Honfleur is a fishing, commercial, and pleasure port. Its Vieux Bassin, built by order of Colbert, is lined with narrow houses, some of which are entirely covered with slate tiles. They testify to a know-how that persists among Norman roofers. They sometimes play with the more or less dark shades of the stone and create picturesque patterns like compass roses or boats. This architectural specificity, both decorative and protective from bad weather, bears witness to the rich maritime past of a city from which sailors left for the New World.