25 August 2017 by Jessica Boston

Le Havre celebrates 500 years!

2017 marks the 500^th anniversary of the wonderful city of Le Havre in Normandy.

Historic, UNESCO World Heritage city

Located on the northern coast of France the port has an incredible history and is also a vibrant modern city so there is much to celebrate; a whole raft of festivities has been planned over the year from May to November.

Le Havre was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005 thanks to its unique architecture – the whole city was rebuilt in the 1950s following the devastation it suffered during the Second World War.

500^th Anniversary celebrations

It’s a very special place to visit at any time, but this year’s celebrations add extra excitement, and the events and installations are a unique opportunity to experience the creativity, indomitable spirit and a great party atmosphere whilst holidaying in Le Havre.

The 500^th Anniversary program of events includes art installations, boat races, concerts, exhibitions, parades, theatre and so much more! For full details visit the official “A Summer in Le Havre 2017″ event website or, if you are staying in the area, ask your holiday property owners for their recommendations.

Celebration highlights:

We’ve picked a few highlights to give you a flavor of what to expect:

1. Royal de Luxe Parades (6^th – 9^th July)

Breathtaking street theatre productions of giant mechanical marionettes from Nantes – a wonderful show for all the family and completely free to view as they parade through the city.

2. Tall Ships Regatta, (31^st August – 3^rd September)

40 majestic ‘heritage’ ships from all over the world will be sailing into Le Havre for the final rendez-vous of their 2017 Regatta. Explore onboard ship or just enjoy the view and join the festive fun at street celebrations, concerts and fireworks displays.

3. MyMo welcomes Monet (9^th September – 8^th October)

For a month Claude Monet’s ‘Impression, Sunrise’ painting will be on display here, in the city where it was painted in 1872, within a special exhibition at Le Havre’s Modern Art Museum. There are also modern art installations to discover throughout the city streets – take a tour and discover them all.

4. A rare chance to visit the Japanese Garden

Usually off-limits for the public, the unique Japanese Garden complete with floating temple and underwater viewing deck will be open to visitors for the duration of the celebrations – don’t miss the chance to visit.

5. The closing ceremony (8^th October)

An incredible end to the celebrations is planned; the party will culminate with the opening of an amazing digital installation that will remain on display in the city as a legacy of the 500^th Anniversary celebrations.

There really is no better time to discover Le Havre, and with Brittany Ferries crossings right into the port and a choice of lovely Normandy holiday properties available for your stay why not plan your trip today?