Sainte-Catherine Church (Église Sainte-Catherine)
About Sainte-Catherine Church (Église Sainte-Catherine)
France's largest wooden church, built by local shipwrights in the second half of the 15th century after the Hundred Years' War. The vaulted ceilings resemble inverted ship hulls, with massive pillars carved from single tree trunks like ship masts. The separate bell tower was built apart from the main structure to protect worshippers from fire if lightning struck. Inside you'll find an 18th-century organ, a Louis XIV altar with twisted columns from 1669-1670, and religious artworks spanning several centuries. All wood came from the nearby Forêt de Touques. The church is classified as a Monument Historique since 1870 and remains an active place of worship. Open daily year-round with extended hours in summer. Entry is free.
Interesting Facts
The church has an unusual structure with two parallel naves spanning twelve bays. The first nave was completed before 1468, but by 1496 the growing population required more space, so a second nave was added right alongside it. This side-by-side dual nave design is rare in church architecture.
Every Pentecost since 1861, children carry model boats in a procession from Église Sainte-Catherine to Chapelle Notre-Dame de Grâce on the nearby hillside. This tradition honors Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of sailors and shipwrights who built the church.
The bell tower required stabilizing supports called 'béquilles' (crutches) added in 1718 because the wooden structure began shifting over time. The clock hands were only installed before 1907 and were gilded in gold leaf in December 2009. Since 1959, the tower houses a museum of religious art as an annex of the Musée Eugène Boudin.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Place Sainte-Catherine, 14600 Honfleur, France
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