Chapelle Notre-Dame de Grâce

Church in Honfleur

CC BY-SA 2.0 / René Dinkel

Perched atop the Plateau de Grâce, the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Grâce offers a serene retreat with panoramic views over Honfleur, the Seine estuary, and the Pont de Normandie. This 17th-century chapel, constructed between 1600 and 1615, replaced an earlier sanctuary lost to a cliff collapse in 1538. Its modest exterior belies a richly adorned interior, featuring ex-voto paintings and ship models donated by sailors, reflecting Honfleur’s deep maritime heritage.

Inside, visitors can admire an 18th-century wooden statue of the Virgin Mary holding a ship, symbolizing her role as protector of seafarers. The chapel also houses a 1990 organ crafted by Dupont and numerous plaques commemorating notable visitors, including King Louis XIII, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

The chapel is a focal point during the annual Fête des Marins (Festival of Sailors), held every Pentecost weekend since 1861. During this event, children dressed in traditional sailor attire parade through Honfleur, carrying model ships to the chapel, where an outdoor mass is celebrated, honoring the town’s nautical traditions.

A short walk from the chapel leads to the Panorama du Mont-Joli, offering breathtaking vistas of Honfleur and the surrounding landscape.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Grâce appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Honfleur!

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!