Today the city has the status of capital of Upper Normandy. As a department of the Seine-Maritime, Rouen includes 44 suburban communes that are part of the Community of the Rouen Agglomeration. During the Anglo-Norman dynasties, the city housed the Treasury of Normandy. Here, in 1431, the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc, was sentenced to be burned.
History and facts from the life of Rouen
Like most cities in France, Rouen was founded by one of the Gaul tribes. Initially it was called Rathumakos, then, during the Roman Empire, it was renamed Rotomagus. From this time, the ruins of an ancient amphitheater and baths have been preserved on the territory of the city. In 841, the Normans invaded the Lower Seine valley and captured the city. In 912 it became the capital of Normandy.
At the beginning of the 13th century, King Philip IV decided to evict Jews from the city. The end of the thirteenth century shook France with massive uprisings, which also affected Rouen. The Charter of Rouen ceases to exist and the city loses its transport privileges along the Seine. During the difficult years of the Hundred Years' War, namely in 1419, the city came under the rule of the English king Henry the Fifth. And only in 1449, through the efforts of Charles the Seventh, the city returned to the jurisdiction of the French kingdom.
How to get to Rouen
Rouen is located at approximately the same distance (350 km) from three European capitals: Paris, London and Brussels. Rouen International Airport is located 8 km from the city and receives numerous domestic and some international flights - from Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Berlin, New York. You can get from the airport to the city by Aeroexpress or by taxi (the trip will cost about 25 €).
From Paris you can quickly get to Rouen by train. Trains depart from the Paris Saint-Lazare station every hour to an hour and a half. Travel time is 1.5 hours, ticket price is from 20 €.
The Second World War brought significant losses to Rouen. Frequent bombing destroyed most of the buildings, including the Rouen Cathedral, which is a national heritage of France.
Modern Rouen and its attractions
Today, Rouen has 553 thousand inhabitants. Higher education institutions are represented by the University of Rouen and the Rouen Business School.
Rouen's transport infrastructure is quite well developed. River communication is provided by the deep Seine. Rail transport connects the city with Le Havre and Paris. There are two metro lines. An airport serving domestic and intercity routes was built. Public transport includes buses and trams.
On Saturdays and Sundays, a market is held on Place Saint-Marc where you can buy fresh produce and flowers from farms in the suburbs of Rouen. They also sell antique and second-hand interior items, furniture and dishes. Food can be purchased at the old market (Vieux Marche), bursting with abundance. Pay special attention to the cheese rows.
The main attractions of Rouen include: the Church of St. Macloux, built in the Gothic style, the Palace of Justice, and the Church of St. Owen. In addition, the city is rich in museums. The Port Museum, dedicated to the history of navigation, the Museum of Fine Arts, with a collection of paintings by Claude Monet, the Museum of Antiquity and the Museum of Ceramics are places worth visiting in Rouen.
A large layer of the city's cultural heritage belongs to the Maid of Orleans. In Rouen there is the tower of Joan of Arc, where she was tortured.
A large river port, Rouen occupies an important place in the country's economy, and today it is a large city, by the scale of France, with a developed infrastructure, having in its arsenal such industries as metallurgy, chemical and textile industries. And one of the popular sites of international tourism.
Normandy is a country of tranquil rural landscapes, green meadows, beautiful Gothic castles and ancient legends. This is the land of the famous William the Conqueror, who practically laid the foundation for the history of neighboring England as a state. In Norman Rouen, the legendary Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc, was convicted and executed. Today, an elegant temple stands near the site of her burning.
The streets of Rouen are a real museum of Gothic architecture. Several hundred houses were built here in the magnificent Flaming Gothic style. The exquisite facades and spiers of the Palace of Justice, decorated with thin stone lace, and the incredible stained glass windows of the Rouen Cathedral delight even people indifferent to architectural beauty.
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What to see and where to go in Rouen?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.
The legendary Joan of Arc, the heroine of the Hundred Years' War, canonized by the Catholic Church in the 20th century, was burned on Vieux Marché Square. Many buildings surrounding this place are in one way or another connected with her name. The square contains a museum dedicated to the memory of Joan, as well as a monument surrounded by flower beds marking the place of her execution. Along the perimeter of the square there are elegant half-timbered houses, decorating the city landscape.
The cathedral is one of the most striking monuments of Gothic architecture in France. It was erected in the 13th century on the foundations of a Romanesque church from the 11th century. The archbishop's palace is adjacent to the temple, which forms a single architectural complex with it. The bell tower of the cathedral reaches a height of 151 meters. The architecture of the temple made a strong impression on the artist K. Monet, who created a series of paintings dedicated to the cathedral.
The abbey was founded in the 6th century, and gradually it became the most influential monastery in Normandy. The monastery existed until the 9th century, until it was destroyed by pagan Normans. Restoration took place in the 11th century under William I the Conqueror. The first church of the monastery was built in the Romanesque style, later in the XIV-XVI centuries. the building was rebuilt in accordance with the canons of the Gothic style.
The temple was built in the picturesque Flaming Gothic style. Its spiers truly resemble tongues of stone flame reaching to the heavens. The church was built in the period 1437-1521. on voluntary donations from patrons. The temple is decorated with bright, skillful stained glass windows of the 15th century and elegant decorative elements. During World War II, the temple was partially destroyed; restoration was completed in 2010.
A Benedictine monastery of the 11th-12th centuries, which was badly damaged during the religious wars between Protestants and Catholics. Some buildings had to be rebuilt, so the abbey has buildings from both the 12th century and the 17th century, and there is some mixing of architectural styles. Around the monastery there is a picturesque French park with hedges, an orchard and a garden of medicinal plants.
The temple is located on the Vieux Marché square. In the 16th century, a Gothic cathedral stood in its place, from which only stained glass windows remained. The Church of St. Joan was built in a modern manner using asymmetrical architectural forms and interesting engineering solutions. The roof of the structure symbolizes the flames in which Jeanne died. The complex of church buildings also includes an indoor market.
The tower is the only surviving building of the Rouen Castle, which was built for Philip II Augustus. Local limestone was used to build the fortifications. The building was destroyed during the religious wars. The donjon tower is famous for the fact that the trial of the Maid of Orleans took place here in 1431. However, Jeanne was kept captive in another tower, now destroyed.
The palace is considered one of the most picturesque buildings in Rouen. It was erected in the 16th century according to the design of R. Le Roux and R. Ango and was used for city council meetings. The building is a striking example of secular Gothic. Today, the local court sits in the palace, and there are also two museums and a library. The palace facade resembles a fancy stone lace, its decorative details are so skillfully made.
The gallery is one of the largest in Normandy, its permanent exhibition is housed in 60 rooms. The collections of the 17th and 19th centuries are considered especially significant and complete. The collection contains works by Modigliani, Renoir, Lancret, Moreau, Monet and other masters. In addition to paintings, the museum collection includes sculptures, graphics, jewelry and furniture. The museum constantly hosts temporary exhibitions of famous and recognized artists.
The museum has existed since the 19th century; it is located in a church from the 16th century. Initially, the exhibition was located in Paris, but later it was transported to Rouen. The museum's collection contains artistic forging products from the Roman period to the 20th century. Many exhibits were brought from Arab and Asian countries, as well as from Russia. In the museum you can examine forged grilles, utensils, decorative railings, signs and much more.
An interactive exhibition that immerses visitors in the atmosphere of different eras. “Panorama” is a huge metal cylinder 34 meters in diameter and 35 meters in height. Inside this cylinder there is a circular volumetric fresco that reproduces the chain of events of a certain historical period. In 2015 it was the year 312 - the time of the adoption of Christianity by Emperor Constantine, in 2016 - a panorama of Rouen from the time of Joan of Arc.
The collection is located in a historical mansion from the 16th century. It contains exhibits dating back to the period of the 16th-19th centuries. For the first time in France, the secret of making faience was revealed by a resident of Rouen. Until this moment, only Italian masters were in possession of the secret. By the 17th century, Rouen became famous throughout the world for its ceramics. During a guided tour, you can learn about ceramic technology.
Pedestrian street located between the Market Square and Rouen Cathedral. Along the street there are town houses with half-timbered facades. Its name comes from the old astronomical clock, which is located on a stone arch of the 16th century. Several centuries ago, they even hired a special caretaker who monitored the serviceability of the mechanism and lived not far from the arch.
The garden was founded in the 17th century. At first it was private territory, once even Napoleon Bonaparte owned it. In the 19th century, the garden became city property and became accessible to everyone. Some parts of the park are closed to the public due to research activities taking place within their boundaries. The city botanical garden has a large rose garden where varieties grown by Normandy specialists grow.
The bridge was built in 2008, equipped with lifting structures and has a large capacity. The spans are specially placed high above the water so that large ships can easily pass underneath them. The supporting columns of the bridge rise 91 meters above the Seine, the length of the spans is more than 1 km. The structure was designed by engineers E. Zublen and M. Virlojo. The cost of construction work amounted to 155 million euros.
Victor Hugo called the city of Rouen “the city of a hundred bells”. The words of the romantic writer should not be taken literally: this is hyperbole. But it came to his mind, of course, not by chance.
Story
The first here, in the 1st millennium BC. e., on the right bank of the river the Celts of the Veliokas tribe, who then owned all the valleys of the lower Seine, began to live. They named their fortified settlement Ratumakos. In 57-56. BC e. it was taken quite easily by the legionnaires of Gaius Julius Caesar, the fortress was renamed Rotomagus, and a city began to grow around it. It was the second most important center of the Roman province of Lugdunian Gaul after Lugdunum (now Lyon). In the harbor of Rouen, ships were moored, delivering wool and ore from the British Isles, from Italy - marble, from Spain - olive oil, from Gaul - wines, cheeses and other gastronomic delights; all this was sent by sea to Foggy Albion, as the Romans called the future Great Britain. In the 3rd century, under Emperor Diocletian, Rotomagus could already afford the construction of an amphitheater, baths (the ruins of which have been preserved), a temple, from which several statues and fragments of columns found by archaeologists remain, and a monumental fountain. But his prosperity was interrupted by the first invasion of Gaul by German barbarians in the second half of the 3rd century. Forced to defend himself, Rotomagus was reduced to the size of a castrum - a military camp surrounded by hastily erected walls. In 393, under the last emperor of the unified Roman Empire, Theodosius I (c. 346-395), Orthodox Nicene Christianity became the official religion of the state. In Rouen at this time the first basilica was built and the first bishop named Saint Victrix appeared. In 476, the Western Roman Empire ceases to exist. Soon, Rouen was conquered by the Frankish king Clovis I (c. 466-511), who became monarch at the age of 15. After the death of Clovis, the Frankish kingdom was divided between his four sons, and Rouen became the capital of Neustria. In the 8th century the city became part of the empire of Charlemagne (742/747 or 748-811).
In 841, Neustria was conquered by the Vikings (Normans), they plundered and burned Rouen. In 856 everything happened again. Under a king named Rollo (Hrolf) Pedestrian (c. 846-931), who adopted the Frankish name Robert, from 912 Rouen became the capital of the Norman Duchy and its religious center, in exchange for Rollo's oath to the Frankish king, although William the Conqueror ( 1027/1028-1087) preferred Caen to Rouen (until he conquered England).
In 1150, the Charter of Rouen was adopted, the capital became one of the most prosperous cities in Europe, the Treasury of Normandy was located here, and many wealthy merchants lived here, laying the foundation for the “hundred spiers.” In 1204, Philip II Augustus (1165-1223) annexed Normandy to the Kingdom of France. Shortly before this, construction began on the famous Gothic Rouen Cathedral to replace the burned one, from which a crypt in the Romanesque style has been preserved. All this complex and at the same time light, openwork, richly decorated building, in which, however, nothing seems superfluous, was completed by a cast-iron spire 151 m high in 1880, which made the cathedral for several years the tallest building in Europe.
In 2002, Rouen was awarded the honorary rank of “city of history and art” as part of a special national program. At the same time, the project “Let me tell you about...” began here.
These stories can last, it seems, endlessly, for they are replete with a mass of colorful, often dramatic details. This is the story about the most famous historical figure associated with Rouen, Joan of Arc (1412-1431), or rather, about the last days of the life of the national heroine of France. During the Hundred Years War in May 1430, Joan was captured Burgundians and handed over to the Inquisition, which defended the interests of the British. The warrior was kept in the only surviving tower-donjon of the Rouen fortress, and was tried and tortured as a heretic. Her heresy included wearing men's clothing, disobedience to the hierarchs of the Catholic Church and connections with the devil, who spoke to her with “voices” On May 30, 1431, Jeanne, wearing a long shirt soaked in sulfur, was taken to the Old Market Square and burned alive, and she shouted only one word: “Jesus!” A flower garden was laid out on this site and a marble plaque was placed with the text of the Church’s verdict recognizing Joan as a saint in 1920. Nearby, the modernist Cathedral of St. Joan was opened in 1979, inside decorated with 13th-century stained glass from the Church of Saint-Jean, destroyed in 1944. Vincent: The complex roof of the cathedral, with a silhouette reminiscent of tongues of fire, is covered with imitation tiles with a pattern of fish scales - an allusion both to the market that still operates here, and to the fish - as a symbol that was worshiped by the first Christians.
Another fascinating story of Rouen is the story of the heart of Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199), which is buried in a sarcophagus with his sculpted image in Rouen Cathedral.
In 1944, during the Normandy operation, the city was heavily damaged by bombing; the Rouen Cathedral was almost completely destroyed, which was also subjected to a powerful disaster in 1999. But it was completely restored and looks exactly the same as it was depicted by one of the founders of impressionism, Claude Monet. (1840-1926). He painted 36 paintings depicting the cathedral at different times of the day, under different lighting, and left 47 sketches for them. Monet's paintings are kept in the most famous museums in the world, and the impressionist collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Rouen is considered the second most important after the collection of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. So Rouen rightfully considers itself a city of impressionism. And post-impressionism too: people lived and worked here many artists of this school of painting, as well as great writers: playwright Pierre Corneille (1606-1684), novelists Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) and Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893). Flaubert in the novel Madame Bovary "described the Rouen Cathedral, and Rouen itself, and its surroundings, although he admitted that he never loved this city, considered it “too provincial". This is the artist’s view. In the opinion of historians, half-timbered Rouen is an example of the urban culture of Old Europe and a reserve of this style, in France called “colombage.” Compared to German half-timbered, collombage has more vertical lines and is reminiscent of the English half-timbered style, which is not surprising: much connects Normandy and England. You won’t find two identical houses in the “colombage” part of the city; they all look like authentic medieval buildings, although they were also mostly destroyed during the Second World War, but they were carefully restored and after reconstruction they acquired all modern communications.
Trade has always been the main occupation of Rouen, and the main exports from the city itself are blue and white earthenware, linen, wool and cotton textiles, as well as forged metal products that adorn the interiors of many buildings and churches in Rouen. The city's metallurgical plants were built on English iron ore, and to this day metallurgy is one of the city's main industries.
general information
Historical capital of Normandy, the center of the modern region of France Haute-Normandie and the prefecture of the Seine-Maritime department in the north of the country.Administrative division: The Rouen agglomeration includes 71 communes.
Language: French.
Ethnic composition: French - 96% (in France, the concept of “nationality” is equivalent to the concept of “citizenship”), immigrants - 4%.
Religions: Catholicism - 88%, Protestantism - 2%, Islam - 1%, Judaism - 1%, non-religious - 8%. But these numbers are most likely incorrect. About a third of French residents overall call themselves atheists in surveys, and another third call themselves agnostics, and Rouen is hardly an exception.
Currency unit: Euro.
Largest river: Seine.
Major airports: The nearest international airports are Orly and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle in Paris (130 km).
Numbers
Area: 21.38 km2.Population: 112,787 people. (2011), in the agglomeration - about 600,000 people.
Population density: 5275.4 people/km 2 .
Highest point: 87 m above sea level (right bank of the Seine).
Climate and weather
Moderate continental with marine influences, soft, humid.Average January temperature:+4°C.
Average temperature in July:+18°С.
Average annual precipitation: 1250 mm.
Economy
Industry: in the suburbs - metallurgy, mechanical engineering; textile, oil refining, chemical, woodworking and pulp and paper.Port industry, ship repair (Rouen is one of the largest river ports in France, accessible to sea vessels).
Railway junction.
Service sector: trade, tourism.
Attractions
■ Old Market Square (Vieux Marché), the Old Town with houses of Gothic, Renaissance and half-timbered architecture.
■ Religious buildings: Notre-Dame de Rouen Cathedral (Norman Gothic, founded in 1210, construction was mainly completed in the 16th century, the central spire - 19th century), Saint-Ouen Abbey Church (Gothic, 14th-16th centuries), Church of Saint-Maclou ("flaming" Gothic, 15th century), Church of Saint-Godard (Gothic, late 15th century), Cathedral of Saint Joan of Arc (1979). Historical center, Notre Dame Cathedral, Church of Saint-Ouen and Saint-Maclou are included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
■ Buildings: Palace of Justice (former building of the Parliament of Normandy, Gothic, XV-XVI centuries), Town Hall (formerly the dormitory of the Abbey of Saint-Ouen, Renaissance, XVI century), hotel (mansion) Burgteruld (Renaissance, XVI century), Clock tower Gros Orloge (Great Clock) with an astronomical clock (XIII-XVI centuries) and a museum, tower of Joan of Arc (XV century).
■ Museums: fine arts - paintings by Veronese, Velazquez, Rubens, Poussin, a collection of impressionists (Monet, Renoir), natural history, antiquity, ceramics, navigation, river and port affairs, metal structures Le Sec de Tournelle, National Museum of Education; museums of Joan of Arc, Gustave Flaubert, Pierre Corneille.
■ Botanical Garden(exists since 1840).
■ In the vicinity: a castle from the 12th century. Richard the Lionheart in Les Andelys, the towns of Giverny (Claude Monet's estate with a garden), Etretat, Honfleur, Deauville; Road of the Abbeys (Saint-Ouen in Rouen, Saint-Georges in Saint-Martin-de-Borcheville and Saint-Pierre in Jumièges), Fruit Road.
Curious facts
■ Most Gothic cathedrals are characterized by complete identity of the towers of the facade, hence the expression “twin towers”. But the towers of Rouen Cathedral are significantly different from each other. The northern tower is called Saint-Romain - Roman, the southern one is nicknamed the Butter Tower - for the yellowish tint of the stone from which it was erected in 1485. Perhaps the name here is primary. It is forbidden to consume butter during Lent. Those who were unable to refuse it paid the church six deniers in the Middle Ages - a kind of compensation for a minor sin. The Oil Tower was built with these funds.■ Behind the Church of Saint-Maclou in the Middle Ages there was a cemetery for victims of the plague (now a concert venue). One of its attractions is the mummified body of a cat placed behind glass, stuck hundreds of years ago between the stone blocks of one of the crypts.
■ In 2010, the first Normandie Impressionist festival was held in Rouen. Its program included exhibitions, lectures, conferences, musical concerts and historical performances. The second festival is planned to be held from April 27 to September 29, 2013. Its main theme is water in Impressionist paintings and, in parallel, everything connected with the rivers of Normandy.
Rouen from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Rouen.
- Last minute tours To France
Rouen is the capital of the French region of Upper Normandy, a city on the banks of the Seine, part of the Paris agglomeration. Rouen is rightfully considered the pearl of Northern France with incredible architecture and a rich past: the Old Market Square witnessed the execution of Joan of Arc, and the beautifully preserved medieval houses are considered a European example of the half-timbered style. Rouen served as a source of inspiration for many artists: Gustave Flaubert painted Madame Bovary here, and Claude Monet created a famous series of impressionistic landscapes. Here you can buy amazing blue and white ceramics, eat your fill of the most delicious French apples and wander all day through the endless Norman forests in the vicinity of the city.
In the firmament of shining blue,
In star diamond dust,
Threads of swift lines
Gray webs have been woven.
Maximilian Voloshin
How to get to Rouen
Valle de Seine Airport is located 8 km from the city and accepts only domestic flights. From Russia, the most convenient way to go to Rouen is through Paris (read our article about how to get to the French capital). Paris - Rouen trains depart hourly from Gare Saint-Lazare (website in French). The journey duration is about 1.5 hours, tickets start from 10 EUR. You can prefer a bus to a train: the journey will take longer (2 hours 40 minutes), but the trip will cost less (from 5 EUR). Prices on the page are as of August 2018.
Trains to Rouen also run from Zurich, Nice, Strasbourg, Marseille and other European cities. There are regular bus services from London, Madrid and Lisbon.
If you are planning to fly from Rouen to Toulouse or other French cities, travel to Vallee de Seine airport by bus or taxi. Route number 13 goes to the Gendarmerie de Boos stop, located 500 m from the terminal building. The ticket price is 1.60 EUR, the schedule can be viewed on the carrier's website (in French). A taxi ride will cost 25 EUR.
Search for air tickets to Paris (the nearest airport to Rouen)
Districts of Rouen
The Seine River divides Rouen into two parts: the left bank of the Rive Gauche and the right bank of the Rive Druat. All interesting sights are concentrated on the right coast, in the cozy Old Town. Hidden in the labyrinth of narrow streets are not only neat houses with carved shutters, pointed roofs and bright flowerpots on the balconies, but also real architectural gems. The main one is Rouen Cathedral, a magnificent example of Norman Gothic. The Church of Saint-Maclou, built in 1437-1517, is also located here. It is impossible to ignore everything connected with the name of Joan of Arc: the tower where the warrior was kept captive, and the church erected at the site of her execution. Another favorite place for tourists is the street near the tower of the Great Clock, which has become a real symbol of the city.
The left bank of Rouen, Rive Gauche, unconditionally gives the right bank the palm in terms of the number of attractions. During the Second World War it was completely bombed, so now there are modern buildings everywhere: new residential areas and business centers of little interest to travelers. And in the suburbs of Rouen industry is in full swing: chemical, paper and engineering.
Transport
The historical center of Rouen is compact and easily accessible on foot. To cover longer distances, you can take taxis, metro or buses from the state-owned TCAR company (website in French), or rent a bicycle or scooter.
Three TEOR lines (Transport Est-Ouest Rouennais - Rouen's public transport network) - T1, T2, T3 - connect the center with suburban areas on both banks of the Seine. In addition, the city has two above-ground metro lines: M and N, which also extend beyond the center. These routes are convenient to use for independent travel around the immediate surroundings of Rouen.
The Rouen bus network (by the way, the most modern, well-thought-out and streamlined in France) has 28 bus routes and 15 shared taxis, which allows you to literally explore the city far and wide.
The cost of public transport in Rouen is 1.60 EUR, a ticket for 10 trips costs 13.50 EUR. A day pass will cost 4.80 EUR. Main routes operate until 23:00-23:30. For night owls, there are so-called noctam’buses - buses that run throughout the night.
You can rent a bike at the central rental point of the city’s Velo’R program, located on Rue Jeanne d’Arc, next to the metro station. There are classic and folding bicycles (suitable for those traveling by car), as well as electric models. Rental cost is from 2 EUR per day, long-term rental is possible. The second option is the Cy’clic rental system, which is convenient because it allows you to return the bike to any of 14 points. The first half hour of skiing is free, for the next half hour intervals a fee of 1 and 2 EUR is charged, respectively, then 4 EUR for every half hour. By bicycle you can move not only around the city, but also around the surrounding area, for example along the network of cycle paths in the Rumar forest.
Motor scooters can be rented at 12 avenue de Bretagne (rates on the salon's website in French). Please note that scooters must be reserved in advance during high season.
While in Rouen, don't miss the opportunity to cross the Seine on one of the ferries. They depart regularly from river stations at Canteleu, Jumieges and La Bouille.
Maps of Rouen
Rent a Car
It’s convenient to move around the historical center of Rouen on foot, but if you plan to explore the surrounding area, take a ride to the left bank, or even visit other cities, we recommend renting a car. Hertz and Europcar rental offices are open at Valle de Seine airport, at the train station and at other points in the city. Most of them do not work on weekends. A small car can be rented for 45 EUR, a middle class car - from 80 EUR per day.
In Rouen, like in many other French cities, a parking relay system is provided: the car is left in one of the parking lots located near the metro lines. Using the issued receipt, you can take the metro to the city center for free, and then return to your car.
The roads in Rouen are good and there are few traffic jams. On the contrary, there is a lot of parking: on the outskirts there are free parking lots, in the center there are paid parking lots. In almost all central street parking lots you can park your car only for 2 hours, but at night and on Sundays the spaces are free. Some parking lots have daily rates costing 10-15 EUR.
Communications and Wi-Fi
Mobile communications in France are expensive. For those who come here for a short time and do not plan to talk with compatriots for hours, it is more profitable to use roaming. If you trust local mobile operators more when traveling, choose any of the main French companies: Orange, Bouygues Telecom, SFR or Free. The tariffs for the first three are approximately the same: starter packages start from 30 EUR. It is better to take tariffs without a subscription fee, which cease to be valid immediately after the termination of payments. The Free operator has been operating on the market since 2012 and offers more affordable prices compared to its competitors. For example, calls to Russia cost from 0.22 EUR per minute of conversation.
Free Wi-Fi can be found in some cafes and restaurants in the historical center of Rouen, but it is most convenient to choose hotels and hostels that provide guests with free access to the Internet.
Pass en Liberte
To ensure you don't miss any of Rouen's attractions, it's worth purchasing the Pass en Liberte card (website in French). This is a special tourist ticket, valid in the city and surrounding areas and allows you to get good discounts in famous museums, restaurants and shops.
The Pass en Liberte program includes more than 260 partners, including the Museum of Ceramics and the Museum of Fine Arts, as well as numerous castles and abbeys located in the vicinity of Rouen. You should definitely visit the Château d'Etelan, built in the Flamboyant Gothic style on the banks of the Seine. The monumental medieval abbeys of Jumièges, Bonnporte and Saint-Georges are also noteworthy. After enjoying the excursion program, you can check out the restaurants and shopping centers from the Pass en Liberte list.
The card is sold at the Rouen tourist office on Cathedral Square for 10 EUR. It is valid for a year and cannot be transferred to other persons.
Rouen Hotels
Despite the fact that Rouen is a small city, local hotels have a total of more than 3,000 rooms. Most hotels are located in the historical center, close to the main attractions. Inexpensive hotels and hostels are located near the train station. The closer to the center, the more expensive the hotel rooms, although in general the prices vary slightly. But experienced travelers do not recommend settling on the left bank: there are fewer offers here, and there is practically nothing to see.
Accommodation rates in two- and three-star hotels start from 50 EUR per day. 4* hotels offer more comfortable rooms, prices here start from 75 EUR per day. A night in the most luxurious boutique hotel with a swimming pool, fitness center and spa will cost from 165 EUR. But to feel the real atmosphere of a medieval city, we recommend staying in an old half-timbered house. Moreover, it costs little: from 60 EUR per day.
Shopping
On Saturdays and Sundays, Place Saint-Marc hosts a market where you can buy fresh produce and flowers from suburban farms. They also sell antique and second-hand interior items, furniture and dishes. Food products can be purchased at the Old Market, which is bursting with abundance, and the cheese rows deserve special attention.
Rouen is famous for its blue and white ceramics, somewhat reminiscent of traditional Chinese tableware. There were once 22 factories in the region, the most famous of which were Caussy, Guillibaud, Bertin and Mouchard. Today, artisans' workshops are located on Rue Saint-Romain, next to the Rouen Cathedral. Here you can see craftsmen at work, and at the same time buy original ceramics.
In Rouen it is also worth buying linen products: bed linen, home textiles, clothing and accessories.
video about Rouen Cathedral from GeoBeats (in English)
What to try
The most famous local dish is Rouen duckling, which is prepared directly in front of the client according to a complex procedure: coated with mustard, roasted on a spit and grilled, and finally the juice obtained during cooking is squeezed out using a special silver press. The duckling is served with a Rouen sauce based on Bordeaux wines and shallots, with a sprig of celery and a baked apple. In Rouen, there is even a special order (L’ordre des Canardiers), which is awarded to chefs who honor the traditions of preparing duckling in Rouen, and gourmets who are considered experts on it.
Rouen is also famous for its baked apples, which serve as a filling for a variety of pies, in the form of juice, cider, Calvados and other local intoxicating drinks.
On the third weekend of October, the “Festival of the Belly” is held in the square in front of the Old Market, where you can see and taste everything that the Rouen region is famous for.
Cafes and restaurants in Rouen
The best restaurants in the city are concentrated in the vicinity of the Church of Joan of Arc. Here you can try both traditional Rouen dishes and the culinary masterpieces of Norman cuisine in general. The city has many small bistros serving sandwiches, desserts and cold drinks. In the northern part, crepe shops are common, as are small Tunisian eateries with takeaway food. A cluster of trendy bars - between the Old Market Square and Thiers Street. In some of them you can not only enjoy a meal, but also buy souvenirs: postcards and calendars with the symbols of the city.
Kitchens in many establishments in Rouen are open only during lunch (12:00-14:00) and dinner (19:00-22:00). The rest of the time, you can have a cup of coffee with dessert or a glass of wine with a light snack. Most famous restaurants are closed on Sundays.
In Rouen cafes, ready-made multi-course menus with a total cost of 12-20 EUR are popular. Business lunches cost 10 EUR, dinner in an inexpensive establishment costs about 30 EUR. In premium restaurants, prices for hot dishes reach 30-45 EUR, a meal with wine will cost 50-70 EUR per person.
The best photos of Rouen
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Entertainment and attractions
The old town of Rouen is a continuous cluster of unique attractions, perfectly preserved since the Middle Ages. In the historical center of the city, everything revolves around the famous Rouen Cathedral. Its construction lasted about three centuries, and during this time the building absorbed features of a variety of styles with the dominant Gothic. Rouen Cathedral was immortalized by the impressionist Claude Monet in a series of landscapes, and today anyone can compare the play of light and shadow on the walls of the cathedral and the artist’s paintings.
The large clock is another attraction of Rouen. A Gothic tower, a Renaissance gate and a classicist fountain are a familiar Rouen mixture of eras and arts. The clock mechanism is considered one of the oldest in Europe.
The Church of Joan of Arc was erected on the site of the execution of the national heroine of France on Old Market Square. Joan of Arc was canonized in 1920, and in 1979 a church was built in her honor. Inside, it's worth looking at the magnificent 16th-century stained glass windows that belonged to the cathedral that once stood on this site.
The mechanism of the Great Clock is one of the oldest and most massive in all of Europe.
Another gem of the historical center is the Church of Saint-Maclou, a magnificent example of the Flaming Gothic style. To the left of the church there is a “pissing boy” type fountain, unexpected for such a place, and the boy is far from alone there.
A recognized masterpiece of French Gothic architecture is the Church of Saint-Ouen, the only surviving part of the medieval abbey of the same name. It is practically not inferior to the Rouen Cathedral either in size or monumentality.
Fans of fine art should visit the Art Museum, which houses an interesting collection of paintings and sculptures from different eras. The pride of the exhibition is ancient Russian icons and magnificent works by Monet. The best examples of the famous Rouen faience and porcelain are exhibited in the Museum of Ceramics. Stately rococo-style services and charming figurines are traditional French luxury.
Connoisseurs of the works of Gustave Flaubert and Pierre Corneille are unlikely to bypass the museums of the same name, dedicated to the writer and playwright. The Sec de Tournelle Ironworks Museum is famous not only for its extensive collection of forged antiques. It is housed in a grand Gothic former church from the 15th century, and still has colorful stained glass windows and other interior features.
After seeing the sights and visiting the exhibitions, you can head to the outskirts of Rouen. There is also something to admire there: the picturesque castles and abbeys on the banks of the Seine are worthy of a separate excursion.
7 things to do in Rouen
- Wander through the central streets: you won’t find more charming half-timbered houses anywhere.
- Admire the Rouen Cathedral and compare what you see with Monet's paintings.
- Explore the quaint antique mechanism of the Big Clock.
- Visit the places of imprisonment and execution of the legendary Joan of Arc.
- Try the famous Rouen duckling, prepared according to all the rules.
- Complete your collection of home ceramics with an original blue and white piece from Rue Saint-Romain.
- Experience a spectacular laser show: the walls of Rouen Cathedral are illuminated with hundreds of bright colors every evening from mid-June to mid-September.
Rouen for children
To ensure that even a child can enjoy exploring the architectural beauties of Rouen, you can give up walking for a while and take a ride on a tourist train. It departs every hour from the square in front of Rouen Cathedral and winds through the narrow streets of the old quarters for 45 minutes. The cost of the trip is 6.50 EUR, tickets can be purchased directly from the driver.
But for real children's entertainment you will have to move a little away from the city. 25 km from Rouen, Bokasse Park (website in English) has been built with many modern attractions for visitors of all ages. There are carousels for the little ones, water activities, and breathtaking roller coasters.
Weather
The climate of Rouen is temperate, with mild winters and warm summers. The city is saved from the sweltering heat by the influence of the English Channel. It rains throughout the year and there is a lot of precipitation. Snow in winter is very rare, as are clear days: from December to February and in the off-season it is almost always cloudy here. Due to the high air humidity in Rouen, even the slightest drop in temperature is acutely felt. At the same time, winters here are still an order of magnitude warmer than in other northern cities of France. The hottest and sunniest month of the year is August. It is not surprising that this is the time when there are the most tourists here.
The Seine is a river located in the north of France, which is a major transport artery of the country. Its length is about 776 km, and the basin area is 79.66 thousand km². The river is fed primarily by rain, with water levels rising from November to March. The Seine has four main tributaries - the Marne, Aube, Oise and Yonne.
In the 60s of the 20th century, the level of water pollution in the river reached its maximum limits, the Seine became almost dead. But soon radical measures were taken that led to a significant improvement in the local ecology. In 2009, Atlantic salmon returned to the river waters.
The source of the Seine is located in the southern part of the Langres plateau in Burgundy, then it flows through the wide valley of the Parisian basin, where its bed is quite winding. Near the city of Le Havre, the Seine River flows into the English Channel. It plays an important economic role; thousands of ships with a draft of up to 6.5 meters pass along the Seine every year.
Rouen Cathedral
Rouen Cathedral is perfectly recognizable even without guides and numerous guidebooks, especially among fans of the Impressionists.
The openwork outlines of this temple inspired the great Claude Monet to create 36 paintings. The amazing, elegant, incredibly huge Rouen Cathedral stands proudly among the narrow city streets. At the end of the 19th century, Rouen's Notre Dame Cathedral was the tallest building in the world. Its powerful and at the same time graceful walls fascinate with their incredible, almost magical beauty. In order to appreciate the dimensions of this grandiose structure, tourists have to lift their heads very high, otherwise it simply does not fit into the entire field of view.
The pointed spire of Rouen's Notre-Dame Cathedral, 152 meters high, dates back to the 12th century; it is almost impossible to find its equal. The left tower of the cathedral was erected in the early Gothic era, and the construction of the right one was completed only in the 16th century. Some of the cathedral's windows feature stained glass from the 13th century, made famous by a specific blue hue, more commonly known as Chartres blue. The stunning beauty of these stained glass windows is described by Flaubert in his immortal novel Madame Bovary.
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Palace of Justice
The Rouen Palace of Justice is one of the most beautiful Gothic palaces in France, which dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. Half a century ago, the governing bodies of Normandy were located here, and today justice is administered in the building, but entry here is not open to everyone. The Palace of Justice is an excellent example of the late Gothic style, often called Flamboyant Gothic.
Inside the building there is a very beautiful vaulted hall. Such buildings look like fairy-tale castles. The Rouen Palace of Justice was heavily damaged by bombing during World War II, but was soon completely restored. To enjoy the Gothic spiers, turrets, statues, chimeras and gargoyles that decorate the palace, you must enter the courtyard through the main gate.
In the courtyard, be sure to pay attention to the “high house” (“Maison sublime”) - a beautiful stone structure used as a synagogue by the Jewish community of Rouen at the beginning of the 12th century. Now there are industrial and art museums, as well as a rich library (approximately 133 thousand volumes, 400 incunabula and 3,500 manuscripts).
The Church of Saint Macloup, located in the French city of Rouen, near the famous Rouen Cathedral, was built by the architect Pierre Robin in 1434-1470. The gray stone church attracts attention with its unusual appearance. Architectural style – flaming Gothic. The facade of the church resembles the flame of a burning candle, this is clearly visible in the special shape of the windows.
Biblical scenes are carved on the wooden doors of the three-nave gray stone church, and stained glass windows from the 15th century are preserved inside. Behind the Saint-Maclou church there is a cemetery of the same name, where in the Middle Ages people who died from the plague were buried. It is a columbarium with galleries decorated with figures of skulls and bones made of wood.
Place of the Old Market of Vieux Marchais (Rouen)
The place of execution is marked by a tall (20 meters) but modestly shaped cross standing in the middle of a small flower bed.
In the center of the square is the Cathedral of Saint Joan of Arc. It was built in 1979 by the architect Louis Arretsch. This is a very unusual structure, made outside the canons of the construction of Catholic churches. Its roof is shaped like flames that brought physical death to Jeanne, but in an instant gave her name immortality. The cathedral is interesting for its ancient stained glass windows, preserved after the destruction of the temple that stood on this site before World War II. The architect very organically integrated the saved stained glass fragments into the building of the new cathedral.
On the southern side of the Old Market Square is the Museum of Joan of Arc. The museum's exhibition, located in a vaulted dungeon, is dedicated to her life and death and presents lithographs, models, restored models of armor and flags of that era.
There is also a large indoor market on the square - a noisy, but very colorful place. Around the square are beautifully preserved multi-colored half-timbered houses, the first floors of which attract tourists with bright signs of cafes, souvenir shops and bistros.
Church of Joan of Arc
The Church of the Virgin of Orleans was built in 1979 on the site of the Church of St. Vincent, which was destroyed during the Second World War by an air bomb. The remains of the building served as building material for the new structure. The author of the project was the French architect Louis Arretche. The location for the church was not chosen by chance - it was here that Joan of Arc was burned.
The structure is unique in its design and appearance and is not very similar to temples in the traditional sense. The shape of the building resembles an overturned ship; the huge stained glass windows make a strong impression. The building has no clear lines or shapes, and the roof looks like scales.
The cathedral is open from April to November 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.00, and from November to April 1.00-12.00 and 13.00-17.30. On Fridays and Sundays the church is closed in the morning.
Joan of Arc Museum
Normandy is closely connected with the name of Joan of Arc, because it was here that she was kept in the tower of an old castle, which has survived to this day, tried, and then burned at the stake. After the Second World War, a cathedral was erected on the Vieux Marché square, its roof shaped like a bonfire, which recalls the execution of the heroine. Near it there is a museum, also dedicated to the great woman.
The exhibition of this museum is entirely dedicated to the life and death of Joan of Arc. It includes engravings, paintings, ammunition and weapons of that era. The museum also has a wonderful gallery of wax figures that reflect the life of the heroine, from her childhood in Domremy to her arrival to Rouen.
The attention of tourists is attracted by ancient models, lithographs and restored models of flags and armor of that era, located at the entrance to the museum. Guests are offered an audio guide in 4 languages, but, unfortunately, there is no Russian in it. Be sure to visit the city of Rouen, which is steeped in historical events, and be transported mentally back to the Middle Ages.
Gustave Flaubert Bridge
The Gustave Flaubert automobile-pedestrian bridge crosses the Seine River in the town of Rouen in northern France. The opening of the bridge took place in September 2008 on the eve of the annual sailing regatta "Rouen Armada"
A distinctive feature of the tallest European drawbridge is that the spans are raised vertically to a height of 55 meters, and the support columns of the drawbridge rise to a height of 91 meters. It can be assumed that the 21st century French writer Gustave Flaubert would be very, very shocked to find out which bridge bears his name.
The bridge is designed in such a way that cruise ships and sailing ships that gather in Rouen for the Rouen Armada ship parade can freely pass under it.
The “Bridge Lift” slab rises for about 12 minutes 30-40 times a year. Each “bridge highway” is two-lane, measuring 2x18 meters plus a pedestrian lane of 2.5 meters and has its own lifting mechanism. When the bridge is operating, they act simultaneously.
Interestingly, each highway surface has its own lifting section. On the one hand, this facilitates the operation of the main mechanisms, on the other hand, it helps to maintain the natural ecosystem of the river. Through the openings between the bridge platforms, sunlight reaches the water under the bridge.
Its capacity is 50,000 cars per day, and the cost was 155 million euros.
With the opening of the bridge, unique for France, the number of tourists in the city of Rouen also increased. People especially come here to see with their own eyes the original project of a talented architect. The views from the bridge are also extraordinary - from there you can see a panorama of the city, and below - the unrestrained waters of the most beautiful French reservoir.
