Notre-Dame Cathedral

This beautiful cathedral was built in the 16th century on the site of an old wooden chapel, and it’s suffered a lot over the years. It was damaged by British bombings in 1759, then abandoned for several years after the French Revolution.

Worship resumed in 1801, and the building underwent major restorations that eventually earned it official Historic Monument status in 1918. But during the Second World War, in 1944, it suffered heavy damage from bombings, like much of Le Havre. Even so, much of the structure survived, and the city carried out another round of restorations to bring it back to life.

With its striking white stone, Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the few 16th-century buildings still standing in the heart of Le Havre. Its architecture blends Gothic lines with touches of Renaissance detail.

Inside, you’ll find an organ gifted to the city by Cardinal Richelieu in 1638, along with two beautiful stained-glass windows from the 19th century.