Harfleur

Port in the département of Seine-Maritime, northwest France, situated near the mouth of the River Lézarde on the Seine estuary; population (1990) 9,700. It was important in medieval times, but the harbour silted up and it was later superseded by Le Havre, about 6 km/4 mi to the west. It is connected to Le Havre and the Seine by the Tancarville Canal. It is now a suburb of Le Havre.

The neighbourhood is rich in Roman remains. Harfleur was captured by the English under Henry V in 1415, and the fine Gothic church, with its 15th-century, 83 m/272 ft-high steeple, is attributed to him. It was finally recaptured by Charles VII in 1450.