Honfleur-the Old Port 3 Of 3

by Walter Fahmy

Original - Sold

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Not Specified

Dimensions

49.000 x 20.000 x 2.000 inches

Title

Honfleur-the Old Port 3 Of 3

Artist

Walter Fahmy

Medium

Painting - Acrylics On Masonite Panel

Description

AN OLD MARITIME TOWN�
The first written mention of Honfleur is a reference by Richard III, duke of Normandy, in 1027. By the middle of the 12th century, the city represented a significant transit point for goods from Rouen to England.
Honfleur profited from its strategic position from the start of the Hundred Years' War. The town's defences were strengthened by Charles V in order to protect the estuary of the Seine from attacks from the English. However, Honfleur was taken and occupied by the English in 1357 and from 1419 to 1450.
The port saw the departure of a number of explorers, in particular in 1503 of Binot Paulmierde Gonneville to the coasts of Brazil. In 1506, Jean Denis departed for Newfoundland island and the mouth of the Saint Lawrence. An expedition in 1608, organised by Samuel de Champlain, founded the city of Quebec in modern day Canada.
After 1608, Honfleur thrived on trade with Canada, the West Indies, the African coasts and the Azores. As a result the town became one of the five principal ports for the slave trade in France. During this time the rapid growth of the town saw the demolition of its fortifications on the orders of Colbert.

Honfleur is a small medieval town, it reveals her riches to all those who take the time to look� The past is in evidence all around. The Old Dock surrounded by picturesque narrow houses, this is with no doubt what catches the eye of every visitor upon their first visit to Honfleur. But the town is also St Catherine, St Etienne, St L�onard churches, the Lieutenance, the old Salt Stores, the medieval cobbled streets.
The Dock itself was built thanks to Colbert in 1681 so as to take over from the old harbor that had become far too small for the increasing needs of the town. � (Colbert was Louis the 14th�s finance minister).
The narrow houses squeezed against one another on St Catherine�s quay are quite unusual. They are all different in size and shape. These houses were built between the 16th and the 18th centuries.
At one end of the Old Dock stands an odd-looking stone building called the Lieutenancy. This name refers to the 17th century when the King�s Lieutenant used this building as place of residence. It is however the only remnant left from the ancient rampart largely altered during the 16th and the 17th centuries.

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March 8th, 2013

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