Where is Rouen? The main attractions of Rouen with photos and descriptions. Bars and music clubs in Rouen

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.

What sights of Rouen did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

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).

Church of Saint Maclou, located in French city 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 building is unique in its design and appearance and 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 wax figures, which reflect the life of the heroine, starting from her childhood in Domremy and ending with her arrival in 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 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.

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 privileges on transport connection 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 €.

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 educational establishments presented 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-flowing 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. Please pay Special attention to the cheese rows.

The main attractions of Rouen include: the Church of St. Macloux, built in gothic style, Palace of Justice, St. Owen's Church. 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.

Large River port, Rouen occupies not the last place in the country's economy, and today it is a large city, by the standards of France, with developed infrastructure, which has in its arsenal such industries as metallurgy, chemical and textile industries. And one of the popular sites of international tourism.

- 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.

The Seine River divides the city into two parts: Rive Gauche(left bank) and Rive Druath(right bank). Old city 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, 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.

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. After the Second World War, a cathedral was built on the Vieux Marché square 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.

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

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.

Normandy is a region of modern France with ancient history. The Romans called this area Celtic Gaul. At the same time, the first settlement arose in the place where the city of Rouen (France) is located today. As the administrative center of Normandy, it annually welcomes thousands of tourists who come to explore local attractions, including the famous Cathedral.

Capital of the Duke of Normandy

Already in the 3rd century AD. e. Rouen was a prosperous city in Roman Gaul with baths and an amphitheater. When local residents adopted Christianity, it is not known for sure, but the work of the Rouen bishop Victricius, dated to the end of the 4th century, has been preserved, where it is reported that at that time a Christian basilica was being built in the city.

Gaul was later conquered by the Franks and by the middle of the 9th century, when the Norman raids began, it was part of the West Frankish kingdom. During these raids, Rouen was repeatedly sacked by warlike Normans. Finally, in 911, the Frankish king Charles III, in accordance with the peace treaty concluded, declared Rollo, the leader of the Normans, duke of the territory he had conquered.

The duchy became known as Normandy, and Rouen became its capital. Rollo, like many of his fellow tribesmen, converted to Christianity, receiving the name Robert at baptism. Rouen Cathedral is where the remains of the first Duke of Normandy rest today.

From Romanesque basilica to Gothic cathedral

First christian temple in Rouen was destroyed during one of the Norman raids. The building was not restored, but in its place, after the formation of the duchy in the 10th century, another basilica in the Romanesque style with a baptistery was built. From ancient building Only the crypt has survived to this day, which can be seen when visiting Rouen Cathedral.

The austere architecture of the Romanesque style was replaced by the sublime Gothic style. Like many other churches in France, the Rouen Cathedral in the 12th century began to be built in accordance with the new architectural style. The work lasted for several centuries, so the temple itself can be considered a unique illustration of the history of Norman Gothic.

Tower of Saint Romain

The Saint-Romain Tower is the oldest surviving part of the cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of Rouen. Below it is the baptistery, reminiscent of the Romanesque basilica that once stood on this site.

The tower is named after one of the bishops of the city - Romain, who lived in the 7th century, who, according to legend, defeated the monster that lived in the Seine. It is a pity that Saint Romain could not save the tower that bears his name during the Second World War. As a result of the Allied bombing, the Rouen Cathedral was greatly damaged, in particular, only the walls remained of the Saint-Romain Tower.

During the twelve post-war years, restoration work was carried out in the cathedral. But let's return to the history of the tower. Its construction began in 1145, in the early Gothic era, and the last floors were completed in the late Gothic era. There are 813 steps leading to the top of the 82-meter building, which rises above the nave.

Since the 16th century, the Saint-Romain Tower was crowned by a tin-covered wooden spire, until in 1822 it burned down from a direct lightning strike. Later it was replaced by a metal one with four turrets, although one of them was demolished several years ago by a strong hurricane that swept over the north of France.

Architectural eclecticism

Rouen Cathedral, the architecture of which forms a single ensemble with the archbishop's palace, is one of the important monuments of French medieval Gothic.

True, its planning scheme with radial chapels around the apse is inherent in the earlier Romanesque style. The colonnade surrounding the vast altar of the temple was also considered an outdated architectural solution at the beginning of the 13th century.

But the facade with its stone ligature, many arches, a string of statues of saints and apostles is a striking example of Norman Gothic at its peak. The Tour de Beur, that is, the Butter Tower, was built in this style, the yellowish stone for which was brought from Wales.

The central cross of the cathedral is crowned by a lantern tower with the tallest spire in all of France. This spire forged from iron was installed in the 19th century, and against the backdrop of medieval architecture it looks too technologically advanced.

What you can't miss

The Rouen Cathedral cannot fail to impress, especially on those visiting it for the first time. The height of the ceiling in the central part of the temple is comparable to the height of a modern twenty-story building, and the length of the central passage is 137 m. Under the ceiling, instead of the planned balconies, openwork windows were made.

Cathedrals often served as burial places for rulers and church prelates. In addition to the tomb of the first Duke of Normandy, Rollon and his son, the heart of Richard the Lionheart rests in the Rouen Cathedral and the sarcophagi of several archbishops are installed.

Medieval Normandy was famous for its craftsmen who made stained glass windows of an unusual azure color. Therefore, it is not surprising that Rouen Cathedral also possesses these 13th-century artifacts.

A description of the temple would be incomplete without saying a few words about the chapel of the Virgin Mary. Here, in addition to stained glass windows, you can get acquainted with the main icons of the cathedral and examine medieval carved benches and panels.

Rouen Cathedral by Monet

World fame Cathedral brought a series of works by the French impressionist Claude Monet. The artist worked on it for more than two years, periodically coming to Rouen to capture the western façade of the temple at different times of the day.

In total, Monet created fifty paintings in one format. The first of them was painted by the artist in a hotel room located opposite the cathedral. On his next visit to Rouen, Monet worked in a store window whose windows overlooked the square in front of the temple. Returning a year later, the artist rented a factory workshop for his studio with a magnificent view of the Rouen Cathedral.

Monet tried to notice and capture on canvas subtle changes in the light environment depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Every half hour, he carefully recorded fluctuations in color shades, thus achieving a gradual transformation of the appearance of the cathedral in the rays of sunlight.

Curiosities of the Cathedral

Claude Monet was not the only one who was inspired by Rouen Cathedral. Interesting Facts are also associated with the name of the French writer Gustave Flaubert. As a native of Rouen, he was no doubt well acquainted with the main temple of the city. In particular, a stained glass window dedicated to the story of St. Julian the Hospitaller inspired Flaubert to write one of his “Three Tales.”

Observing the installation of an iron spire over the central cross of the cathedral, Flaubert sarcastically described such an architectural solution as the whim of an enraged steam boiler manufacturer. Nevertheless, the spire branded by the writer brought Rouen Cathedral the glory of the tallest building in the world in 1876-1880.

Returning to Monet, we note that he destroyed some of his paintings with views of the Rouen Cathedral, and approximately 30 of the remaining ones were presented to the public in 1895. Monet sold some of them for 3-5 thousand francs, and not so long ago one painting from the famous cycle was has already been sold for $24 million.

Cultural heritage of the country

Rouen Cathedral is located in the historical center of the city, surrounded by well-preserved medieval, baroque and half-timbered houses. To appreciate the restrained beauty of Gothic architecture and feel the spirit of the distant Middle Ages, a leisurely inspection of the main temple of the city is required.

Rouen (France) spends a considerable part of the city budget on maintaining its historical attractions, in particular on the restoration of the cathedral, declared cultural heritage countries.

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 should resemble the flames of a fire, and hints at traditional architecture 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. What about 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 got tourist map, given to me at the hotel. The meticulous French painted on it detailed route for stupid 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.

A couple met along the way interesting temples, but I was so engrossed in the houses that I didn’t even bother to photograph 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.