Commerce Basin Footbridge

The Bassin du Commerce footbridge

The Le Havre audio-guided tour takes you across the Bassin du Commerce footbridge, a body of water dedicated to pleasure boating since 1791. This pedestrian footbridge links the City Hall district to the Saint-Francois district, in the heart of the city.

An award-winning bridge

Inaugurated in 1969, the footbridge was designed by the architect Guillaume Gillet. A few years after its construction, it received the prize for the best metal structure, an award praising its elegance and its integration into the urban setting of Le Havre. Its slender silhouette spans the basin and offers a fine viewpoint over the rebuilt centre.

What there is to see

From the footbridge, you enjoy a fine view of the Bassin du Commerce, its pleasure boats and the striking silhouette of Oscar Niemeyer's Volcan, mirrored in the water. It is one of the most appreciated viewpoints in the centre of Le Havre, ideal for grasping the dialogue between Perret's concrete and Niemeyer's modern architecture.

Practical information

The Bassin du Commerce footbridge is crossed freely, on foot, in the centre of Le Havre, between the City Hall district and the Saint-Francois district. Accessible at any time, it offers fine views of the basin and Le Volcan, particularly enjoyable at sunset.

When was the Bassin du Commerce footbridge built ?

It was inaugurated in 1969, designed by the architect Guillaume Gillet, and awarded a prize for its metal structure.

What can be seen from the footbridge ?

The Bassin du Commerce, the pleasure boats and the silhouette of Oscar Niemeyer's Volcan reflected in the water.