Honfleur is widely recognized as the most beautiful seaport in France. This city is also famous as the cradle of impressionism. The picturesque city waterfront with white yachts and boats of local fishermen look so spectacular that it is easy to find this scene in the paintings of internationally renowned artists such as Monet, Seurat, Satie, and Baudelaire. There are many antiquity shops in Honfleur, so this port city attracts art collectors. Tourists can also buy many interesting items here or simply look at stunning collections of true masterpieces. The old part of the city still keeps the original atmosphere and charm of this place. It is always so interesting to explore historical buildings and a magnificent waterfront named after Saint Catherine. First mentions of Honfleur date back to the 20s of the 11th century. There is a reference about the settlement as a part of the land that belonged to Richard III, Duke of Normandy. The French city turned into an important transit point in the middle of the 12th century. It was a stop on the path from Rouen to England. The beginning of the Hundred Years' War brought much uncertainty to Honfleur. One ruling force replaced another, and local people suffered from this. Charles V helped to strengthen the city’s defensive forces by building a fortress here. The main purpose of the stronghold was to protect the French city from English conquerors. Pirates captured Honfleur in the 15th century. They thought that the city
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