Church of St. Catherine, Honfleur
Église Sainte-Catherine
The largest timber-framed church in France, built by shipwrights from oak, with its bell tower standing separately across the square.
The Church of St. Catherine was built in the second half of the 15th century, after the Hundred Years' War. Stonemasons were scarce, so Honfleur's shipbuilders constructed the church from oak. Its two side-by-side naves, with vaults shaped like upturned ship hulls, make it the largest surviving timber church in France. To guard against fire, the wooden bell tower was built separately across the square. Inside, it now houses a small museum of religious art. The church is free to visit. The surrounding Place Sainte-Catherine hosts a market on weekends and is a two-minute walk from the Vieux Bassin.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:30–18:00
Nearby sights
- Honfleur Old Harbour
- Musée Eugène Boudin
- Pont de Normandie
- Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
- Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret
- MuMa – Musée d'art moderne André Malraux
- St. Joseph's Church, Le Havre
- Trouville-sur-Mer