Monday, April 29, 2013

From Place To Space: Honfleur, France



Once I was asked why I'm blogging about travels too when my focus is interior design and homewares. Well, first of all, besides interior design, traveling is another strong passion of mine. And secondly, I always bring back inspiration and ideas for my home and interior styling after my trips. So here is another little virtual trip for you my dear readers - today's destination: the quaint town of Honfleur on the coast of the Normandy in northern France. 


Honfleur is a mere 2.5 hours car ride away from Paris and thus a very popular weekend getaway for the Parisians. The little town is famous for its picturesque old port lined-up with colourful, slate-covered houses and its reputation among artists. Wandering the streets of Honfleur will leave you with the impression that at least half of France's artists must have been citizens of Honfleur during one certain time in their lives. Consequently, many houses carry the names of renown French artists and a good deal of small museums pays tribute to them. 


Moreover, Honfleur is known for its good food (like the Normandy in general). The city is located in the department called Calvados hence the correspondent liquor stems from this region as does the famous French cidre - try the cidre rosé, it is amazing! Excellent cheeses and salted butter are among the region's specialties and apples play a major role in the local cuisine. But seafood is the real highlight in Honfleur - you will be tempted by dozens of seafood dishes for incredibly reasonable prices so if you like it, dig into the delicious Noix de Saint-Jacques, oysters, mussels and so on.



As charming as the old town is with its historical buildings, the unique St. Catherine's church with its old wooden bell tower and wooden interior, don't miss out a beach walk during the low tide. You will enjoy a fab view of the famous 'Pont de Normandie', a huge, modern bridge, and on the other side you will spot the silhouette of the neighbouring city Le Havre. Moreover, many many shells will trigger your decoration instinct and call for a little souvenir collection.


Speaking of souvenirs: I brought back a few goodies from the Normandy for you. The traditional salted butter caramels, famous chocolates called 'sardines' and of course a few hand-picked shells from the beach. You will find a picture on my Instagram account and by leaving a message on Instagram until Tuesday midnight you are in to win the little Normandy goodie bag. Join the giveaway HERE.

So, how did you like today's little virtual trip? Oh, and next week I'll tell you all about the charming hotel I was staying.

Happy Monday!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

22 comments :

  1. Lovely post Igor. Great to see little treasures of seaside bliss from a country far away from me. I LOVE your photos and wish I wasn't so far away from the beauty of Europe. Ahhhhh I'll get there again one day, untill then I have your 'Happy' blog. Sending you much bliss, Heather

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  2. Oh Honfleur is such a pretty city! Did you have the time to go to Etretat as well?

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    1. Not this time unfortunately. I'm saving it for a 'Normandy Revisited' trip:-)

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  3. Super cute shots! Normandy is stunning.

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  4. I've never been to Normandy but sure would like to visit.

    Love all your photographs. Thank you for my virtual tour on a Monday morning. Enjoyed it:-)

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  5. First I have to say: who on earth would ask such a question?!! If anything is inspirational, it's travel posts, and you better not stop posting those! Yes, that is a threat.

    Now I want to walk the streets of Honfleur and dip my toes into the sea.
    Thank you for the visual tour.

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  6. We used to catch a ferry to Normandy a lot to go on family holidays when I saw just a little kid. We would stay in Gites and I would always eat sand at the beach and then be sick in the car. Good times! Hahaha.

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    1. Ha! So now I suggest some other culinary treats as mentioned above for a change:-) no sick feeling involved there:-)

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  7. Τι μου θύμισες... ειχα παει μονοήμερη εκδρομη πριν καποια χρόνια
    ειχα περάσει πολύ ομορφα, εφαγα και ωραιοτατη καβουρόσουπα!

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  8. I like to travel with you. It feels like I'm really there.

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  9. Honfleur is magic, my husband is from Normandy so he sometimes take me to go there. I went there last december : http://occasionalvanity.blogspot.com/2013/01/honfleur.html

    Fantastique :)

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  10. A beautiful day trip from Paris! I always draw design inspiration from travel, so I understand your passion completely. ;)

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  11. looks like a perfect little trip. extra tempting for berlin now, as the temperatures have dropped here far too much!

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  12. I don't know how I have missed it to go to France as I was living in Germany. Strange and a little bit stupid. ;) This one will definitely be on my msut-see-list.

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  13. I love your get away posts - they are amazing and informative, almost like I'm there too. FAB Igor - loving this trip. Happy week my friend,
    Ax

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  14. Thank you all for your support of my little travel blog series!!!

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  15. Love the travel post - gorgeous pictures and you've got my mouth watering at the sound of the seafood on offer! I also love to combine travel posts with my interiors and lifestyle ones - I think they compliment each other really well, so keep them coming! LMHx

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  16. I wish I could go there!

    Great pictures.

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  17. I LOVE the pictures. Looks like a amazing place.

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  18. Beautiful pictures, wish I was there. I'll def have to plan a visit, you are a great travel maestro Igor.

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  19. I read regularly your blog, which is in my favorites. I am very proud that you have spoken about Honfleur (I live near this city) and your photos sublimate the beauty and the charm of Honfleur. We also have in our region our own creators in design (Audrey Jeanne, Alice Dufay, Crapaud Poilu are very poetics).
    I suggest you to discover them when you'll come back in Normandy.
    Thanks for your blog, Igor, you show that beauty is everywhere in the world if we open our eyes.

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    1. Wow, thank you so much, Eugenie! I will definitely be back to the Normandy and need to check out these local designers!

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