Cathedral of Notre-Dame du Havre is the main church of the city. It is also the seat of the Diocese of Le Havre. Over time, it had several names. These include the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and the Church of Notre-Dame du Havre-de-Grâce.
The current building replaced older modest structures. Construction mainly took place between the late 16th century and the early 17th century. Architects used many styles. You can see Flamboyant Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical elements in the design.
The cathedral has always been a center of local life. Citizens, the city, and even the king donated to support it. Over the centuries, it suffered damage from wars. Bombardments of the port in the 17th and 18th centuries caused harm. The French Revolution also brought damage. The most severe destruction happened on September 5, 1944. Allied bombings heavily damaged the building.
After the war, architect Auguste Perret included the cathedral in the city’s reconstruction plan. The rebuilt city center, including the cathedral, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Restoration took decades, and parts of the cathedral still need maintenance today.
The church became a cathedral when the Diocese of Le Havre was created on July 6, 1974, by Pope Paul VI. It was also listed as a historical monument on February 10, 1919. The cathedral remains an important symbol of faith and history in Le Havre.
Le Havre Cathedral
Rue de Paris, 76600 Le Havre, France
Contact Number
+33235212983
How to Reach
Connectivity to the Cathedral of Our Lady, Le Havre, France
✈️ Airways
The nearest airport is Le Havre – Octeville Airport, about 10–15 km from the city center. Travelers can take a taxi or shuttle to reach the cathedral. Local buses or walking can complete the journey from the airport. For international flights, visitors can use Caen – Carpiquet Airport or Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and then transfer by train, bus, or car to Le Havre.
🚆 Railways
The main railway station is Gare du Havre, which connects the city with Paris, Rouen, and other French cities via regular train services. From the station, the cathedral is about 1.8 km away. Visitors can reach it by local bus (e.g., Line 16), taxi in 6–8 minutes, or by walking for roughly 20 minutes through the city center.
🚌 Roadways
Le Havre has strong road links via the A13, A28, and A29 highways, connecting it to Paris, Rouen, and Caen. Long-distance buses, including FlixBus services, also serve the city. Within Le Havre, local buses and trams operate throughout the city, with several bus lines (such as 2, 3, and 7) stopping near the cathedral. Its location on Rue de Paris makes it easy to reach on foot from nearby hotels and parking areas.
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