Colors of Le Havre - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Le Havre is primarily known as a large port - one of the largest in all of Europe. However, it is also one of the most beautiful cities not only in France but in the world. Local residents are very lucky to be born in such a beautiful place. Of course, due to this fact, they cannot be other than friendly, kind, and positive. You can always ask them for any help. And, of course, they would be pleased if you do this in their native French, though almost everyone speaks English here.

The city is famous for its well-developed industry. It receives income not only from tourism, which is quite interesting, given the extraordinary beauty of the resort city. That's why it can be considered a truly unique city - just like local people. Despite having something to be proud of, they never brag or boast about anything. This shows their simplicity, as well as the fact that it is not customary to flaunt one's wealth here. It is also worth noting that residents of Le Havre are good conversationalists. Of course, something French men can talk about for hours is women.

Speaking of local cuisine, it is worth noting such traditional regional dishes as “Crepes” (French pancakes), various types of Norman cheeses (Camembert, Pont-l'Évêque, Neufchâtel, Livarot, curd cheese). Besides that, the local cuisine is famous for a wide variety of fish and seafood, while meat and vegetables are also popular here. It is worth trying such dishes as “Norman halibut”, “Biorr Norman” (apple cake with raisins), “Soup A La Grec” (soup with pork lard), “Tergul” (rice pudding with cinnamon). As for drinks, Calvados and apple cider prevail. By the way, these can be great memorable gifts for relatives to be brought from the trip. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Since locals are mostly positive, as already noted, they know how to party like nowhere else, and festivals they have are very welcoming and fun. First of all, it's worth mentioning an event devoted to jazz - Dixie days. It is held in Sainte-Adresse in mid-May. At this time, famous and talented bluesmen and jazzmen come here to entertain the audience, and Le Havre becomes the capital of jazz, taking over the baton from New Orleans. A beach party with quality music and great cocktails - isn’t it a real pleasure? At least, for this reason, you should pay attention to such an interesting event.

Ouest Park Festival devoted to alternative music is scheduled for early October. You can listen to music of completely different genres - rock, house, reggae, dub, folk, and techno. Among the participants of the event you can find a lot of interesting and familiar names. The festival aims to gather all fans of quality music under one roof - that is, under the open sky. There are three stages, and like any open-air event, the atmosphere at the festival is family-friendly, and this is what makes it fascinating. As well as the fact that here you can have a great camping experience.

Another popular festival is Ad hoc, which is held in Le Volcan Theatre. The event takes place just before the Christmas holidays, inviting all the smallest citizens to watch theatrical performances. In addition to performances, visitors can enjoy seminars, art exhibitions, and always amazing show because the best theater groups come here to cheer up your kids. The fest lasts for five days, but this is usually not enough to fully enjoy the festival's holiday atmosphere. And yet all spectators - both children and adults - are always very impressed by the action.

In late August, Le Havre celebrates its anniversary. At this time, the port is festively decorated to become even more beautiful (though it's hard to imagine this - how can one of the most admirable cities be better?). A colorful parade is accompanied by musical groups, florists show all their skills - the whole city is buried in flowers at that time. Needless to say, this festival is a real godsend for connoisseurs of beauty.

The beginning of September is marked by Festival de la mer, during which Rock'n'Ride Show is held on Quai du Ruisseau Chapados. This is the time for a colorful regatta when captains dressed like pirates show all their ship steering skills. Besides that, the festival is accompanied by music, a special platform is created for children where they can have plenty of fun. The festival opens a fair where you can buy all kinds of pirate accessories - leather belts, wallets, beer horns, jewelry. In total, the event is attended by about 30,000 visitors, which speaks about its great popularity.

Another interesting event held in the city is Festival Moz'aïque Le Havre. It takes place in Les Jardins Suspendus Park in the middle of July. This is a music festival where vivid impressions are guaranteed since here you can listen to eminent and talented musical performers. And since the festival is held in the open air, it attracts all fans of outdoor recreation. The event is international in nature - among the festival participants there are a lot of performers who come from far countries.

July 14th is a festival widely celebrated in France, which is treated with special respect. In Le Havre, the celebration is as exciting as in other cities. This means that national symbols are everywhere, the whole city is decorated, a military parade passes along the main streets, and festive fireworks becomes the culmination of the holiday. Of course, the holiday is not complete without a fair, theatrical and musical performances, and great fun joined by all those visiting the city during this time.