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Old Crank

(7,126 posts)
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:30 PM Apr 1

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

CurtEastPoint

(20,042 posts)
1. Thank you. The first time I saw it I knew I wanted to go there
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:36 PM
Apr 1

But I have not yet so thank you for sharing

Old Crank

(7,126 posts)
3. Not a problem.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 02:45 PM
Apr 1

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

(12,733 posts)
6. We'll Be There in August
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 04:45 PM
Apr 1

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

(7,126 posts)
11. It isn't far from the private harbour.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:03 PM
Apr 1

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

(2,650 posts)
8. SciFi launch bay 2nd & 3rd to last pics
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 05:03 PM
Apr 1

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

(7,126 posts)
14. Does have that vibe
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:08 PM
Apr 1

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

George McGovern

(12,214 posts)
9. Unique style to these eyes. Very cool altar and upwards-looking shots.
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 06:30 PM
Apr 1

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

(7,126 posts)
13. I liked it on the church
Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:05 PM
Apr 1

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

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