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Once again I visit one of my favorite places in France.  Honfleur which is located in Normandy in the Commune Department of Calvados and the connection for me is of course that it was and still is a mecca for artists, especially those of the Impressionist movement.  Famous names such as Gustave Courbet, Eugène Boudin, Claude Monet and Johan Jongkind, who formed the école de Honfleur (Honfleur school) which contributed to the appearance of the Impressionist movement.
Pissaro and Monet both visited many times and often painted the harbor area of the port as indeed  have I.  Going back as now using a computer concept is odd but no less exciting.

Honfleur Harbor area

The pretty port and houses around Le Vieux Bassin are the main attraction today, as they were over 100 years ago from where you can still pick up your fresh fish in the market. The port was built in the 17th century and apart from the narrow entrance for boats it is surrounded on all sides by these beautiful, tall, narrow buildings. These have been painted so many times by visiting artists and yet still hold a fascination for us all.

In an earlier post I have managed a few images with wider views than this one and I don’t doubt I’ll do a few more over the years, such is their draw.

Old Lieutenancy building

Interesting building in the old harbor is this one – called the Lieutenancy. The name refers back to the 17th century when the King’s Lieutenant used this building as his residence. Much altered over the years it’s difficult to see where the fortified “Caen Gate” was which was used to control the entrance into the medieval fortress of Honfleur.  There are however still parts of the protection walls to be seen on the building if you look closely.

Both pictures here I’ve managed in a quite strong brushed style and with a hint of Impressionist as a tribute to these great Artists of the past.  I hope that the “Honfleurais” or the local folks who live here are not too put out by the sheer numbers of artists and photographers that still flock here.  Mind you there are a whole stack of cafe’s and restaurants on the quayside, so I expect they’re doing rather well from it all – and good luck to them.

It is a wonderful spot and a favorite haunt of mine too.