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The Caravan Channel

Site Review by Jenny Sargeant

Camping La Phare Honfleur

I am now going to admit to having a second friend who asked us if we would like to go to Honfleur with her and her husband.
siteHonfleur is 180 miles from Calais by excellent roads. Situated on the river Seine on the opposite bank to Le Havre access is via the very long Pont de Normandy Bridge.
Honfleur harbour and town is one of the prettiest you will ever see. The inner harbour is surrounded by houses so tall and narrow you wonder that they do not topple over. Along the quayside and in the surrounding streets there are more restaurants than you can imagine fitting in one place.
HonfleurThe surrounding area is all old and the buildings are a joy to study even if you do wonder how they are still standing as they do not maintain them quite as the English would.
There is a glorious old church built entirely of wood after the English occupation of Honfleur in 1450. They built it of wood as stone was needed for fortifications and as it was built by shipbuilders the roof inside looks like the hulls of two upturned boats.
The town is full of shops selling paintings and other high quality arts and crafts and there is a museum to the artist Boudin who was born here. On Saturday there is a market which is one of the biggest you will see.
Honfleur Behind the inner harbour there is the outer one with a small fishing fleet and the odd visiting cruise like ship for trips up the Seine. The harbour leads out into the river Seine and the beach. In either the inner or outer harbour there always seems something to watch while eating an ice-cream.
Between the river and the camp site is a large garden with statues of all the famous people who have a link with Honfleur, a large lake with resident swans and ducks, and pleasant flower beds.
La Phare site is what I would describe as a rural site in an urban setting being only five minutes walk from the town centre. The site is surrounded by trees and bushes and hedges mark out the pitches which vary in size from small to generous although not all of them have electric, and I have to say that some of the electric fittings are rather old.
fishing boatThere is some road noise but it is debateable whether the road noise or the birds singing will be what wakes you in the morning. The toilets and showers are kept extremely clean and there are laundry facilities if needed. A little bread shop is open in the morning to supply croissants and baguettes but it is only five minutes walk to the nearest boulangerie if you fancy a pre breakfast stroll.
Honfleur is beguiling. You will come for a few days and never want to leave.

Jenny Sargeant