Rouen
About 40 minutes away from Le Château is the city of Rouen, former capital of Normandy and an absolutely beautiful city steeped in history. Walking along the streets filled with half-timbered houses, small boutiques and antique shops you will discover the treasures that Rouen has to offer: the Cathedral of Notre Dame (Monet made more that 30 paintings of the façade), the famous clock in the bustling Rue du Gros-Horloge, the Law Courts, the cloisters and church of Saint-Maclou and the abbey church of Saint-Ouen are just some of the wonderful sights on offer. The memory of Joan of Arc lingers in the Place du Vieux-Marché, the exact spot where she was martyred, and which in summer is filled with café tables and chairs. The Musée des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), situated on the Place Verdrel, has an exceptional collection of paintings (including ones by Monet, Renoir, Velàquez and Sisley), drawings and sculptures, furniture and objets d’art.
Several walking tours are available, either with your own private English-speaking guide or as part of a public group with a (English-speaking) guide, which all leave from the Tourist Office.
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame
The cathedral, built over the course of several centuries (started in the 12th), is a perfect example of the evolution of Gothic architecture. The stained glass windows are particularly fine (13th-16th centuries), and the spire is the tallest in France at 151 metres. The cathedral contains tombs of some of the Dukes of Normandy as well as Richard the Lionheart, who loved the city so much he ordered that his heart be buried here.
Open:
November - March: Everyday, 8am-6pm (2pm - 6pm Mondays)
April - October: Everyday, 8am - 7pm (from 2pm-7pm Mondays), except 01/01, 01/05 & 11/11.
Rue du Gros-Horloge
Linking the Cathedral to the Place du Vieux Marché, this narrow cobbled street is named after the large clock face in the centre of the Renaissance belfry that spans the street. As has always been, the street is a hive of activity, with shops of all kinds tucked away inside beautiful 15th- to 17th-century half-timbered buildings.
Place du Vieux-Marché (or Place Jeanne-d’Arc)
This is the square where executions took place in the middle ages, the most famous being that of Joan of Arc in 1431. Possibly the most striking feature of the square is the Eglise Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc, a large modern church (1979) that was designed to resemble an upturned boat. Inside, the stained glass windows are from the Renaissance period, saved from another church that was destroyed during the Second World War.
Abbaye Saint-Ouen
This 14th- to 16th-century abbey is one of the most beautiful Gothic monuments in France. Its sheer size (137 metres long with vaults that reach 33 metres) means it is often mistaken for the Cathedral. The organ pipes (1630), 80 stained glass windows over three levels and choir gates (18th century) are particularly fine.
Open:
15/03 - 31/10:Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-12.15pm & 2pm-6pm, Sunday, 9am-12.15pm & 2pm - 6pm
01/11 - 14/03: Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday, 10am-12pm & 2pm-5pm
Closed: 15/12 - 15/01 inclusive.
Activities
For suggestions of activities please check the Family and the Children sections of this site.
