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Honfleur
is one of the most picturesque ports in France. Characterized
by high-houses with slate-covered exteriors, Sainte Catherine's
Quay is especially beautiful - as is the
Vieux Bassin, one of the most frequently painted harbors in the world, and immortalized in the works of impresionists Claude Monet and Eugène Boudin.
Located
in the Calvados department of Normandy, Honfleur lies on the
southern bank of the Seine. Founded
about the middle of the 12th century, the city was
an embarkation point for goods from Rouen to England.
During the Hundred Years War, Honfleur was occupied
by the English in 1357, and again from 1419 to 1450. Blockades
during the Napoleonic wars severely impacted commerce. This was followed by silting, and Honfleur never really regained
a dominant commercial position. The scenic Normandie Bridge connects
Honfleur to Le Havre on the Seine's northern bank.
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