A white Christmas tree stands at the entrance to the Vieux Bassin, begun in the 1680s as a new harbour for the historic port of Honfleur in Calvados, Normandy, France. Behind it is the Lieutenance, a group of buildings incorporating the former residence of the King’s Lieutenant and last vestiges of medieval ramparts built to defend Honfleur in the 13th and 14th centuries. These include remnants of the Porte de Caen, one of the town’s two medieval gateways. The other entrance, the Porte de Rouen, was demolished with the rest of the fortifications in the 17th century.
Honfleur, Calvados, Normandy, France: a white Christmas tree stands in early January at the entrance to the Vieux Bassin (Old Basin or Dock), begun in the 1680s as a new harbour for this historic port. Behind and to the right of the Christmas tree in this view is the Lieutenance, a group of ancient buildings that include the former residence of the King’s Lieutenant, the Governor of Honfleur, as well as the last vestiges of the medieval defences built to enclose the town in the 13th and 14th centuries. The stone base of the Lieutenance incorporates remnants of the Porte de Caen, one of two medieval gateways in ramparts begun in the 13th century and then transformed into a fortress by King Charles V around 1350. The brick and stone buildings rising above it, added in the 17th century, housed the Lieutenant’s apartments. The rest of the fortifications were demolished in the late 17th century on the orders of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, First Minister of State under King Louis X1V.
Size: 2774px × 4177px
Location: Vieux Bassin, Honfleur, Calvados, Normandy, France
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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