Saturday, May 04, 2019

Weekend in Honfleur

The Normandy Invasion continues. Last Saturday PBer Carolyn from Seattle joined me on the 8:09 am train from Gare St. Lazare to Trouville (2 hours). Then a 30 minute scenic bus ride. Et voila Honfleur.

Last week it was parasols. This week its boats. No wonder. Honfleur is noted for its beautiful boat basin lined with old houses, the vieux basin.
 
Its the birthplace of French Impressionism along the Seine. Turner, Corot, Jongking and especially Eugene Boudin who befriended Monet and took him 'en plein air' painting for the first time, wrenching him out of the studio into the luminous Norman light.

We stayed at chain hotel Ibis Styles Centre(119€). The walls had silhouettes of artists painting. Even the table was palette-shaped. My kind of place.

There are oodles of pretty shops selling everything caramel au beurre salé: candies, cookies, sauce. Plus Calvados, Cidre, Norman cheeses like Neufchatel and Camembert, the local apple juice is divine and, endless butter cookies. Basically you can eat yourself silly very easily in Honfleur.

Eating lunch and dinner out is remarkable cheap. An ample 3-course meal starts around 14€ with plenty of fresh seafood. I was happy as a clam. 

Reservations are not necessary and many are simple no-fuss mom-and-pop run establishments. Jill Colonna just wrote about visiting the higher end restaurants plus other sites in 10 Reasons to Visit Honfleur, Normandy appeared on Mad about Macarons exactly while I was there.

In no time at all you can escape to old, quiet cobble-stoned streets lined with split-timbered houses. *FYI take sturdy shoes for those cobblestones. 

I highly recommend visiting the Eugene Boudin museum, including a broad collection of local artists of Boudin's time as well as his sketches and paintings. Instant immersion into 19th century Honfleur. Nice scenic views over the town as well.

This week I fell overboard for ❤️ Honfleur. Have you been? 
Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. If you enjoyed this please share with a friend. Get monthly Paris letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox at ETSY.
xxx💋Carolg et Bear 🐻 back in Paris

16 comments:

  1. PBer Carolyn4:40 AM

    Just Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I only spent one afternoon (and yummy dinner) in Honfleur years ago and I long to return for a longer visit. Your photos, paintings all are wonderful Carol, and capture the spot that stirred my soul.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jeanie,
      I bet it hasnt changed a bit since you were there...

      Delete
  3. Beautiful and your aquarelles are loaded witj charm and beautiful colors..Have not been but it is the scehne from the online art class with Sergei I took:)Love everything ..

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, I have visited and fell in love with Honfleur.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jill/Mad about Macarons11:58 AM

    Thanks for the shout-out, dearest Carol. I am so happy my post appeared just in time for your visit! And I adore your boat paintings of Honfleur. Also thrilled you were enjoying the artistic ambience of the place, as it's a painter's paradise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The perfect guide whilst in Honfleur ❤️

      Delete
  6. Bonnie2:14 PM

    Lovely mini vacation, Carol. Such a scenic town...and the seafood...at such great prices! Makes me want to pack my bags.
    Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You make it sound so enticing - I would love to visit (only drove through 20 years ago) and really spend some time exploring (and eating).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its a wonderful town to explore Susan ❤️

      Delete
  8. Jane G2:45 PM

    Miam! Miam!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ella B6:39 PM

    Glad to know it’s still wonderful eating up there. Remember very happy trip in which, husband, mom and me ate our way from there to Mt. St. Michelle was delicious. 1963 saw amazing show of Jongkind and Boudin paintings there, changed my life. So glad you as a young woman are having these experiences. In many ways it's the roots of French modern painting and it’s interesting ties to the textile industry.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great weekend away! I love your boat paintings, unfortunately I've never been to Honfleur myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely worth a trip Kirra
      All Normandie is worth it and so easy to get to.

      Delete
  11. Bill/Postcards from Philly1:46 AM

    What a great post, Carol.
    Especially favor the final image (wc) .

    ReplyDelete

Love hearing from you