Le Havre
Le Havre Le Havre ("the harbour") has historically been the harbour for Paris, unloading goods from ocean-going vessels and barges for Paris via the river Seine. It is the second largest port in France and the fifth largest in Europe. It has cross-Channel passenger links to Portsmouth, and its industries include textiles, engineering, chemicals, car manufacturing, and oil refining. It is also a major import centre for cotton, coffee, sugar, tobacco, and wool. The town was heavily bombed during the Battle of Normandy during World War II. History Le Havre was in 1517 by Francis I, and supplanted Harfleur as France’s major port when the latter began to silt up. Harfleur is now a suburb of the town. In 1562 Louis I, Prince of Condé, the commander of the Huguenot army, handed the town to the Elizabeth I of England, but the English were expelled by Charles IX and Catherine de’ Medici in 1563. Le Havre prospered during the American Revolution by trading with the American rebels as opposed to trading with the UK. During the second World War the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944 took place on the beaches located 40 km south west of Le Havre. The city and port were linked to Paris by rail as early as 1847. In the period 1852 to 1914, there was major economic and urban expansion of Le Havre, including a huge expansion of the port area and, for the first time in France, the creation of English-style docks. Le Havre was of strategic importance during WWII and the city was occupied by the Germans from June 13th 1940 until liberated on September 12, 1944 after heavy fighting. What to See & Do in Le Havre