, and engine makers. The ITIP (National Institute for International Transportation and Ports) prepares students for careers in themultimodal transportand port business. The (Institut national des sciences appliquées|National Institute of Applied Sciences of Rouen) (INSA) opened a branch in Le Havre in 2008 with a civil engineering and sustainable construction department. The SPI (Axis of Science for the Engineer) is expected to reopen in 2012 in a new building in the Eure district.

In the arts, the Conservatory of Departmental RadianceArthur Honeggeris attended by 1,680 students (music, dance and drama).TheGraduate School of Art of Le Havre(ESAH) offers several degrees and preparation for competition. Finally 800 people study in paramedical and social schools mostly in the IFSI (Institute of Training in Nursing) which has approximately 600 students.

Sports

Port Vauban

The city of Le Havre has some of the oldest sports clubs in France: theLe Havre Rowing Society(1838),theRegatta Society of Le Havre(1838), andLe Havre Athletic Club(1872), doyen of French football and rugby clubs.

The city also hosted thesailingevents for the1900and1924 Summer Olympics,respectively.

Le Havre is dominated by three professional sports teams: the first is theLe Havre ACfootball team who were relegated fromLigue 1after the 2008–2009 season but gained promotion back to Ligue 1 in 2023. Its training centre is well-reputed for having trained a number of international French players, includingVikash Dhorasoo,Julien Faubert,Jean-Alain Boumsong,Lassana Diarra,andSteve Mandanda.The second major sports team isSaint Thomas Basketballwho represent the city inLNB Pro A.Thirdly the HAC women's team who play in the first division with many international players in its ranks. The team won their first major national title, the Coupe de France for women's handball in 2006.Le Havre Rugby athletic clubplays inFédérale 3(equivalent to fifth division). The Hockey Club of Le Havre played at the fourth level nationally (Division 3) for the 2008–2009 season. The team is nicknamed the "Dock's du Havre".

The maritime side of the city is found in many sports: for example, the tradition of sailing is old. On 29 July 1840 the first French pleasure boatregattawas held. Today, Le Havre is known as a water sports andSeaside resort.The marina can host deepwater vessels around the clock in any weather. Built in theInterwar period,it is now the largest inSeine-Maritimewith about 1,300 mooringsadditional moorings were installed in the Vauban basin in 2011–2012.TheHavraise Rowing Societyhas trained many rowers to a high level as Thierry Renault. TheClub Nautique Le Havrais(CNH) is the centre of mixed swimming, synchronized swimming, and men's water polo. TheCentre Nautique Paul Vatineis the fifth largest club in the country for the number of sports licenses it holds; it ranks second in the Division 1 of the Championship France for Catamaran Clubs.

Several major local sportsmen began their career at Le Havre: the swimmerHugues Duboscqwas an Olympic medallist several times. In judo the French team has two members from Le Havre: Dimitri Dragin and Baptiste Leroy.Jerome Le Banneris a professionalkick-boxerat world level who participates in theK-1championship. Finally the navigator Paul Vatine, who was lost at sea in 1999, won theTransat Jacques Vabreseveral times.

Facilities

TheStade Océane

The skatepark

The city has 99 sports facilities including 46 gymnasiums, 23 sports fields, and 5 swimming pools.TheStade Océane(Ocean Stadium), inaugurated in July 2012, replaced theStade Jules Deschaseaux.With 25,000 seats, it can host football matches as well as other sporting and cultural events.Basketball and Handball matches are playued in theDock Océanehall (3600 seats) whileice hockeyis played at the ice hockey rink (900 seats). Of the five swimming pools in the city, two are operated by the municipality: the CNH (which has an Olympic pool for competitions) andLes Bains Des Docks(which was designed by the architectJean Nouvel). Le Havre has the largest free outdoorskateparkin France with approximately 7,000 m2 allocated to the urbanBoardsport.The port infrastructure allows for many water activities such as sailing, fishing, canoeing, and rowing. Finally, the beach is a place forkitesurfing,windsurfingandsurfing.

Events

Le Havre has been and is still the venue of major sports events: the Tour de France has passed a dozen times by the Ocean Gate, the last stage took place here in 2015. Sailing events are often held and theTransat Jacques Vabretransatlantic race has been held every two years since 1993 linking Le Havre to Latin America. The course of theSolitaire du Figarowas partly in Le Havre in 2010. Since 2006, weekends of freestyle board sports have been popular (skateboarding, rollerblading, funboard, kiteboarding, skydiving etc.). Every summer roller blade events are organized in the city on Friday evening every fortnight and have great success. The first International Triathlon was held in 2012.Finally, there are several opportunities for runners with ten kilometres (6.2 miles) in Le Havre or the strides of Montgeon.

Media

Five newspapers cover the Le Havre agglomeration: the dailiesLe Havre libre,Le Havre Presse,Paris Normandiein its Le Havre edition in collaboration withLe Havre PresseandLiberté-Dimanche(communal Sunday edition of the previous three) are part of the Hersant group which is currently in serious financial trouble and looking for a buyer. A free weekly of information,Le Havre Infos(PubliHebdo group) has been published since 2010 every Wednesday and is available in many places in the city.

Several magazines provide local information:LH Océanes(Municipal magazine) andTerres d'Agglo(Agglomeration Area magazine) to which must be added several free magazines:Aux Arts(cultural information more focused on theBasse-Normandieregion)Bazart(cultural events in Le Havre but now with circulation across all of Normandy), andHAC Magazine(news aboutHAC). Several newspapers are also available on the Internet: Infocéane, Le Havre on the Internet.

A local televised edition onFrance 3,France 3 Baie de Seine,is broadcast every evening then again onFrance 3 Haute Normandie.Radio Albatrosis a local station installed in the Sanvic du Havre district transmitting on FM frequency 88.2.Radio Vallée de la Lézarde,based inÉpouville,RESONANCEon 98.9, andRCF Le Havreare other radio stations. It was in Le Havre radio stations that the journalist and television hostLaurent Ruquier,who was born in Le Havre in 1963, began his career. Several national and regional radio stations are relays for Le Havre: local information onFrance Bleu Haute Normandie,local relay from 12 noon to 4pm onVirgin radio Normandie 101.8 FM,local relay for Information from 6am to 9am and from 4pm to 8pm onNRJ Le Havre 92.5 FM.Associations likeLHnouslanuitandOnly-Hithave tried to develop alternative and cultural local radio by featuring local community associations (Papa's Production, Ben Salad Prod, Asso6Sons, Agend'Havre, Pied Nu, I Love LH).

Religion

The nave ofLe Havre Cathedral.

At the request of Monsigneur André Mulch,Archbishop of Rouen,Pope Paul VIdecided on 6 July 1974 through thepapal bullQuae Sacrosanctumon the creation of thediocese of Le Havre(Portus GratiaeinLatinmeaning "Port of Grace" ). The diocese was created from part of the parishes of theArchdiocese of Rouento the west of a line joiningNorvilletoSassetot-le-Mauconduit.Monseigneur Michel Saudreau, its first bishop, was ordained on 22 September 1974. The church of Notre Dame was promoted toCathedral Notre Dame du Havre.Today, the commune of Le Havre is divided into eightparishesand 24 places of worship (churches and chapels). The oldest chapel is Saint-Michel d'Ingouville which dates back to the 11th century. TheChurch of Saint Joseph du Havre,built byAuguste Perret,dominates the city with its spire 107m high. There are several monastic establishments (Carmel of the Transfiguration,FranciscanMonastery,Little Sisters of the Poor,etc.).

The Protestant Church of Le Havre was built in the city centre in 1862. Bombed in 1941, it lost itspediment,itsbell tower,and roof. Rebuilt in 1953 by the architects Jacques Lamy and Gérard Dupasquier,who worked in the Auguste Perret office, is the only building in Le Havre uniting the original architecture of the 19th century with the architecture of the Perret school. Le Havre also has seven evangelical Protestant churches:Salvation Army,Seventh Day Adventist,Apostolic Church,Assembly of God,Baptist Church,Good News Church,etChurch of Le Havreas well as several Protestant churches of African origin.

The city also has seven Muslim places of worship: the socio-cultural association of Muslims in Upper Normandy, En-Nour Mosque on Rue Paul Claudel, El Fath Mosque on rue Victor Hugo, Bellevue mosque on rue Gustavus Brindeau, and three prayer rooms located on rue Audran, Boulevard Jules Durant, and rue Lodi. The synagogue, located in the rebuilt central city, was visited by PresidentJacques Chiracin April 2002.It is the seat of theassociation consistoriale israélite du Havrewhose president is Victor Elgressy.

Notable people

Le Havre was the birthplace of:

Georges de Scudéry

Charles Alexandre Lesueur,1818

René Coty,1954

• Georges de Scudéry(1601–1667), novelist,dramatistand poet.
• Madeleine de Scudéry(1607–1701), writer.
• Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre(1737–1814), writer and botanist.
• Charles Alexandre Lesueur(1778–1846), naturalist, artist and explorer
• Ivan Đaja(1884–1957), biologist, physiologist, author and philosopher
• Casimir Delavigne(1793–1843), poet and dramatist.
• Jacques-François Ancelot(1794–1854), dramatist and litterateur.
• Frédérick Lemaître(1800–1876), actor and playwright.
• Léon Gautier(1832–1897), literary historian.
• Gabriel Monod(1844–1912), historian.
• Alfred-Louis Brunet-Debaines(1845–c. 1935), artist
• Juliette Heuzey(1865-1952), writer
• Louis Bachelier(1870–1946), mathematician
• Raoul Dufy(1877–1953), painter
• André Caplet(1878–1925), composer and conductor
• René Coty(1882–1962),French president(1954–1959)
• Suzanne Balguerie(1888–1973), Frenchsoprano
• Arthur Honegger(1892–1955), composer, a member ofLes Six
• Thomas Roberts(1893–1976), Roman Catholic archbishop

• Jean Dubuffet(1901–1985), artist
• Jean Mallon(1904–1982), palaeographer
• Raymond Queneau(1903–1976), poet and novelist
• Jacques Leguerney(1906–1997), composer
• Bénédicte Pesle(1927–2018), arts patron
• Jacqueline Danno(1931-2021). actress and singer.
• Tristan Murail(born 1947), composer
• Elvire Murail(born 1958), writer for children
• Laurent Ruquier(born 1963), journalist
• govy,(1981-2023), artist

Sport

• Paul Frère(1917–2008), Belgian racing driver
• Jérôme Le Banner(born 1972), kickboxer and K-1 fighter
• Vikash Dhorasoo,(born 1973), international footballer
• Olivier Davidas(born 1981), footballer
• Dimitri Dragin(born 1984), judoka
• Julien Faubert(born 1983), footballer
• Kevin Anin(born 1986), footballer
• Gueïda Fofana(born 1991), footballer
• Jaylen Hoard(born 1999), French-American basketball player forHapoel Tel Aviv

Others, associated with the city

• Rex Cherryman(1896–1928), American actor, died here
• Jean-Paul Sartre(1905–1980), philosopher, taught at the Lycée François-Ier
• Patrick Demarchelier(1943–2022), fashion photographer, spent his childhood in Le Havre
• Christine Lagarde(born 1956), IMF managing director, grew up in Le Havre
• René Viénet(born 1944), sinologist

See also

• Pierre-Marie Poisson,Le Havre War Memorial
• Jean-Marie Baumel,sculpture of several bas-reliefs in Le Havre

References

• (in French)Michel de Boüard,History of Normandy,Toulouse, 2001,ISBN2-7089-1707-2
• (in French)Pierre Gras,The Time of Ports, Decline and Recovery of Port Cities (1940–2010),Tallandier, 2010, 298 pages,ISBN978-2-84734-675-6
• (in French)Claire Étienne-Steiner, Le Havre. City, Port, and Agglomeration, Connaissance du patrimoine de Haute-Normandie, Rouen, 1999,ISBN2-910316-19-X

Further reading

French

• Joseph Abram,Le Havre: Modern City, 2011
• Nathalie Castetz, Le Havre, Seine Estuary, Paris, Héliopoles, 2012,ISBN978-2-919006-10-6
• Franck Godard and Olivier Bouteiller,Le Havre,Déclics, 2011,ISBN978-2-84768-231-1
• Unusual Le Havre,Renée Grimaud, Les beaux jours, 2012,ISBN978-2-35179-101-1
• Jean-François Massé,Le Havre, attached port,Acanthe, 2003,ISBN2-84942-003-4
• Tristan Gaston-Breton,Le Havre 1802–2002: Two centuries of economic adventure,Le Cherche midi, 2002,ISBN2-7491-0028-3
• E. Simon, A. Fiszlewicz, Le Havre: What an Estuary!, Petit à Petit, 2002,ISBN2-914401-26-4
• Madeleine Brocard, Atlas of the Estuary of the Seine, Rouen, Presses de l'université de Rouen, 1996
• Emanuelle Real,The Industrial Landscape of Basse-Seine,Connaissance du patrimoine en Haute-Normandie, 2009,ISBN2-910316-33-5,264 pages
• Jacques Basile and Didier Guyot,Another Blue City,Editions Point de Vues, 2011, 120 pages,ISBN978-2-915548-63-1

External links

• Le Havre Official website(in French)
• Official tourism websiteArchived23 December 2018 at theWayback Machine
• Le Havre Information website(Archive)
• Le Havre on Lion1906
• Slave streets of Le Havre; article on the slave trade here in 17th and 18th century
• Le Havre on Géoportail,National Geographic Institute(IGN) website(in French)
• Texts on Wikisource:
  • "Havre, Le".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 11 (9th ed.). 1880. pp. 527–528.
  • "Havre, Le".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 13 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 83–84.
  • "Havre".The American Cyclopædia.1879.
  • "Havre".The New Student's Reference Work.1914.
  • "Havre".Collier's New Encyclopedia.1921.