Rouen Cathedral (Rouen, France): description, history, interesting facts. Rouen Cathedral in art. Rouen - the historical capital of Normandy Rouen city in France attractions

Rouen, a beautiful ancient city, with tall half-timbered houses and cathedrals in the flamboyant Gothic style. Unlike Le Havre, which was practically razed to the ground and rebuilt after World War II, Rouen was not so badly damaged by bombing and retained its appearance as a medieval city interspersed with earlier eras.

The capital of Normandy stands on the Seine, between Paris and Le Havre (to Le Havre - 86 km, to Paris - 132 km). From Paris to Rouen it is easy to get by train. Trains to Rouen depart from Paris Saint-Lazare Station, the journey time is just over an hour.

The old city of Rouen is located on the right bank of the Seine, where it was once founded by the Celts and equipped by Roman legionnaires. Over time, the Roman settlement of Rotomagus turned into the main city of the Norman principality - the Normans repeatedly sailed their ships up the Seine to Rotomagus: first they plundered and burned the city, then they settled in it as masters and made it their capital.

Rouen grew, moved the fortress walls further and further, and grew with churches, monasteries, and castles.

So: half-timbered and flaming gothic. Half-timbered - because the banks of the Seine were covered with forest, and there was no shortage of wood, but only rich city dwellers could build stone buildings. The streets of the city are narrow, half-timbered houses are up to five or six floors, the areas are usually small. There are many flowers, both in the squares and under the windows.

Hotels in Rouen

We started our walk from the Seine embankment, from the theater, in front of which there is a monument to the playwright Pierre Corneille, a native of Rouen, the founder of French tragedy. He lived in Rouen for 56 years, and there is a Corneille Museum in the city.

The main axis of old Rouen stretches parallel to the Seine: from the Church of Saint-Maclou - to the Old Market Square with the Church of Saint Joan of Arc (it was burned in this square). Sights of Rouen on the map

On this axis, closer to Saint-Macl, is the cathedral, known from numerous paintings by Claude Monet. The artist painted it many times, capturing and capturing the nuances of light transitions and the transformation of the cathedral depending on the angle of incidence of the sun's rays. Over the course of two years, a large series of paintings by Monet dedicated to the Rouen Cathedral was completed.

There is an information center directly opposite the cathedral, which has maps and booklets in Russian. The map shows two routes around the historical center of Rouen: brown and purple. It is advisable to follow these routes - they pass through the most wonderful, indicative streets of Rouen.

The information center is located on the ground floor of the former Bureau of Finance building, a historic 16th-century building richly decorated with stone carvings. Claude Monet painted the cathedral from the second floor of this building.

On summer evenings, a spectacular light show takes place on the cathedral square, with two hour-long free sessions of the Cathedrale de Lumiere (Cathedral of Light) - various images are projected onto the façade of the cathedral.

The facade of Rouen Cathedral is unique - it’s not for nothing that it attracted the attention of Claude Monet. Over the centuries, the façade has been remodeled many times. Its left tower of Saint-Romain (12th century) is crowned with a spire, its right tower of Beure (15th century) ends with a terrace. Saint-Romain is the patron saint of Rouen, so his name has firmly and repeatedly entered the toponymy of Rouen.

The Bör Tower is translated as “Butter Tower”; it was built with the money of the townspeople, who were allowed to eat butter during Lent - for this indulgence they gave money for the construction of the tower. In addition, the tower of Bur is built from yellowish stone brought from Wales. The cathedral itself is white stone.

There are three portals cut into the façade: Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Romain and Saint-Etienne. A bell tower with a cast-iron spire is raised above the middle cross.

If you exit the cathedral from the right side portal, then in the depths of the street, on the Tall Old Tower Square, you can see a building with an unusual pedestal with a gazebo tower. It was built in 1524. The annual religious procession with the relics of St. Romanus ended on this pedestal.

Rue Saint-Romain leads from the cathedral to the church of Saint-Maclou, or rather a street with half-timbered facades. Nestled among the half-timbered buildings is a Viennese café. There are shops selling ceramics - Rouen is famous for its ceramics, the city even has a Ceramics Museum.

The Church of Saint-Maclou evokes a feeling of lightness, grace, and flight. A striking example of flaming Gothic.

The church is surrounded by half-timbered houses.

The narrow street Damiet goes to the left, along which you can walk to the Abbey of Saint-Ouen.

On the left side of the facade there is a fountain with drinking water. And here are the peeing boys, but they don’t look as radiant as their counterpart in Brussels.

If you walk from the fountain along the Church of Saint-Maclou along rue Martainville, then on the left side you will find an arch leading to the Atrium of Saint-Maclou. Having passed under the arch, you find yourself in a narrow courtyard, where you simply feel the breath of centuries, such a feeling of antiquity and frozen time.

The passage under the second arch leads out into an enclosed courtyard - a former cemetery, surrounded by wooden galleries. This isolated cemetery at the church - the atrium of Saint-Maclou - arose during the plague epidemic. Skulls and skeletons are carved on the wooden walls, and funerary monuments are built in here and there. The place is quiet and eerie. Although now there is a regional school of fine arts there, and on summer evenings performances are held in this enclosed courtyard.

On the other side of the Rouen Cathedral, from its facade, the pedestrian street of the Great Clock begins, idle, lively, filled with walking people. The large Clock is mounted on an arch with a metal roof with a ridge. Under the arch there are bas-reliefs.

Behind the arch, on the left side, there is a bas-relief fountain.

On the street they sell local “macaroni” - colorful macaroons.

And - again a line of half-timbered houses, and we come out onto the Old Market Square. However, the market still exists today: a civilized indoor market: vegetables, fruits, cheeses.

We pass the market and find ourselves near a wonderful building: a rugged cube with stained glass windows under a strange roof: above the cube it soars upward in two tongues, and from the cube it slides down with the long narrow bottom of an inverted ship. This building was built on the site of the Saint-Vincens church demolished in 1944 and is called the Church of Saint Joan of Arc.

To the right of the church are the remains of the foundation of the destroyed church.

On the other side, behind a low wooden fence, is the site of the burning of Joan of Arc.

The church houses the restored stained glass windows of the Church of Saint-Vincens.

If you walk from the Church of Joan of Arc towards the Seine along the Old Palace Street (rue du Vieux Palais) and turn left at the first intersection, you will find yourself on Martin Luther King Square, near the Reformed Church of Saint-Eloi. Luther King Square connects with the lovely little Place de la Pucelle.

At the junction of the squares there is a remarkable building - the Burgterulda Hotel. The Burgteruld mansion was built in the early 16th century for the influential Le Roux family. Built of yellow stone, decorated with bas-reliefs and a corner turret.

After passing through Place Pussels, you can go to the Saint-André Tower - this is all that remains of the Saint-André Church after the Allied bombing. And from the tower along Jeanne d'Arc Street, go up to the Palace of Justice, or the Parliament of Normandy.

This is, indeed, a palace. The same flaming Gothic style, a stone lace shawl draped over the building.

Previously, this place belonged to the Jewish community. After the expulsion of the Jews from Rouen, this land was no man's land for some time, then the herbal market was located here. At the end of the 15th century, it was decided to build a Norman feudal court, and a building arose that was not inferior in beauty and sophistication of decoration to many palaces.

From the previous owners of this place the so-called "The Wonderful House", found in the east wing of Parliament in 1076. Presumably this is a fragment of an ancient Hebrew university. You can get there only by appointment.

Along the Street of the Jews (rue aux Juifs) you need to go to the wide street of Carmes (rue de Carmes), turn left and at the second intersection turn right. On the small square of Carmes, among the trees, there is a monument to Flaubert. And on the neighboring Place Saint-Armand (rather, not a square, but a triangular public garden) there is a monument to Claude Monet.

From here it is very close to the Abbey of Saint-Ouen (go left along the Rue de la République). The same flaming Gothic style, three dented portals. The Church of Saint-Ouen is famous for its stained glass windows, but we didn’t get inside, the church was closed.

To the left of the church there is a long gallery, behind it is a green square and the long yellow city hall building. In front of the city hall is an equestrian statue of Napoleon.

Opposite Napoleon, Rue Jean Lecanue begins, following which we find ourselves on Place Verdel, in the local “quarter of museums”. The most significant of them is the Museum of Fine Arts. Next to it is the Sec de Tournai Museum of Blacksmithing and the Museum of Ceramics. The Saint-Godard Church is adjacent to the Museum of Fine Arts. And just north of the Museum of Ceramics is the tower of Joan of Arc, in which she was located for some time. The donjon tower is the little that remains of the castle of King Philip on August 2nd.

From the Tower of Joan of Arc it is very close to the Rouen train station.

There is also a natural attraction in Rouen - St. Catherine's Hill. It is located on the eastern outskirts of the city, half an hour's walk from the city center. The hill itself is considered a natural monument; rare species of animals and plants are found here, including the Rouen violet, Italian crickets, and Soloni sheep. From the top there is a panoramic view of Rouen and the Seine with bridges.

The required time for a full inspection of Rouen is two days.

What to see in Rouen in one day: first of all, the masterpieces of flaming Gothic Rouen Cathedral, the Church of Saint-Maclou (and its Atrium), the Abbey of Saint-Ouen and the Palace of Justice. In addition to them - the Church of Joan of Arc and the Burgteruld Hotel. Well, and along the way – the streets and squares connecting them, lined with half-timbered houses. On the second day, leave the museums and St. Catherine's Hill.

Normandy - Contents

In addition to the sights of Rouen itself and its museums, you can travel a little around the surrounding area, in Normandy, admiring the ancient castles, picturesque villages and beautiful ports. Thanks to excellent transport links, many of the places listed below can be reached by direct train within 20 - 50 minutes.

Robert the Devil's Castle

• Château de Robert-le-Diable - 15 km southwest, 26 min by car (25 km)

The reconstructed ruins of Robert the Devil's Castle (Château de Robert-le-Diable) can be seen in the immediate vicinity of Rouen, arriving here by bus 31. The castle was built under the first Norman dukes. The name comes from the nickname of Duke Robert II the Magnificent (1010 - 1035), who was accused of being particularly cruel in connection with evil spirits. The castle was destroyed during the Hundred Years' War in the 15th century by the inhabitants of Rouen themselves. Now the castle houses a museum dedicated to the Viking conquest of Normandy.

Abbey Road

In the vicinity of Rouen, in the Seine Valley, you can see three ancient monasteries: the Romanesque abbey of St. Georges (Abbaye Saint Georges de Boscherville - 12 km from Rouen), Saint-Wandrille Abbey (Abbaye de St-Wandrille de Fontenelle - 20 km further along the Seine) and the Benedictine Abbey of Jumièges (another 12 km).

The village of Rie and Madame Bovary

• Ry - 20 km east, 29 min by car

The picturesque village of Ry is a cult place for admirers of Gustave Flaubert, the author of the famous novel Madame Bovary, the prototype of which was a resident of Ry. And the village itself is believed to have become the prototype for Yonville, described in the novel. You can visit a museum dedicated to the novel.

Nature reserve

• Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande, 47 km northwest by car (46 min)

The Natural Regional Park of Normandy is located between Rouen and Le Havre. This is a 4500 hectare reserve with traditional Norman nature.

There are a number of bus routes throughout the park and one railway station, Yvetot, through which the Le Havre - Yvetot - Rouen train line passes.

Giverny and Claude Monet

• Giverny - 70 km southeast, 1 hour by car, 40 minutes by train in the direction of Paris-St-Lazare (11.90 €) to Vernon (Eure) station

IN Giverny The studio of the world famous impressionist artist Claude Monet is located. He noticed this picturesque place from the window of a passing train and soon moved here. At first he rented housing in the surrounding area, but in 1890 he saved enough money to buy his own house. Around it he laid out a magnificent garden, which he depicted on many of his canvases, some of which became the artist’s most famous works, including a pond with lilies. Following Monet, a whole galaxy of American impressionists settled in Giverny, many of whom lived and met at the Hôtel Baudy. Now Monet's studio has been turned into a museum. You can also see the Impressionist Museum in Giverny.

Dieppe

• Dieppe - 65 km north, 55 min by car, 47 min by train (12.20 €, ex. Dieppe)

Dieppe is a picturesque seaside resort. It originally appeared in 1030 as a fishing village, but already in the Hundred Years' War it played an important strategic role. In the 16th century, Dieppe was home to the best school of cartography in France. Dieppe was the site of an unsuccessful Allied landing during World War II. The city has preserved the picturesque Château de Dieppe, which has now been converted into a museum dedicated to navigation, which also includes a collection of ivory items from the 17th and 18th centuries and a number of lace exhibits.

Les Andelys

• Les Andelys - 40 km southeast, 51 min by car

Les Andelys is the ideal destination for a half-day excursion from Rouen. This picturesque town with an impressive castle is located 35 km southeast of Rouen. In 1198, by order of King Richard the Lionheart, the famous castle of Chateau-Gaillard was built on the high bank of the Seine, which was badly damaged during the Hundred Years' War. To this day, only picturesque ruins have survived from the castle. In addition to the castle, you can see the magnificent Gothic cathedral and the 13th-century Saint-Sauveux church, the remains of the fortress wall of Grande Andely and the House-Museum of the artist Nicolas Poussin.

Honfleur

• Honfleur - 90 km, approx. 2 hours by train with 1 change at Liseux / Evreux / Bernay (train towards Caen, then to Trouville-Deauville station to the final station, 24.60 € - 29.00 €)

Small picturesque port Honfleur dates back to the 17th century. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Normandy. The town has preserved many ancient buildings and several interesting museums and churches.

Le Havre

• Le Havre - 92 km west, 1:08 by car, direct train 0:56 - 1:23 (16.00 €)

Le Havre is a large port city at the mouth of the Seine River, which for many centuries served as the Parisian port, where goods were then transported on barges and floated down the river. The city suffered greatly from bombing during World War II, during the famous Normandy Landing. The reconstruction of the city was led by the architect August Perret, using reinforced concrete structures. As a result, Le Havre was added to the list of World Heritage Sites UNESCO. The main architectural landmark of the city can be considered the Church of Saint-Joseph (Église Saint-Joseph), the tower of which is decorated with stained glass windows.

Amiens

• Amiens - 120 km to the northeast, 1:20 by car, 1:15 by direct train (21.40 €)

Amiens- the main city in Picardy. This ancient city, due to its strategic location, more than once became the center of battles between different countries, suffering from attacks by the Normans, the Spaniards, during the Napoleonic Wars, as well as during two world wars. Despite much destruction, the 17th-century town hall, the 15th-century Saint-Germain church and the Louis XVI theater have recently been restored in the center of Amiens. But the main attraction of the city is the magnificent Amiens Cathedral, the most capacious Gothic temple in France. This purest example of the Gothic style has been listed as a World Heritage Site. UNESCO.

Bayeux

• Bayeux - 157 km to the west, 1:41 by car, 2:14 by train with 1 change in Caen, then by train to e.g. Cherbourg to Bayeux (31.00 €).

Bayeux is a picturesque city with a population of 15 thousand inhabitants, whose long-standing attraction is the 11th century cathedral. The city became famous thanks to the famous “Bayeux carpet” (Tapisserie de Bayeux) - an embroidered canvas 70.3 m long and 50 cm high depicting the most important scenes (58 in total) from the history of the conquest of England by William of Normandy. This monument of medieval art is exhibited in the city museum of the same name.

During World War II, Bayeux became the first French city to be liberated by Allied forces, the day after the Normandy landings.

Lille

• Lille - 256 km to the northeast, 2:34 by car, 2:41 by train, ticket 37.80 €, departure. on weekdays 6:17 (Sat - 8:18, Sun-no), 18:17.

IN Lille- one of the main cities of Northern France - you will find many interesting museums and a huge flea market held in early September. The main attraction and symbol of the city is the building of the Old Exchange - a magnificent palace of the 17th century. Vauban's fortifications in Lille are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The city was born from a village located on an island between two branches of the Deul River, hence its name - translated from French l’île - “island”. In the Middle Ages, the city actively developed due to its proximity to the Benelux countries and at the intersection of trade routes. In 1961, the first hypermarket opened in the Hauts Champs area, giving its name to the world famous Auchan retail chain (after the name of the area). In 1983, Lille opened the first fully automated metro in the world.

Kahn

• Caen - west 128 km, 1:26 by car, 1:40 by train (once per hour, 27.50 €)

Kahn- the capital of the Lower Normandy region with a population of over 100 thousand people. The city was made the capital under William the Conqueror, one of the first Dukes of Normandy. Unfortunately, most of the old city of Caen was destroyed during the Battle of Caen in the summer of 1944. The city was rebuilt in 1948-62 according to the Marshall plan, with industrial and green areas.

Among the attractions of Caen, it is worth highlighting the Caen Castle of the 11th-12th centuries - one of the largest fortresses of the Middle Ages in Europe, which now houses several museums. Several churches have also survived - monuments of the Norman Romanesque style (Saint-Etienne Cathedral and Trinity Church), as well as the late Gothic Church of St. Petra.

Paris

• Paris - 135 km southeast, 1:55 by car, 1:11 by train (24.10 €, Paris-St-Lazare station)

Paris- the capital of France and the most visited city in the world by tourists. You can get from Rouen to Paris in literally 1:10 -1:30 by direct train, sometimes without stops, sometimes with stops at Giverny. It is pointless to list all the sights of Paris; it is easier to see with your own eyes the majestic churches, the most beautiful bridges, visit some of the best museums in the world, take a cruise along the Seine, admiring the panoramas of the city, and in the evening, when the route around Paris has been completed, enjoy the best works of French cuisine in one of the gourmet restaurants.

Versailles

• Versaille - 126 km southeast, 1.5 hours by car, 1:19 by direct train (25.50 €, 1 time per day - from Rouen at 8:45, TGV to eg Marseille-Saint-Charles, return at 19:58, otherwise - about 2:20 with 1 - 2 transfers)

Versailles- the most famous of all the royal palaces in France, the residence of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The palace complex and its beautiful gardens, designed in a formal French style, became the main model for palaces throughout Europe. Usually Versailles is visited by tour from Paris, but from Rouen there is also a direct train directly to Versailles once a day, without stopping in Paris.

A full entrance ticket costs €18, entrance only to the main palace complexes of Versailles costs €15.

- the capital of Upper Normandy, located on the banks of the Seine.
was founded by the Gauls, who controlled a vast territory in the lower reaches of the Seine. They called the city Ratumacos. It was the second city of Gaul after Lyon, which the Gauls called Lugdunum.
After the conquest by the Romans, it flourished, an amphitheater and baths were built here.
In the 5th century the city became the residence of a bishop; under the Merovingians it was the capital of Neustria.
In 841 the city was conquered by the Normans. And since 912 it was the capital of the Duchy of Normandy.
In the 12th century, many Jews lived in the city – 6 thousand, which accounted for 20% of the city’s total population.
In 1204, the French king Philip II Augustus annexed Normandy to his kingdom. At this time, the textile industry began to develop using English wool. At that time, he exported wine and wheat to England.
In the XIII centuries. the struggle captured the city, most of the inhabitants were killed, the rich were robbed.
In the 15th century, during the Hundred Years' War, it came under English rule. In 1413, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the center.
During the Second World War the city suffered greatly.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

The Seine River divides the city into two parts: Rive Gauche(left bank) and Rive Druath(right bank). The old town is located on the right bank.
The old one is a labyrinth of narrow streets, half-timbered houses, shutters, sharp roofs and flowerpots.
Famous for its Notre Dame Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the Norman Gothic style. A fabulous and airy cathedral rises among the narrow streets.

Rouen Cathedral. Normandy. France.

This cathedral is depicted in a series of paintings by Claude Monet.
Construction of the cathedral began in 1202 and continued until 1880. There are two towers on the façade of the cathedral: the left one was built in the 12th century. (early Gothic), and the right - at the beginning of the 16th century. This is late Gothic with many small details and a complicated form, called flaming Gothic. This tower is also called the Olive Tower for its yellow color. There is another explanation for the name of the tower: butter was prohibited during Lent and those Rouen residents who did not give up butter paid the bishop to atone for this sin, and the tower was built with these funds.
The central spire was built later than all others in the mid-19th century. Its height is 151 meters. At that time it was the tallest building in the world.
The cathedral's windows are decorated with 13th-century mosaics made of the famous cobalt blue, called "Chartres blue". This stained glass window tells the story of St. Julian the Hospitaller.
The cathedral contains the tomb of King Richard the Lionheart. In those days, it was customary to keep it in pieces, therefore, according to the will, the heart of the king rests in the Rouen Cathedral.
Also in Rouen Cathedral is the tomb of Rollo, Richard's ancestor and the first ruler of Normandy.

Church of Saint-Maclou is a striking example of flaming Gothic. It was built in 1437-1517. Behind the church is a crypt - a rare example of medieval burials of plague victims. In the Middle Ages, corpses were brought to the church and thrown into a pit. Much later, a cemetery appeared on this site. Undertakers' shops were built around them, decorated with skulls, bones and skeletons. In the 17th century, a school for the poor was opened here. Then the cemetery and the undertakers' shops were closed, leaving only the art school.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

The city is closely associated with the name of Joan of Arc. Here she was kept in the castle tower, which still stands today, tried and burned at the stake. On the Vieux Marché square, after the Second World War, a cathedral was built at the site of the burning of Joan of Arc. The roof of the cathedral, made in the form of a bonfire, recalls the execution of the Saint.
There is also a museum dedicated to Joan of Arc.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

The most popular in the city, the street of the Great Clock (rue du Gros Horloge), is named after the tower with an ancient clock dating back to the 16th century - this is the symbol and calling card of the city.
This is the first pedestrian street in France.

Clock Street. Rouen.

Clock Street. Rouen.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Normandy cuisine based on 4 elements: apples, milk, meat and seafood.
Apples are used to make cider and cavaldos - apple brandy.
Famous Norman cheeses:
Camembert, Livarot, Pont l"Eveque, Brillat-Savarin, Neufchatel, Petit Suisse, Boursin.
Dessert:
Apple caramel, chocolate cookies with nuts, macaroons, vanilla cream tube sprinkled with almonds.

Every four years Armada. The most beautiful sailing ships in the world gather at the quays of Rouen for eight unforgettable days.

Armada 2008. Rouen.

Armada 2008. Rouen.

Armada 2008. Rouen.

Armada 2008. Rouen.

Armada 2008. Rouen.

Armada 2008. Rouen.

Armada 2008. Rouen.

Gothic cathedrals, half-timbered houses, narrow medieval streets. Rouen has all this, and even in some abundance. It is not surprising that I was completely delighted with the capital of Upper Normandy.

I had never seen so many half-timbered buildings before. Trips to the half-timbered paradise in and were still ahead, so I walked around Rouen with my jaw dropped and was touched by every lopsided house.

But all that has survived from the castle of Rouen is the tower from the early 13th century. Now it's called Tower of Joan of Arc. Allegedly, she was imprisoned in it during the process. In fact, Jeanne was kept in another tower, which has not survived to this day. And in this tower they were going to torture Jeanne.

“Zhanna was brought to the dungeon, shown the instruments of torture and again offered to renounce.
“Truly, you can twist my limbs and even kill me, but I will not say anything else.” And if I do, then I will declare publicly that you forced me to speak by force.
Cauchon summoned several assessors and asked them whether to use torture on the defendant. Ten advisers spoke out against it, arguing that “there should be no reason to slander an impeccably conducted trial”... The chairman of the tribunal joined the majority opinion, and torture was abandoned.”

Artificial waterfall in the park Square Verdrel. The sun was already setting, so I decided not to wander around the park.

Krylov's fables are popular among the French. Hmm, or Lafontaine?

What’s nice is that the historical center of Rouen is very intact, in contrast to the same one, which was destroyed by the Americans and the British. There are very few such inclusions of modern degenerate art.

All these half-timbered houses are quite lively, some are residential, some are shops or cafes. By the way, I saw an advertisement for the sale of an apartment 20 meters away in such a building. The price was about 80 thousand euros.

Medieval fountain de la Crosse. True, this is a remake; the original was destroyed during the war.

It was already getting completely dark, and I finally sat down to dinner. I had dinner at this pleasant place, I recommend:
http://www.bar-des-fleurs.com/
Reference point - monument to Flaubert right next to the fence of the establishment.
I ordered seafood Normandy style. For 15 euros they brought me a huge tub of fish, shrimp, scallops and other nasty things. The local flavor was that it was all mixed with stewed sauerkraut. A very original, tasty, but at the same time rather heavy combination.

My evening did not end there; I wandered around Rouen probably until midnight. More precisely, I was already on my way to the hotel, but I accidentally came across a crowd in the square near the Rouen Cathedral. It turned out that the light show would start any minute, I waited and it was cool!

The next morning I went on a more orderly walk around Rouen. A few steps from my hotel, Hotel de l'Europe, a Gothic tower stuck out. It turned out that these were the remains Church of Saint André de la Ville. Moreover, the 15th century church was gouged. (!) The French themselves, when they laid Joan of Arc Street through the entire center of Rouen. Well, that’s right, there are already these cathedrals at every step.

I walked away from the hotel towards the Old Market. Picturesque Rue de la Vicomte.

Immediately I came across another “massi”. Hotel de Bourgtheroulde- This is a mansion from the late 15th century, more reminiscent of a small castle. At that time, only churches or public buildings were built from stone, so the owner of the house was a very wealthy man. Now there is some kind of luxury hotel here, I just got to breakfast, which took place in the courtyard. The handsome European old men were calmly eating their croissants, and then I showed up and began brazenly spinning between the tables, trying to photograph something.

Here we need to consider the details. There are several interesting and unique bas-reliefs.

The courtyard is a bit cramped, so it’s difficult to capture the general view, but it’s definitely worth stopping by to admire the bas-reliefs.

There are so many old things in Rouen that such an impressive church as Église Saint-Éloi de Rouen, is not even marked on the tourist map as a worthy object for tourists.

One of the restaurant streets in Rouen runs behind the church. Rue du Vieux Palais. In the evening you can have dinner here; every house has some kind of establishment. But I must admit I didn’t really like sitting on the narrow, dark street, so I preferred to have lunch somewhere in the square.

And the courtyards here are no different either.

Although she looks stern in the morning.

The street opens onto a large street by the standards of compact Rouen Old Market Square.

The square became famous for the fact that it was here that Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. In place of the fire there is a huge cross.

However, the market still exists here. Moreover, it is located in the same building as the Church of Joan of Arc.

And here she is Church of Joan of Arc(1979). The shape of the roof is meant to resemble the flames of a fire, and hints at the traditional architecture of Normandy. For example, it is somewhat similar to the wooden church in. People usually either hate or adore such provocative structures; I would probably put myself in the first category.

Several more facades overlooking the Old Market Square.

Here I wanted to look at house where playwright Pierre Corneille lived. I have not seen a single one of his plays, but I have read Venichka, and I quote:

“As in the tragedies of Pierre Corneille, the poet laureate: duty fights with the heart’s attraction. Only for me it’s the other way around: the heart’s attraction fought with reason and duty. My heart told me: “You were offended, you were reduced to shit.” Go, Venichka, and get drunk. Get up and get drunk like a bitch." That's what my beautiful heart said. And my mind? - He grumbled and persisted: "You won't get up, Erofeev, you won't go anywhere and you won't drink a drop."

And then I admitted defeat. At the beginning of the report, I wrote that I carefully studied Rouen before the trip, but it turned out that this is not entirely true. I did not take into account that the main beauty of the city is its half-timbered streets. And when I realized that my eyes were running wild and I wanted to somehow get around it all and not miss anything, I gave up and took out the tourist card given to me at the hotel. On it, the meticulous French drew a detailed route for bad tourists. In general, I began to stupidly walk on this map and did not regret it.

In Rouen approximately two thousand half-timbered houses! Some of them are quite old, from the 14th-15th centuries. about a hundred pieces. And the answer is that there was a shortage of stone in this region, so they had to build from wood.

There were a couple of interesting temples along the way, but I was so engrossed in the houses that I didn’t even bother to take pictures of these churches.

The most ancient houses are those whose upper floors hang over the street. In this way, it was possible to expand the internal volume of the house and, most importantly, protect the first floor on which the building rested from rain. They were banned from being built in this form in 1520, so as not to narrow the streets and to better ventilate them from the medieval stench. So if you see a facade like the one in the picture below, it means it’s old stuff worthy of attention.

These four lopsided houses are something like the calling card of the old city of Rouen ( Bons Enfants street

But right next to it is one of the largest Gothic civil buildings in Europe. Palace of Justice(1499). That's it, I'll wrap it up. I hope you found it interesting and useful to walk around Rouen.

City of Rouen located in the northern part, on the banks of the Seine River, at the confluence of several rivers - Aubette, Robeck and Caillie. Rouen belongs to the northern part of the Parisian agglomeration and is the center and capital of the historical region of Normandy. Rouen is one of the most ancient cities in France. Historians suggest that the city, back in ancient times, was founded by the Romans, who called it Rotomagus.

Rouen - video

The most striking historical events took place in Rouen in the 15th century. It was in 1431 that the well-known Joan of Arc was burned at the stake by the British. Nowadays, at the place where she was burned, there stands Cathedral of Saint Joan of Arc. This unusual architectural complex includes not only a church, but also an indoor market. A curious fact is that the roof of the Cathedral is made in the form of tongues of flame, reminiscent of the death of the Saint.

Near the walls of the cathedral, in the place where Jeanne was burned, there is a sign with the inscription “Sol du moyen age” (translated from French as “soil of the Middle Ages”). This tablet indicates that the soil of the Middle Ages has been preserved here, which preserves the memory of those terrible historical events.

Rouen is rightfully considered the pearl of Northern France and the muse of many great writers and artists. Writers such as Gustave Flaubert, Guy de Maupassant, Andre Maurois and Pierre Corneille created their masterpieces in this city, and Claude Monet created his famous series of impressionistic paintings here. He was inspired by Rouen Cathedral(Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen), which he depicted on 30 canvases. It is worth noting that from 1876 to 1880 this cathedral was the tallest building in the world (its height is 151 meters).

An interesting fact is that such great historical figures as the first Norman Duke Rollo, who made Rouen capital of Normandy. And also, according to his will, the heart of the English king Richard the Lionheart is kept here.

From the Cathedral comes the main and most popular street of the city, rue du Gros Horloge - Big Clock Street. It is also the first pedestrian street in France. This street passes under an arch, inside of which you can see magnificent stucco work.

At the top of the tower there is an ancient clock, after which the street is named. Rouen clock- the second tower clock in the world, it dates back to 1389. This clock has only one hand, at the end of which there is a golden ram, whose leg is extended forward and thus shows the time. Above the dial is a silver ball showing the phases of the moon. And under the dial there is a carved sector that allegorically shows the days of the week.

An important attraction of Rouen is Church of Saint-Maclou. Its author, Pierre Robin, was the main local Freemason. The Church of Saint-Maclou is a striking example of late Gothic style, with four chapels symmetrically located around the choir. The walls are very richly decorated, and on the carved doors of the western facade you can see many different biblical scenes.

There is another one just behind the church landmark of Rouen — Saint-Maclou cemetery. After passing through the arch, you will find yourself in a square square, in the middle of which stands a cross. There is also a crypt in which during the Middle Ages people who died from the plague were buried. Numerous skulls, bones, coffins and much more related to this topic are carved on the wooden walls.

Another church in Rouen, made in the Gothic style, is Church of Saint-Ouen. This church has an incredible number of windows, thanks to which the entire space of the temple is flooded with light. And the amazing and varied stained glass windows of the church have no equal even in the whole. Also, this is where the famous Cavaillé-Coll organ is located. The outstanding composer Charles Marie Widor dedicated a symphony to this delightful musical instrument.

It is worth paying attention to Palace of Justice- a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the most original building of the late 15th century. More than 500 years ago, the Parliament of Normandy was located here. This majestic building was badly damaged during the Second World War, but thanks to the efforts of architects and reconstructors, it regained its former majestic appearance. The palace amazes with its special elegance of decoration - there are Gothic spiers, turrets, all kinds of statues, and gargoyles along with chimeras. In general, the Palace resembles a fairy-tale castle, the beauty and grandeur of which is amazing.

Besides that Rouen Called the “city of a hundred bells,” it is also a city of a large number of museums. Is here art Museum with a very rich collection. Paintings by Modigliani, Velazquez, Rubens, Delacroix, Renoir, and Monet are presented here. Even Russian and Bulgarian icons are represented.

It is worth paying attention to museum of blacksmithing. It was opened in 1921, in the building of an ancient church. Here is the largest collection of blacksmithing products in the world! Materials dating from the 3rd to the 19th centuries include all kinds of locks and door handles, tools and bars, jewelry and household utensils, wrought iron signs and much more.

There is a natural science museum, a museum of modern art, a museum of antiquity, a ceramics museum, a maritime museum, a Flaubert museum, a Pierre Corneille museum and, of course, a Joan of Arc museum.

1. The most favorable time to visit the city is considered to be from May to September, since at this time the most suitable weather is warm and sunny, the air temperature at this time is on average slightly higher than +20 degrees.

2. Rouen is located approximately 350 km from 3 European capitals: , and Brussels. There is an airport 8 kilometers from the city that accepts only domestic flights and planes from nearby European cities. You can also get to Rouen by train. From the Gare Saint-Lazare (Paris) trains to Rouen depart twice an hour. The trip will take only an hour and a half, the ticket price is approximately 22 euros. Be careful and do not forget to validate your tickets in the yellow machines, this is the only way they will be valid.

3. Upon arrival, you should go to the tourist office, which is located in the railway station building. There you will find tourist maps, diagrams and other useful information. There is also a tourist office on the square near the cathedral. There you can book a hotel or excursion.

4. It is worth noting that two-hour tours (in French) of the city are offered every day from 10:30 to 15:00 from July to August, and only on Sundays from September to June.

5. The Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Ceramics and the Museum of Blacksmithing are open every day except Thursday, from 10:00 to 18:00, ticket prices range from 2 to 3 euros. All cathedrals and churches are free to visit. But they are often closed to the public due to reconstruction.

6. It is best to walk around the city on foot, since the city center is completely owned by pedestrians. Walking around the city you will definitely plunge into the medieval atmosphere created by half-timbered houses, narrow picturesque streets and small cozy restaurants.

7. You can also get around the city by taxi or bus. In Rouen there are two metro lines (open 5:00-23:30). A one-time ticket, costing 1.2 euros, will be valid for an hour, you can also buy a card for 10 trips, its cost is 10 euros.

8. The city administration took care of cycling enthusiasts. The city has special bicycle paths, riding along which you will see all the delights of the city. The best way to rent a bike is through the Cy’clic rental system. It is the most convenient, since the bike can be returned at any of the 14 rental points located throughout the city.

9. Those who love shopping will find it useful to know that on Saturday and Sunday there is a huge market on Place Saint-Marc where you can buy almost everything. It is worth paying your attention to the cheese rows and a large selection of souvenirs.

10. On this square, there is also the oldest inn, where the La Couronne restaurant is now located. When visiting, be sure to order the city's most famous dish - Rouen duckling.

Rouen (France) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Rouen with descriptions, guides and maps.

City of Rouen (France)

Rouen is a city in northern France and the center of the Upper Normandy region. Famous for its winding old streets and picturesque half-timbered houses, medieval and modern landmarks, gems of Gothic architecture and the incredible cathedral that inspired Monet. Rouen is the historical capital of Normandy, which is infamous as the site of the execution of Joan of Arc. It is one of the most beautiful cities in France with a rich history and cultural life.

Geography and climate

Rouen is located in northern France on the banks of the Seine, 135 km from Paris. The old town is located on the right bank of the river. The northern part is quite hilly. The climate is temperate maritime. Winters in Rouen are mild and summers are warm but not hot.

Practical information

1. Population - more than 110 thousand people.
2. Area - 21.38 km².
3. Language - French.
4. Currency - euro.
5. Visa - Schengen.
6. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
7. Rouen is 1.5 hours from Paris on the A13 toll motorway.
8. Every Saturday and Sunday in St. The brand is carried out by the market. Products can be purchased at Vieux Marche.

Story

The settlement on the site of modern Rouen appeared more than 2,000 years ago (most likely even before the conquest of Gaul by the Romans) and was the center of the Celtic tribe of Veliokassi. The city was founded during the reign of Octavian Augustus and quickly grew into the second largest settlement in Gaul after Lugdunum (Lyon). Rouen reached its peak by the 3rd century AD. Baths, an amphitheater and other structures were built here. The prosperity of the Roman city ended with the invasion of the Germans in the 4th century.

In the 9th century, the Normans began to frequently visit the mouth of the Seine, who sacked and burned Rouen several times. In 911, the city became the capital of the Viking duchy of Normandy. In 941, Duke of Normandy Richard I defeated the combined army of King Louis IV of France, German Emperor Otto the Great and Count of Flanders. In the 10th century, Rouen became a major port city. During the period of Normandy's independence it was the capital of the duchy for most of the time.

In 1204, Rouen was occupied by French troops. In the same year, all of Normandy was annexed to France. In the 13th century the city flourished thanks to river trade and the textile industry. Rouen merchants had a monopoly on navigation along the Seine almost to Paris. In the late 13th and 14th centuries there were several revolts due to high taxes. After the last of them, local merchants lost all their privileges.

During the Hundred Years' War, Rouen was occupied by the British and annexed to the possessions of the English king. On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake here. Normandy again became part of France only in 1449. After the end of the Hundred Years' War, Rouen was significantly rebuilt. In the 15th - 16th centuries, beautiful Gothic buildings were erected here. At this time, the city flourishes fishing, cloth production and fairs.

During the Huguenot Wars, part of the population of Rouen joined the Reformation. The tension between Catholics and Protestants was suppressed by regular troops, who entered Rouen in 1562 and plundered the city for three days. In 1572 (despite the attempts of the city authorities to prevent the massacre), the Catholics dealt with the Huguenots.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Rouen was occupied by German troops. During the First World War there was a British military base here. During World War II, Rouen was occupied by German troops from 1940 to 1944. During this period, the city was repeatedly bombed by Allied aircraft. Due to the bombing, historical neighborhoods and some landmarks were destroyed. The restoration of Rouen lasted 15 years.

Attractions

Rouen is famous for its magnificent old town, where you can touch its rich history and enjoy an authentic atmosphere in its charming medieval streets. About 2,000 old half-timbered buildings have been preserved in the city. Of these, 227 are declared historical monuments. In terms of the number of attractions, architectural and cultural heritage sites, Rouen is among the TOP 10 cities in France.

The cathedral is one of the largest and most impressive Gothic cathedrals in France, located in the heart of the old city. The church began to be built in the 13th century. Interestingly, construction was completed only in the 16th century. The cathedral has the tallest spire among French churches (151 meters), original stained glass windows and a remarkable Gothic façade.

Saint-Ouen is a Benedictine abbey famous for its impressive 14th-century church, considered a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. The church has a striking Gothic facade and 80 exquisite stained glass windows.

Aître Saint-Maclou is one of the most mysterious and gloomy attractions in Rouen. This is a medieval building that now houses a school of fine arts. Its origins go back to 1348 and the plague epidemic, which killed a third of the townspeople. The space that is now the courtyard was once used for the burial of those who died as a result of illness, with the surrounding structures serving as crypts. The building's galleries are decorated with eerie decor depicting skulls, bones, gravediggers' tools and objects of funeral rites.

The Palace of Justice is a Gothic masterpiece and a superb example of medieval civil architecture, built in the early 16th century. The building has a magnificent balustrade and an exquisite façade decorated with gargoyles.

The large clock tower is one of the main symbols of Rouen. The Gothic bell tower was built in 1389 for defensive purposes, and the astronomical clock dates from 1889. Interestingly, the clock still performs its function.

The Church of Saint-Maclou is a gem of Gothic architecture, located a short walk from the cathedral. It was built in 1437 and dedicated to the Breton patron. The church has a remarkable Gothic façade and structure. The wooden doors from the Renaissance era are intricately decorated with biblical scenes.

Church of Joan of Arc

The Church of Joan of Arc is an interesting modern church located on the Vieux Marché square. It was here that the national heroine of France was burned at the stake. Therefore, the building is shaped like a bonfire flame. Inside the church there are impressive stained glass windows from the Renaissance.

The Tower of Joan is the only remaining part of the medieval castle built by Philippe Auguste in 1207. The large and imposing cylindrical tower has three rooms and an attic. It is believed that it was here, in the dungeon, that Joan of Arc was imprisoned.

The Tower of Saint-André is all that remains of the medieval Gothic church of Saint Andrew, built between the 15th and 16th centuries.

Church of St. Nicasia is a 16th century Gothic church. The building was heavily damaged during a fire in 1934, after which it was extensively rebuilt.

Church of St. Viviana is a medieval three-nave Gothic church built in 1358 and expanded in the 15th century. On the north side there is a medieval hatch where mothers could leave their newborn babies to be cared for.

Church of St. Godard is a medieval parish church in Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance style. It was built in the 13th century on the site of an older religious building. The church has a three-nave structure and beautiful stained glass windows from the 16th and 19th centuries.

Saint Laurent is a beautiful medieval church in Gothic style, built in the 15th century. The bell tower was added between 1490 and 1501. The church was desecrated during the French Revolution, when it was used as a stable. Nowadays there is a museum of metal structures here.

Church of St. Eloy

Church of St. Eloy is a 16th-century medieval Gothic church located in Martin Luther King Square. Is Protestant.