Quay of the Bees

Running along the outer harbour, the Quay of the Bees is the perfect place to take in the nonstop activity of Le Havre’s port, the second largest in France after Marseille. This bustling maritime hub has been the lifeblood of the city for centuries.

The name likely comes from a tugboat company or a ship once based here, and it’s also a reference to the bee as a symbol of tireless work, a fitting metaphor for the energy of the port. There’s a good chance that the great Impressionist painter Claude Monet created his iconic Impression, Soleil levant, here on this quay, capturing the silhouettes of ships in the soft morning light, with the rising sun casting a warm glow over the harbour.

So go ahead, grab your camera and snap one of Le Havre’s most unforgettable views!