The reconstructed downtown of Le Havre

City History

Le Havre, a port city in the north-west of France, serves as the capital of the Seine-Maritime department. As the most populous city in Normandy, both its city center and harbor have a unique history. It was King Francis I who built the city and its port around 1517. The port became a battleground for religious wars and Franco-English conflicts and was rejuvenated in the late eighteenth century through international trade. Le Havre was entirely destroyed during the Second World War, due to bombings by the German army led by General Rommel.

The Tragedy of the City's Liberation by Allied Troops

The liberation in 1944 by the Allies brought a wave of joy to almost all French cities after four years of occupation. However, in Le Havre, the memory of the first days of September evokes not pleasant recollections but images of destruction. The city is a testament to the struggle against the Nazis. Much of the city was destroyed by Allied bombing. Jean-Baptiste Gastinne, a historian and assistant to the mayor of Le Havre, explains, "We know why 1.5 million soldiers fell during the First World War. The sacrifice of the city of Le Havre had a real military utility." Like the rest of France, Le Havre's citizens awaited liberation at the beginning of September 1944. They witnessed the landings on other Normandy beaches and anticipated their day of liberation. While Paris was liberated in late August, Le Havre remained occupied. The Allied offensive began on September 5 with a barrage of bombs on the city center. The bombing continued the next day with the dropping of thousands of tons of explosives, including phosphorous bombs. This bombardment lasted until September 10th. The bombings destroyed 10,000 houses, killed 2,000 citizens, and left 80,000 homeless. The port of Le Havre, a strategic asset for the Allies, was in poor condition due to regular bombings since the beginning of the war. A German garrison of 12,000 men, based in the city, was intent on resisting the Allies. For historian Jean-Baptiste Gastinne, "The bombing of the central districts during the first two days is incomprehensible; the Allies had all the information at their disposal." The historian posits that "since D-Day, politicians had no control over operations, the military held all decision-making power." The British likely wanted to quickly take over the city. On September 12, Anglo-Canadian troops entered Le Havre. The reception was cold, unlike the jubilant scenes elsewhere in France. According to the deputy mayor, "The lack of justification for the destruction of their city has always been difficult for Le Havre's inhabitants to understand." The citizens of Le Havre have no collective memory of these tragic events. Rebuilt by Auguste Perret, the city center has since been classified as a World Heritage Site, becoming a source of pride for its inhabitants.

Reconstructed Downtown Le Havre

After reconstruction in 1964, the city center transformed into a chic neighborhood spanning 150 hectares. The architecture is notable for its use of reinforced concrete, a favorite material of Auguste Perret. Some might argue that concrete imparts a kind of impersonal coldness to the city. However, thanks to the architect's genius in organizing the entire city into a coherent form that respects line regularity, the area offers a unique place in the world to admire the symmetry and proportionality of buildings over such a vast space. The buildings rest on strictly spaced posts of 6.24 m, providing perfect examples of the design. The area has been recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO since