Le Havre, 500 years

Le Havre’s 500th anniversary, in 2017, was the occasion to embrace a rich, sometimes painful past. The city has lived several identities: Belle Époque charm, the bombings of 1944, then reconstruction by Auguste Perret, whose architectural work is listed as UNESCO World Heritage. The brief was to pass on this history, deeply rooted in the memory of Le Havre’s residents, while showcasing today’s dynamic city.

On the Southampton quay, our virtual-reality films show the harbour entrance in the 19th century, the François I tower and merchant ships, then the destroyed city of 1944 and its reconstruction. On the City Hall square, visitors dive into the interwar years before watching Perret’s city rise again.

In full immersion, visitors are plunged into a 360-degree visual and sound atmosphere that recreates each era. They watch the city evolve and connect heritage with urban projects, projected into the past at the exact spot where they stand.

The two kiosks, free and open to all day and night, were inaugurated on 8 June 2017 by the mayor as part of the anniversary festivities. Le Havre became the second French city equipped with this new kind of street furniture, after Paris.