Le Havre

"Situated at the mouth of the Seine, and at the terminus of the direct line from Paris. Population, 122,291. A modern, very busy town, one of the most prosperous ports in France; has no historical monuments and few public buildings of interest. The principal street is the Rue de Paris, which leads from the Grand Quai at one end to the Hotel de Ville at the other, passing through the centre of the Place de la Maure, formerly Place Louis XVI., out of compliment to the sovereign whose legislation laid the foundation of the prosperity of the town.

Havre has been greatly enlarged during the present century. The outline of the old town is marked by fine boulevards, which, commencing at the Grand Quai, follow the original lines of the fortification that formerly divided it from the suburbs of Ingouville, Sanvic, and Gravelle. These have become a portion of the town by the removal of the fortifications in 1856.

Havre was but a small village up to the time when Francis I. caused the harbour to be dug, and granted charters to the inhabitants, which speedily developed its commercial resources. It was connected with the history of England during several centuries. Henry VII. of England embarked here in 1485 for Bosworth, and in the reign of Queen Elizabeth the town was delivered to England, but lost within a year. In 1694 Havre was bombarded by an English fleet, and in 1796 Sir Sidney Smith ran his vessel aground in the harbour, and was taken prisoner.

The harbour consists of an Avant Port, dry at low water, and nine floating docks, with large dry dock. The Basin de l'Eure, communicating with the storehouses, receives the Atlantic steamers. Passengers from Southampton are landed at the Grand Quai, near the Customs. The mouth of the Seine continually becomes silted with sand washed up by the tide, notwithstanding constant dredging.

The sea beach is of shingle, and much frequented in the summer. Bathing is dangerous in rough weather, as the tide runs very strong.

The town is well supplied with amusements, such as theatres, casinos, concerts, baths excursions, [and] restaurants. "

Cook's Handbook for Normandy and Brittany (London, 1898), page 153