Rouen

Sites and Sights

Cathedral (Notre-Dame)

Cathedral frequently painted by Monet, illustrates the phases of Gothic architecture from 1201-1514. Near central Pl de la Cathedrale", on the west side of which in the Bureau des Finances (1509 by Roulland le Roux).

Monument de St-Romain (1542)

Renaissance monument where the fierte or reliquary of that saint was yearly raised for the worship of the crowd by a condemned prisoner released on the recommendation of the cathedral chapter, a practice that was discontinued in 1790. Located on a lane opposite the Rue de Change, which skirts the South facade of the cathedral.

17th c walls of the old Halles

Portions of these old walls can be seen adjacent to the Monument de St-Romain.

Porte Guillaume-Lion (1749)

Lone surviving building flanking the quays. East of the Halles walls. Rest of the buildings were probably bombed or destroyed by fire in WWII when Rouen was occupied by the Germans.

Rue St Romain

This street skirts the N side of the Cathedral and retains several ancient houses, included the restored Vielle Maison of 1466. The narrow streets of this quarter contain a large number of quaint half-timbered houses of great age, the beams and gables protected by tiles. In 1525, an ordinance was promulgated forbidding the erection of buildings with storeys overhanging the streets, already narrow and dark enough, and as a general rule, those thus built were erected prior to that date.

St Maclou (1437-1521)

Church designed by Pierre Robin with a bow-shaped facade of five pinnacled arches. The spire was added in 1868, replacing the earlier one destroyed in 1794. The richly decorated doorways and decorately carved doors (cleaner on the interior), are noteworthy; also the Renaissance stained glass and organ loft (by Jean Goujon, 1521) with its openwork and stone spiral staircase (1512). Severe damage was done to the E end and S side of the church in 1944.

St Ouen (1318-1500s)

Church more uniform in style and larger than the main cathedral, but dull building architecturally.

Hotel de Ville

Restored 18th c. buildings of the abbey, on the N side of St Ouen, facing the Pl. du Gen-de-Gaulle. Passage between lead to gardens and good general view of St. Ouen.

Lycee, a former Jesuit College

Rue Louis-Ricard climbs N from Pl. du Gen-de-Gaulle. Chapel (1614-56) is next to the Lycee. Famous pupils: Pierre and Thomas Corneille, La Salle, Beradin de St-Pierre, Flaubert, Corot, Delacroix, Maupassant, and Andres Maurois.

Musee des Antiquites

Museum of Antiquities, on the left beyond the Lycee on the Rue Louis-Ricard. Occupies the buildings of a former 17th c convent and its cloisters. Collection includes carved beams, pilasterrs, rescued from destroyed buildings, examples of 12-13th c Limoges enamel reliquaries, 13-15th c ivories, medieval chests and furniture, and a large Roman mosaic pavement from Lillebonne. A natural history collection is housed adjacent.

Musee des Beaux Arts

Rue Thiers, west of the Pl du Gen. de Gaulle. Works include David's Virgin and the Saints, Caravaggio's Flagellation, Dutch and Flemish schools, 19th c. French school, Impressionist pieces.

Musee Le Secq des Tournelles

Museum housed in the former church of St Laurent (1444-1554) features a collection of Ironwork. (chairs, stairs and also smaller objects such as scissors, lecterns, domestic and kitchen implements, irons, combs, etc.

Eating

Kashemir (Indien)

13 Rue Anatole France, 76000 Rouen (SW, Rive Droite). 02 35 71 85 89‎

See also

Paris