There may be translation errors. On our trip to Rouen, the translator met a woman from Normandy. We haven't seen him since, so we're making the best of it...
The 7 wonders of Rouen
These 7 wonders are necessarily a subjective ranking, but they're also a framework around which you can build your stay. Never forget to get lost when you visit a city, to savor the little streets, the original features or to get an idea of the daily life of those who welcome you to their city. Welcome to Rouen, capital of Normandy!
ROUEN from the côte Sainte Catherine. Cover photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: SergiyN via depositphotos.
1 Notre Dame de Rouen Cathedral
Rouen Cathedral. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Leonid_Andronov via depositphotos.
Huge. Its roots go back to the early Middle Ages, and every era has contributed something to the cathedral , from the beginnings of Gothic architecture to 19th-century cast-iron technology. It sits enthroned in the middle of a city of which it is the pride. At 61 metres, its façade is the longest of any cathedral in France. It is typical of the Norman style, with the famous lantern tower that the Normans used to erect above the transepts. Here, it's called the butter tower. Why the butter tower? Because it was entirely financed by a religious tax on the right to use butter during Lent. This was a religious period when people were supposed to be "lean" and not eat dairy products. The Normans paid a lot, as the size of the tower proves. It has to be said that, even if Normandy doesn't make a big deal of it like its neighbor Brittany, butter is its oil. It produces kilos of it, and a Norman would be hard-pressed not to cook with butter.
Rouen Cathedral's butter tower is 151 meters high. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: borisb17 via dépositphotos.
The Butter Tower was the world's tallest monument for 4 years, from 1876, when it was completed, to 1880, when Cologne Cathedral topped it. It still stands proudly at 151 metres, and has even inspired some New York buildings. It's a real technological feat, this tower with its Renaissance stone base supporting a large cast-iron section erected as a spire between 1825 and 1876. It can be seen from very, very far away, especially from Rouen's natural highest point, the famous côte Sainte Catherine, which you shouldn't miss.
Rouen Cathedral painted by Claude Monet : Illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: http://arteintornoanoi.blogspot.fr/2015/10/claude-monet.html, Domaine public, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49214749
It has seen many famous figures pass through its doors, including Joan of Arc, whose trial took place partly in the nave, and the kings of France François 1er, Louis XIV, Louis XVI on his only trip outside the Ile de France in 1786, as well as Napoleon III and Queen Mary, wife of King Geroges V, during a trip in 1917. The magnificent church inspired one of France's greatest painters, Claude Monet (1840-1925), who painted the gateway 30 times . To have the right to set up his easel so close to a sacred site, Monet is said to have decided to donate a painting to the monks who looked after the church, so that they could appreciate his talent and let him continue. Still on the subject of Monet, his magnificent gardens are located not far away, in Giverny, and are well worth a visit for lovers of beauty and nature.
The cathedral is also surrounded by its intact episcopal palace (rare) and pretty monuments such as the Renaissance-style finance office, home to Rouen's tourist office .
Impressive interior of Rouen Cathedral / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: duha127 via depositphotos.com
Getting there :
Notre Dame de Rouen Cathedral is located Place de la Cathédrale, 76 000 ROUEN. Nearest parking lot: parking de la cathédrale, place de la Haute Vieille Tour, Rouen, or parking Centre Ville de Rouen, place du Vieux Marché. BUS/ Public transport: TEOR lines 1 / 2 and 3 stop cathedral. Bus 11: République stop.
Opening hours :
April 1 to October 31: 7:30am to 7pm weekdays, 8am to 6pm Sundays and public holidays. November 1 to March 31: 7:30am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm weekdays, 2pm to 6pm Sundays and public holidays. Closed: Monday mornings, January 1, May 1 and November 11.
2 Le gros horloge (the big clock).
Le gros horloge de Rouen. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: MIPImages via depositphotos.
What a monument! It's a whole complex that includes not only the much-photographed clock, but also Rouen's town belfry (useful for signaling fires or announcing city events in days gone by). The belfry dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries and is in the Gothic style (radiant and flamboyant). At its feet, the big clock is a low arch under which you can pass, and it displays the famous clock whose mechanism dates back to 1389, making it one of the oldest clock mechanisms in France. The mechanism was preserved when the two facades, still visible today, were rebuilt in 1410. The district is well worth a visit, with its magnificent half-timbered houses typical of Normandy.
The dial is 2.50 metres in diameter. It has 24 rays and a single hand indicating the time, with a lamb at the end. It also shows the phases of the moon (29 days) and a weekly calendar that tells you what day it is, using the Roman gods: Diana for Monday, Mars for Tuesday, Mercury for Wednesday, Jupiter for Thursday, Venus for Friday, Saturn for Saturday and Apollo for Sunday. Saturday is amazing, with Saturn devouring one of his sons on a background of griffins and grape-pickers (vines were grown in Rouen for a long time) and Mercury being pulled by roosters.
Le gros horloge in Rouen, Normandy. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: peresanz via depositphotos
For the record, until 1920, the mechanism worked without electricity (it could work like that again, it's in perfect condition). Until 1970, where the entrance to the museum now stands, there was the shop of the "gouverneur du gros-horloge", the guardian of the place and its mechanism, who sold... Clocks and watches.
Under le gros horloge (the big clock) in Rouen / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: sheepwithaview via depositphotos
How to get there
Address: rue du gros-horloge, 76 000 ROUEN. Nearest parking lot : Parking indigo Rouen la Pucelle, Place de la pucelle or rue André Gide in Rouen. Bus and public transport : Tram T1 T2 T3 et T4 stop Théâtre des arts. Metro: Palais de justice Bus: Bus F5 F9 27 33 stop théâtre des arts.
3 The Rouen courthouse
Rouen courthouse / Photo selected by monsieur de france: packshot via depositphotos.com
It's one of the most beautiful courthouses in France, if not Europe. It was the seat of the former Parliament of Normandy, known as l'Echiquier. Not a parliament in the democratic sense of the word, it was already a place of justice before the French Revolution. Most of the building dates from 1499 to 1507, i.e. from the Renaissance period, but it is still heavily influenced by the Gothic style. This is known as the Louis XII style (of which it is one of the few representatives). In fact, Louis XII, King of France, is credited with the "royal palace" wing that was his residence in the Normandy capital. Rouen's courthouse was considerably damaged during the 1944 bombardments, and was rebuilt in large part as faithfully as possible to the original. Originally, it was decorated with numerous statues, but these were destroyed during the French Revolution and replaced in 1817 by statues of historical figures such as Anne de Bretagne and François 1er, as well as more allegorical figures such as a ploughman, a village woman, a monk, an artist, a lord and a damsel. Still on the outside, gargoyles mime human actions such as yawning, surprise or laughter. The interior is sumptuous, notably the Library or the Cour d'assise with its Renaissance ceilings.
The courtyard of the Rouen courthouse, former parliament of Normandy / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: clodio via depositphotos.
How to get there
Address: Esplanade Marcel Duchamp,76 000 ROUEN. Nearest parking lot : Parking Palais de justice Musée des beaux-arts: 8 allée Eugène Delacroix, Rouen. Bus and public transport : Tram T1 T2 T3 et T4 stop Théâtre des arts. Metro: Palais de justice Bus: Bus F5 F9 27 33 stop théâtre des arts.
4 Place du vieux-marché and old streets
Place du vieux marché, Rouen / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: packshot via depositphotos.
Place du vieux-marché is a Rouen landmark. It's home to some great restaurants and bars. It's made up of numerous half-timbered houses, which are found throughout Rouen's historic center, as we'll see. For a long time, it had a church, Saint Sauveur, which was razed by the French Revolution (it was here that Pierre Corneille, the poet, was baptized in 1606). Originally, a market was held here, hence its name. It was also the site of capital executions. So this is where the first member of the Sanson dynasty of executioners worked to help his father-in-law, the executioner of Rouen (and failed miserably, if the chronicle is to be believed). It was here, of course, that Joan of Arc was burned alive on May 30, 1431 (a statue pays tribute to her) in front of numerous witnesses. A stunning modern church dedicated to the saint is well worth a visit. It's also on the Place du Vieux Marché that the oldest inn in France still stands. Called "La Couronne", it has been in continuous operation since 1345 .
A 19th-century depiction of the execution of Joan of Arc at the stake in Rouen by Hermann Anton Stilke - http://www.arthermitage.org/Hermann-Anton-Stilke/Joan-of-Arc-s-Death-at-the-Stake.html, Domaine public, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6270223
We can't talk about Rouen without mentioning the old streets, which are also a marvel, with many half-timbered houses like those on the Place du Vieux-marché. We particularly recommend: rue du Gros Horloge, rue Massacre, rue Martainville, rue eau-de-Robec, rue du champs-de-foire-aux-boissons. Don't miss rue Saint Romain, rue Damiette and rue Ganterie. You'll have to like walking, but the streets are fairly close together.
The streets of Rouen / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: Pritykin_Nikita via depositphotos.
How to get there
Address: place du vieux marché,76 000 ROUEN. Nearest parking lot : Parking du Vieux Marché place du vieux marché, Rouen. Bus and public transport : Metro (Palais de Justice stop) TEOR T1, T2, T3 (Théâtre des Arts stop), T4 (Vieux-Marché stop)
5 Abbaye Saint-Ouen and Town Hall
The facade of Saint Ouen church in Rouen. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: vvoennyy via depositphotos.
The abbey church is very large, measuring 137 meters and 33 meters high under the vaults. It's what's left of a huge abbey founded in the year 750. It took 2 centuries to build, and its portal is more recent, dating from the 19th century, but successive builders have respected the original style: flamboyant Gothic. It is also Norman in style , with a lantern tower, typical of Norman churches, crowning the transepts. At its foot stands Rouen's town hall , built in 1800 to replace the dormitory of the monks who deserted the abbey during the French Revolution. Well worth a look.
The interior of the Saint Ouen Abbey in Rouen / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: packshot via depositphotos
How to get there
Saint Ouen Abbey is located place du Général de Gaulle 76 000 ROUEN. Nearest parking lot : parking hôtel de ville - Abbatiale de Saint Ouen: place du Général de Gaulle, Rouen. Bus and public transport: Fast lines F1 and F2 Stop Hôtel de Ville / Bus 5, 6, 11, 13, 20, 305 Stop Hôtel de Ville
Opening hours
April 1 to October 31: 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. November 1 to March 31: 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Closed: Mondays and Fridays, December 25 and January 1.
6 Saint-Maclou Church:
Saint Maclou church in Rouen / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: otofritz via depositphotos
It is dedicated to Saint Maclou, known to the Bretons as Saint Malo, which proves the broad-mindedness of the Normans. Built in the flamboyant Gothic style between 1437 and 1517. Its most beautiful feature is its ornate portal , reminiscent of that of its little Norman sister, Notre Dame d'Alençon. It was badly damaged by the 1944 bombings (it took 60 years to complete the restoration of the spire). Bombs fell, resulting in the loss of many stained glass windows and the 18th-century high altar, but the church has been renovated and is well worth a visit for its portal, Gothic staircase, Baroque wooden furniture...
How to get there
The Saint Maclou church is located Place Barthélémy 76 000 ROUEN Nearest parking lot : parking hôtel de ville - Abbatiale de Saint Ouen: place du Général de Gaulle, Rouen. Bus and public transport: TEOR 1, 2, 3 Arrêt République / Ligne Fast F1, F7 Arrêt République / Bus 11 Arrêt République
Opening hours
April 1 to September 30: Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm. October 1 to March 31: Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5:30pm. Closed Tuesday to Friday, December 25 and January 1.
7 la côte Sainte Catherine de Rouen
View of Rouen from Côte Sainte Catherine. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: bloodua via depositphotos.
Culminating 140 metres above the city and after climbing 525 steps from the lowest level, the Côte Sainte Catherine offers a magnificent view of the capital of Normandy. You can see it all! The Cathedral, Saint Maclou, Saint Ouen, the bridges, the Seine... It's magnificent.
How to get there
La Côte Sainte Catherine is located 1.5 km from the city center. Its address is rue Henri Rivière , 76 000 ROUEN for the lower part and route de la Corniche 76 240 BONSECOURS.
Rouen is also
Christ at the Column by Caravaggio is one of the famous paintings in the Musée des Beaux-arts de Rouen / illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Domaine public, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3344974
Many half-timbered streets (I'm rambling, but it's true), the "halle aux toiles " with its beautiful facades, rebuilt identically after the ravages of 1944, the Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde, dating from the end of the 15th century, whose facade features highly original bas-reliefs recalling the meeting at the Camp du Drap d'Or between Francis I and Henry VIII of England. Also worth seeing is the Tour Jeanne d' Arc, the former keep of Rouen Castle, where Joan of Arc's trial took place. The city boasts so many street-art sites that one could almost speak of a street-art collection. Finally, the Musée des Beaux-arts is one of France's oldest museums, the brainchild of Napoleon I (the Emperor's statue adorns one of Rouen's squares). It boasts one of the largest collections of paintings in the French provinces, including works by Caravaggio, Rubens, Simon Vouet, Renoir and, of course, Claude Monet...
7 places to see around Rouen
Ruins in Normandy at Jumièges. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Eveline de Bruin from Pixabay
Le Jardin des plantes / The plant garden at Sotteville-lès-Rouen :
Explore the Jardin des Plantes, a charming botanical park located around 5 kilometers from the center of Rouen. With a surface area of 85,000 M2, it offers a wide variety of botanical species , and is a real place to stroll and feast your eyes. You can also discover remarkable large trees (ginko biloba, iron tree...) and plants from elsewhere in the greenhouses: arid plants and even carnivorous plants. Address: 114B Av. des Martyrs de la Résistance, 76100 Rouen / Bus Ligne Fast F1, F9 (Stop Jardin des Plantes)
a ginko biloba is magnificent in autumn and there are some at the jardin des plantes / photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: mrsiraphol via depositphotos.
Lalonde Rouvray forest
Explore the Lalonde-Rouvray forest, around 7 kilometers from Rouen near Mont Saint Aignan. A peri-urban forest of almost 7,000 hectares that promotes and preserves bio-diversity. Numerous hiking trails allow you to explore the forest and discover unusual sites such as an ancient Roman fanum and clay quarries. Address: 6 Rue Pierre Semard, 76350 Oissel
Saint Georges de Boscherville Abbey
Saint-Martin-de-Boscherville: 13 kilometers from Rouen, discover the Abbaye Saint-Georges de Boscherville. This Benedictine abbey dates back to the 12th century. See the Romanesque church with its 70-metre nave, the cloister, the chapter house ... It's one of the few intact abbeys in the Seine Valley. All in white stone, it offers a real insight into the monastic world. The gardens are absolutely magnificent. Address: 12 route de l'Abbaye / 76840 Saint-Martin de Boscherville
Parc du Bocasse in Déville-Lès-Rouen
15 kms from Rouen, if you want to have fun and take your mind off things, visit Parc du Bocasse, an amusement park. 40 attractions on offer. Address: 226 Route de Clères, 76690 Le Bocasse .
Château de Martainville:
It's located 15 kms from Rouen, in Martainville-Épreville. The Château de Martainville, a red brick castle, looks great and plunges you into Norman history , as it is a museum: the Musée des Arts et Traditions Normands. Managed by the Seine-Maritime département, it regularly features temporary exhibitions. Address: Rte du Château, 76116 Martainville-Épreville
Roumare Animal Park
A deer. Image chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: by hashan from Pixabay
Located 18 kms from Rouen, it is a 26-hectare observation park. The tour of the park is 4 kms long. You can see deer and farm animals. Address: 222 Rte Forestière de la Réunion, 76380 Val-de-la-Haye
Jumièges
Normandy's abbeys are well worth a visit, even if the French Revolution destroyed them considerably when the clergy's property was sold off, turning them into stone quarries. What remains are some magnificent, romantic ruins, well worth a visit. In my opinion, Jumièges is the most astonishing. To find out all you need to know about Norman abbeys, I recommend this site:
Jumièges in Normandy. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: judith girard-marczak on Unsplash
How to get to Rouen / Websites / Geo info
By road: Rouen is 135 kms from Paris (1H45) via the A13.
By train: Rouen is 2 hours from Paris. Rouen Rive Droite station is located at Place Bernard Tissot, 76000 Rouen.
By air: Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport is around 127 km away. Paris-Orly airport is 129.3 km away, and Beauvais-Tillé airport is only 83 km.
Rouen Cathedral. Image chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Andréa Villiers on Unsplash
Websites :
The official site for tourism in Rouen , with places to discover and original tours.
Tourism in the Seine Maritime region around Rouen.
And the essential site for tourism in Normandy.
