La Lieutenance

The Lieutenance

The Honfleur audio-guided tour presents you with the Lieutenance, a proud building that guards the entrance to the Vieux Bassin and is among the last vestiges of the medieval ramparts of the city.

From the Caen Gate to the lieutenant's lodging

Raised in the fourteenth century under the reign of Charles V to protect the estuary of the Seine, the Lieutenance was then the "Caen Gate", opening the way to the neighbouring city. A veritable fortress, it counted round towers, a drawbridge and heavy chains stretched at night across the port. A niche still shelters a statue of the Virgin, Notre-Dame du Port, who watched over the sailors. At the end of the seventeenth century, the building was transformed to lodge the king's lieutenant, hence its name. During the Revolution, it served as a prison, notably for nuns from Orbec. Listed as a historic monument in 1909, the Lieutenance was restored between 2015 and 2022 and today houses an interpretation centre of maritime heritage.

What there is to see

The Lieutenance reveals in its stones more than six centuries of history, from the fortifications of Charles V to the troubled hours of the Revolution. Carefully restored, it houses an interpretation centre and an artists' residence; from its terraces, the view over the city and the port is superb. It is much more than a fortified gate: the living memory of Honfleur.

Practical information

The Lieutenance stands at the entrance to the Vieux Bassin, in the heart of Honfleur. Its façade can be contemplated freely; the interpretation centre can be visited according to opening hours to be checked on site.

What was the original function of the Lieutenance?

It was the "Caen Gate", a fortified gate of the medieval ramparts raised in the fourteenth century to protect the port.

What does the Lieutenance house today?

An interpretation centre devoted to the maritime heritage of Honfleur and an artists' residence, after a restoration completed in 2022.