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Old Crank

(7,097 posts)
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:30 PM Wednesday

St. Joseph's church, Le Havre, France

The day we arrived in Le Havre was grey , windy and wet. St. Joseph's was rebuilt on the spot of previous churches. The one before this was reduced to ruble be before the Allies pushed the Germans out in 1944.
Architect Auguste Perret. Foundation laid 1951 and completed in 1956. Brutalist style. When you leave by ship it is the last thing you can see and the first thing you see coming in. Day 2 had sun so the building has a different character.

Day 1,


New cross over the entrance.


Altar




Sunny day








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St. Joseph's church, Le Havre, France (Original Post) Old Crank Wednesday OP
Thank you. The first time I saw it I knew I wanted to go there CurtEastPoint Wednesday #1
Not a problem. Old Crank Wednesday #3
Brutal. cachukis Wednesday #2
Thank you! I've never seen it before. MLAA Wednesday #4
Lovely captures. And a gorgeous interior. GoneOffShore Wednesday #5
Thanks Old Crank Wednesday #10
We'll Be There in August Deep State Witch Wednesday #6
It isn't far from the private harbour. Old Crank Wednesday #11
Absolutely BREATHTAKING! calimary Wednesday #7
Thanks Old Crank Wednesday #12
SciFi launch bay 2nd & 3rd to last pics masmdu Wednesday #8
Does have that vibe Old Crank Wednesday #14
Unique style to these eyes. Very cool altar and upwards-looking shots. George McGovern Wednesday #9
I liked it on the church Old Crank Wednesday #13
Me too. George McGovern Thursday #15

CurtEastPoint

(20,027 posts)
1. Thank you. The first time I saw it I knew I wanted to go there
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:36 PM
Wednesday

But I have not yet so thank you for sharing

Old Crank

(7,097 posts)
3. Not a problem.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:45 PM
Wednesday

Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Brutalism is a love hate design. My wife really hated it the first day. But seeing it in the sun softened her view a little. Plus the inside is better with sunlight since the glass area is small.

Deep State Witch

(12,717 posts)
6. We'll Be There in August
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 04:45 PM
Wednesday

One of the stops on our cruise is Le Havre. We're doing a shore excursion to Rouen, but I hope to have time to walk around Le Havre afterwards.

Old Crank

(7,097 posts)
11. It isn't far from the private harbour.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:03 PM
Wednesday

Don't know where cruise ships moore. You might want a taxi. The town was largely destroyed during the war so you don't get it that quaint vibe.

masmdu

(2,649 posts)
8. SciFi launch bay 2nd & 3rd to last pics
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 05:03 PM
Wednesday

Very cool place. Those two pics remind me of something out of battlestar galactica or star wars where you'd see spaceships taking off or coming in for a landing.

Old Crank

(7,097 posts)
14. Does have that vibe
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:08 PM
Wednesday

Doesn't it.
I like that you get to see the bones of the structure. With little jewels attached.

George McGovern

(12,092 posts)
9. Unique style to these eyes. Very cool altar and upwards-looking shots.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 06:30 PM
Wednesday

The new cross is "a modern industrial-style metal sculpture ... constructed from weathered, rusted steel pieces, including what appear to be bent nails or bar stock."
Google Images

Old Crank

(7,097 posts)
13. I liked it on the church
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:05 PM
Wednesday

It isn't especially large. Understated and I think fits well on the church.

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