French city of Rouen (Normandy region). See what "Rouen" is in other dictionaries Rouen Polesskaya

- the capital of Upper Normandy, located on the banks of the Seine.
was founded by the Gauls, who controlled a vast area in the lower 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 seat 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 XII century, there were many Jews inhabited - 6 thousand, which was 20% of the total population of the city.
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. While he exported wine and wheat to England.
In the XIII centuries. the struggle took over the city, most of the inhabitants were killed, the rich were plundered.
In the 15th century, during the Hundred Years War, it fell under the rule of England. In 1413, Jeanne D "Arc was burned at the stake in the center.
During the Second World War, the city was badly damaged.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

The Seine River divides the city into two parts: Rive Gauche (left bank) and Reeve Droite (right bank). The old town is on the right bank.
The old one is a labyrinth of narrow streets, half-timbered houses, shutters, pointed roofs and flowerpots.
famous for its Cathedral of Notre Dame, 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.
The construction of the cathedral began in 1202 and lasted until 1880. There are two towers on the facade of the cathedral: the left one was built in the XII century. (early Gothic), and the right - at the beginning of the 16th century. It is a late Gothic style 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 Rouenans who did not refuse butter paid the bishop to atone for this sin, and the tower was built with these funds.
The central spire was built later than anyone else in the middle of the 19th century. Its height is 151 meters. At the time, it was the tallest structure in the world.
The windows of the cathedral are decorated with 13th century mosaics of the famous blue cobalt, called "blue from Chartres". This stained glass window tells the story of St. Julian the Hospitaller.
The cathedral houses the tomb of King Richard the Lionheart. In those days, it was customary to store in pieces, therefore, according to the will, the heart of the king rests in the Rouen Cathedral.
Also in the Rouen Cathedral is the tomb of Rollo, the ancestor of Richard and the first ruler of Normandy.

Church of Saint-Maclou is a prime example of flaming Gothic. It was built in 1437-1517. Behind the church there is a crypt - the rarest example of medieval plague victims' burials. In the Middle Ages, corpses were brought to the church and thrown into a pit. Much later, a cemetery appeared on this place. Undertaker 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 undertaker's shops were closed, only an art school remained.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

The city is closely related to the name of Jeanne D'Arc. Here she was kept in the castle tower, which has survived to this day, was tried and burned at the stake. After the Second World War, a cathedral was built on the Place de Vue Marché on the site of the burning of Jeanne D'Arc. The roof of the cathedral, made in the form of a fire, recalls the execution of the Saint.
There is also a museum dedicated to Jeanne D "Arc.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

The most popular street in the city, rue du Gros Horloge, is named after a tower with an old clock dating back to the 16th century - it is a symbol and a visiting card of the city.
This is the first pedestrian street in France.

Street of Hours. Rouen.

Street of Hours. Rouen.

Rouen. Normandy. France.

Normandy cuisine is 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.
Desserts:
Apple caramel, chocolate chip cookies, macaroons, a tube with vanilla cream sprinkled with almonds.

Every four years in Armada... The most beautiful sailing ships in the world gather on the embankments 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.

Rouen, a beautiful old town with tall half-timbered houses and fiery Gothic cathedrals. Unlike Le Havre, which was practically razed to the ground and rebuilt after the Second World War, Rouen was not so badly damaged by the 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). Rouen is easily accessible from Paris by train. Trains to Rouen leave from Paris Saint-Lazare station and take a little 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 settled by the Roman legionaries. Over time, the Roman settlement of Rotomagus turned into the main city of the Norman principality - the Normans repeatedly climbed on their ships along the Seine to Rotomagus: first, the city was plundered and burned, then settled in it as masters and made it their capital.

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

So: half-timbered and flaming gothic. Fachwerk - because the banks of the Seine were covered with forest, and there was no shortage of wood, but only rich townspeople could build stone buildings for themselves. The streets of the city are narrow, half-timbered houses - up to five to six floors, 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 the French tragedy. He lived in Rouen for 56 years; the city has a Corneille museum.

The main axis of old Rouen runs parallel to the Seine: from the Church of Saint-Maclou - to the Old Market Square with the Church of Saint Jeanne d'Arc (in this square it was burnt). Rouen attractions on the map

On this axis, closer to San Maclu, is the cathedral, known for its 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 Monet's paintings dedicated to the Rouen Cathedral was produced.

There is an information center directly opposite the cathedral, which has maps and brochures in Russian. The map shows two routes to bypass the historic center of Rouen: brown and purple. It is advisable to follow these routes - they pass through the most remarkable, illustrative streets of Rouen.

The Information Center is located on the first floor of the former Bureau of Finance, 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, two hours of free Cathedrale de Lumiere sessions (Cathedral of Light) - various images are projected onto the facade of the cathedral.

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

The Beur Tower translates as "Oil", it was built with the money of the townspeople who were allowed to eat oil during the fast - for this indulgence they gave money for the construction of the tower. In addition, the Beer Tower is built of yellowish stone brought from Wales. The cathedral itself is white stone.

Three portals are carved into the facade: Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Romain and Saint-Etienne. A bell tower with a cast-iron spire is raised above the cross.

If you leave the cathedral from the right side portal, then in the depths of the street, on the square of the High Old Tower, you can see a building with an unusual pedestal with a turret-pavilion. It was built in 1524. The annual religious procession with the relics of St. Romanus ended on this pedestal.

From the cathedral to the church of San-Maclou there is the street Saint-Romain, even rather, a street with half-timbered facades. Among the half-timbered houses was a Viennese cafe. There are shops selling ceramics - Rouen is famous for its ceramics, the city even has a Ceramics Museum.

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

The church is surrounded by half-timbered houses.

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

There is a drinking water fountain on the left side of the facade. And pissing boys settled here, only they do not look as radiant as their counterpart in Brussels.

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

A passage under the second arch leads to a closed courtyard - a former cemetery surrounded by wooden galleries. This isolated church cemetery - the atrium of Saint-Maclou - was created during the plague. Skulls and skeletons are carved on the wooden walls, burial monuments are built in here and there. The place is quiet and creepy. Although now there is a regional school of fine arts, and on summer evenings, performances take place in this closed courtyard.

On the other side of the Cathedral of Rouen, from its facade, begins the pedestrian street of the Big Hours, idle, busy, filled with walking people. The Big Clock is set on an arch with a metal roof with a ridge. There are bas-reliefs under the arch.

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

Local “pasta” - multicolored macaroni - are sold on the street.

And - again a row of half-timbered houses, and we go out to the square of the Old Market. However, the market exists to this day: 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: over the cube it soars up in two tongues, and from the cube it slides down with a long narrow bottom of an inverted ship. This building was built on the site of the Church of Saint-Vincenn, which was demolished in 1944, and is called the Church of Saint Jeanne d'Arc.

To the right of the church are the remains of the foundations of a destroyed church.

On the other hand, behind a low wooden fence, is the place where Jeanne d'Arc was burnt.

The church houses the restored stained glass windows of the Saint Vincennes church.

If you walk from the Jeanne d'Arc church in the direction of the Seine along the 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-Helois. Luther King Square connects with the most charming little Place de la Pucelle.

At the junction of the squares there is a remarkable building - the Burgterulda Hotel. The Burgterulde 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 the Puessel square through and through, 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 the street Jeanne d'Arc go up to the Palace of Justice, or the Parliament of Normandy.

This is, indeed, a palace so a palace. All the same flaming Gothic, a stone lace shawl thrown over the building.

Before this place belonged to the Jewish community. After the expulsion of the Jews from Rouen, for some time this land was no-man's, then the herb 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 to the beauty and sophistication of the decor of many palaces.

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

Walk along rue aux Juifs until the wide rue de Carmes, turn left and turn right at the second intersection. 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 already very close to the Abbey of Saint-Ouen (along Republic Street, go to the left). All the same flaming Gothic, three depressed portals. Church of Saint-Ouen is famous for its stained-glass windows, but we did not get inside, the church was closed.

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

Opposite Napoleon, Rue Jean Lecanue begins, following which we get to Place Verdel, the local "quarter of museums". The most significant of these is the Museum of Fine Arts. Next to it is the Sec de Tournais Museum of Blacksmithing and the Museum of Ceramics. The Church of Saint Godard is adjacent to the Museum of Fine Arts. A little to the north of the Museum of Ceramics is the Jeanne d'Arc Tower, in which she was for some time. The donjon tower is what little remains of the castle of King Philip on August 2nd.

The Jeanne d'Arc tower is very close to the Rouen train station.

There is also a natural landmark in Rouen - Saint Catherine's Hill. It is located on the eastern outskirts of the city, half an hour 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 the Soloni sheep. The top offers 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 the flaming Gothic Rouen Cathedral, the Church of Saint-Maclou (and the Atrium with it), the Abbey of Saint-Ouen and the Palace of Justice. Besides them - the Church of Jeanne d'Arc and the Burgteruld hotel. Well, along the way - the streets and squares connecting them, built up with half-timbered houses. On the second day, leave the museums and the hill of St. Catherine.

Normandy - Contents

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

Robert the Devil's castle

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

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

Abbey Road

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

The village of Rhee and Madame Bovary

• Ry - 20 km east, 29 min by car

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

Nature reserve

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

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

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

Giverny and Claude Monet

• Giverny - 70 km southeast, 1 h by car, 40 min by train towards Paris-St-Lazare (11.90 €) to Vernon (Eure) station

IN Giverny the workshop of the world famous impressionist painter Claude Monet is located. He spotted this picturesque place from the window of a passing train and soon moved here. At first he rented housing in the vicinity, but in 1890 he saved enough money to buy his house. Around him he laid out a magnificent garden, which he depicted on many of his canvases, some of which became the most famous works of the artist, 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 Museum of the Imperialists in Giverny.

Dieppe

• Dieppe - 65 km north, 55 min by car, 47 min by train (€ 12.20, eg 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. In Dieppe, an unsuccessful landing of Allied troops took place during the Second World War. The city has preserved the picturesque Château de Dieppe, which has now been converted into a museum dedicated to navigation, including a collection of ivory items from the 17th and 18th centuries and a number of lace exhibits.

Les Andely

• Les Andelys - 40 km southeast, 51 minutes 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 Château Gaillard castle was built on the high bank of the Seine, badly damaged during the Hundred Years War. Until now, only picturesque ruins have survived from the castle. In addition to the castle, you can see the magnificent Gothic Cathedral and the Church of Saint-Sauveux of the 13th century, the remains of the fortress wall of the Greater Andely and the House-Museum of the painter Nicolas Poussin.

Honfleur

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

Small picturesque port Honfleur dates back to the 17th century. It is one of the most papular tourist destinations in Normandy. The town has preserved many old 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 a Parisian port, where further goods were transported on barges and floated down the river. The city was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War, during the famous Landing in Normandy. 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), whose tower is decorated with colored stained-glass windows.

Amiens

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

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

Bayeux

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

Bayeux is a picturesque city with a population of 15 thousand inhabitants, where the main attraction is the 11th century cathedral. The city gained fame thanks to the famous "carpet from Bayeux" (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's 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 northeast, 2:34 by car, 2:41 by train, ticket 37.80 €, dep. by bud. 6:17 (Sat - 8:18, Sun-no), 18:17.

IN Lille - one of the main cities in 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 17th century palace. The Vauban fortifications in Lille are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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

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 capital under William the Conqueror, one of the first dukes of Normandy. Unfortunately, most of the old town of Caen was destroyed during the Battle of Caen in the summer of 1944. The city was rebuilt in 1948-62 according to the Marshal's plan, with industrial and green areas.

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

Paris

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

Paris is the capital of France and the most visited city in the world by tourists. You can get from Rouen to Paris literally in 1:10 -1: 30 on a direct train, sometimes without stops, sometimes with stops at Giverny. It makes no sense to list all the sights of Paris, it is easier to see with your own eyes the majestic churches, beautiful bridges, visit some of the world's best museums, take a ride on the Seine on a cruise ship, admiring the panoramas of the city, and in the evening, when the route in Paris has been passed, enjoy the best works of French cuisine in one of the gourmet restaurants.

Versailles

• Versaille - 126 km southeast, 1.5 h by car, 1:19 by direct train (25.50 €, once a day - from Rouen at 8:45, TGV to e.g. Marseille-Saint-Charles, back at 19:58, otherwise - approx. 2:20 with 1 - 2 transfers)

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

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

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Church Saint-Ouen

Rouen, Place du General de Gaulle

The Gothic church of this monastery is considered an absolute masterpiece of French Gothic, along with the Rouen Cathedral, which is practically not inferior in size and monumentality. The monastery was founded in the middle of the 6th century. and quickly became one of the most influential Benedictine abbeys in the country.

• A walk through the ancient streets of Rouen is a real journey through time: history awaits the tourist here at every turn. There are over 50 churches in Rouen, many of which are true gems of Gothic architecture. Most of the tourist attractions are concentrated in the pedestrian zone, a charming area with winding medieval streets and half-timbered houses.

  The first and, perhaps, the main attraction of the city is the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the largest and most majestic in France. Its main part was built in the 13th century, although the work was completed only in the 16th century. The incredible facade of the cathedral inspired Claude Monet to create the famous series of paintings: the great impressionist painted a view from the same point at different times of the day, fascinated by the play of light and shadow on the richly and carefully finished openwork facade.

  Today the Saint-Maclou cemetery is quite a pleasant and picturesque place. For those, of course, who are not bothered by the countless images of skulls and bones on old gravestones.

  Another Gothic landmark in Rouen, not too inferior in beauty to Notre Dame, is the church of the Abbey of Saint-Ouen. Amazing building of the 14th century. was built by the Benedictines and is considered a masterpiece of the late Gothic style. The tower of the church is crowned by a section with a pointed turret called the "Crown of Normandy". Also, one cannot fail to mention 80 stained-glass windows, thanks to which the church is surprisingly bright, and the masterpiece organ by Cavalier-Colle.

  Another Rouen Gothic and again stunning - the Church of Saint-Maclou of the 15th century. buildings and her cemetery. The history of this place, however, is gloomy: they were buried in the cemetery in the 14th century. victims of the black death epidemic, which claimed the lives of a third of the inhabitants of Rouen. But today it is quite a pleasant and picturesque place - for those, of course, who are not bothered by the countless images of skulls and bones on ancient tombstones.

  Only the last of the "Golden Gothic Four" of Rouen's building had and has a purely secular purpose: it is the Palace of Justice, where the city court sits today. Previously, a richly decorated building with an abundance of spiers, turrets, gargoyles and other paraphernalia of the fiery Gothic style served the Parliament of Normandy. The remarkable palace was built in several stages and was rather badly damaged during the bombing of 1944: traces of shells, deliberately left untouched, can still be seen on the walls.

  One of Rouen's most recognizable landmarks is the huge astronomical clock that can be found next door to the Palais de Justice, on the charming cobbled street of Gros-Orloj. Clock 14th century still go and mark the day with bells.

  The Rouen Art Museum is one of the most important in the country. It is widely known for the abundance of art schools and movements represented in it. The oldest exhibits in the museum date back to the 15th century, and the youngest - to the 21st century. Among the masterpieces of the collection of paintings, the richest are works by Rubens, Caravaggio, Velazquez, Delacroix, Degas, Modigliani, Monet and other greatest world masters.

Normandy is a land 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, Jeanne D'Arc, was convicted and executed. Today, an elegant temple rises next to the place of its burning.

The streets of Rouen are a real museum of Gothic architecture. Several hundred houses have been built in the magnificent Flaming Gothic style. The exquisite facades and spiers of the Palace of Justice, adorned with fine stone lace, and the incredible stained glass windows of the Rouen Cathedral delight even people who are indifferent to architectural beauty.

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What to see and where to go in Rouen?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

The legendary Jeanne D'Arc, the heroine of the Hundred Years War, canonized by the Catholic Church in the 20th century, was burnt on the Vieux-Marché square. Many buildings surrounding this place are somehow associated with her name. On the square there is a museum dedicated to the memory of Jeanne, as well as a monument surrounded by flower beds and marking the place of her execution. Along the perimeter of the square there are elegant half-timbered houses that adorn the city landscape.

The cathedral is one of the most striking monuments of Gothic architecture in France. It was built in the 13th century on the foundations of an 11th century Romanesque church. The archbishop's palace adjoins the temple, which forms a single architectural complex with it. The bell tower of the cathedral is 151 meters high. The architecture of the temple made a strong impression on the artist C. Monet, who created a series of paintings dedicated to the cathedral.

The abbey was founded in the 6th century and gradually became the most influential monastery in Normandy. The monastery existed until the 9th century, when the pagan Normans ruined it. The restoration took place in the XI 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 is built in a picturesque style of flaming Gothic. Its spiers really resemble tongues of stone flame, reaching up to the heavens. The church was built in the period 1437-1521. on voluntary donations from patrons. The temple is adorned with bright, artful 15th century stained glass windows and delicate decorative elements. During the Second World War, the temple was partially destroyed, the restoration was completed in 2010.

Benedictine monastery of the XI-XII centuries, which was badly damaged during the religious wars between Protestants and Catholics. Some of the 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 vegetable garden of medicinal plants.

The temple is located in the Place Vieux-Marché. In the 16th century, a Gothic cathedral stood in its place, from which only stained glass windows remained. The Church of Saint Jeanne was built in a modern manner using asymmetric 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 structure of the Rouen castle, which was erected 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 Virgin of Orleans was held here in 1431. However, Jeanne was kept in captivity in another tower, now destroyed.

The palace is considered one of the most picturesque buildings in Rouen. It was built in the 16th century by R. Le Roux and R. Ango and was used for city council meetings. The building is a striking example of secular Gothic. Nowadays, the local court sits in the palace, there are also two museums and a library here. The palace facade resembles a fancy stone lace, its decorative details are so skillfully executed.

The gallery is one of the largest in Normandy, its permanent exhibition is located in 60 rooms. The collections of the 17th and 19th centuries are considered especially significant and complete. The collection contains works by Modigliani, Renoir, Lancre, 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 housed in a church building from the 16th century. Initially, the exposition was located in Paris, later it was transported to Rouen. The collection of the museum contains works of art forging 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 see wrought iron grates, utensils, decorative railings, signboards 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 is a circular volumetric fresco that reproduces the chain of events of a certain historical period. In 2015, it was 312 - the time of the adoption of Christianity by Emperor Constantine, in 2016 - a panorama of Rouen from the time of Jeanne D'Arc.

The collection is housed in a historic 16th century mansion. Here are collected exhibits related to the period of the XVI-XIX centuries. For the first time on the territory of France, the secret of making faience was revealed by a resident of Rouen. Until this moment, only Italian masters owned the secret. By the 17th century, Rouen became famous throughout the world for its ceramic products. On a guided tour, you can learn about the ceramics technology.

Pedestrian street located between the Market Square and the 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 16th century stone arch. Several centuries ago, they even hired a special caretaker who monitored the serviceability of the mechanism and lived near the arch.

The garden was founded in the 17th century. At first it was a private territory, once even Napoleon Bonaparte owned it. In the 19th century, the garden became city property and became available to everyone. Some parts of the park are closed to the public due to research activities. In the city botanical garden there is a large rose garden where varieties bred by experts from Normandy grow.

Bridge in 2008, equipped with lifting structures and with a large capacity. The spans are specially placed high above the water so that large vessels can safely pass under them. The supporting pillars of the bridge rise 91 meters above the Seine, the spans are more than 1 km long. The building was designed by engineers E. Zublen and M. Virlojo. The construction cost was 155 million euros.

Victor Hugo named the city of Rouen "the city of a hundred bell towers". The words of a romantic writer should not be taken literally: this is hyperbole. But she came to his mind, of course, no coincidence.

Story

The first here, in the 1st millennium BC. BC, on the right bank of the river Celts of the Veliokass tribe began to live, who then owned all the valleys of the lower Seine. They named their fortress settlement Ratumakos. In the years 57-56. BC e. it was easily taken by the legionnaires of Gaius Julius Caesar, the fortress was renamed Rotomagus, and the city began to grow around it. It was the second most important center of the Roman province of Lugdun Gaul after Lugdunum (now Lyon). In the harbor of Rouen ships 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 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, a thermal bath (the ruins of which have survived), a temple, from which remained several statues and fragments of columns found by archaeologists, and a monumental fountain. But his prosperity was interrupted by the first invasion of Gaul by the Germanic barbarians in the second half of the 3rd century. Forced to defend itself, Rotomagus shrank to the size of a kastrum, a military camp enclosed by hastily erected walls. In 393, under the last emperor of the unified Roman Empire, Theodosius I (c. 346-395), Christianity of the orthodox Nicene style became the official religion of the state. In Rouen, at this time, the first basilica was built and the first bishop named Saint Victris appeared. In 476 the Western Roman Empire ceases to exist. Rouen was soon 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, Rouen became the capital of Neustria. In the VIII century. the city became part of the empire of Charlemagne (742/747 or 748-811).
In 841 the Vikings (Normans) conquered Neustria, they plundered and burned Rouen. In 856, it all happened again. Under the king named Rollo (Hrolf) Pedestrian (c. 846-931), who took the Frankish name Robert, from 912 Rouen became the capital of the Duchy of Normandy 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, many wealthy merchants lived, thus laying the foundation for the "hundred spiers". In 1204 Philip II Augustus (1165-1223) annexed Normandy to the French kingdom. Not long before this, the construction of the famous Gothic Rouen Cathedral began to replace the burnt down one, from which a Romanesque crypt was preserved. Completed all this complex and at the same time light, delicate, richly decorated building, in which, however, nothing seems superfluous, a cast-iron spire with a height of 151 m in 1880, which made the cathedral for several years the tallest building in Europe.
In 2002, Rouen was awarded the honorary title of "City of History and Art" under a special national program. Then the project "Let me tell you about ..." began here.
These stories can last, it seems, endlessly, for they abound in a mass of colorful, often dramatic details. Such is the story of the most famous historical figure associated with Rouen, about 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, Jeanne was taken prisoner The Burgundians and transferred to the Inquisition, which defended the interests of the British. They kept the warrior in the only surviving tower-donjon of the Rouen fortress, and tried and tortured as a heretic. Her heresy consisted in wearing men's clothes, disobeying the hierarchs of the Catholic Church and having connections with the devil, who spoke to her. On May 30, 1431 Jeanne, in a long shirt soaked in sulfur, was taken to the Old Market Square and burned alive, while she shouted only one word: "Jesus!" There is a flower garden and a marble plaque with the text of the Church's verdict of 1920, recognizing Jeanne as a saint, in 1979. Nearby, in 1979, the modernist Cathedral of St. Jeanne was opened, inside decorated with 13th century stained glass windows from the Church of Saint Vincent The intricate roof of the cathedral, with a silhouette reminiscent of the tongues of a fire, covered with imitation tiles with a pattern of fish scales, is an allusion to both the market still operating here and the fish as a symbol worshiped by the early Christians.
Another exciting story of Rouen is that of the heart of Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199), buried in a sarcophagus with his sculptural image in Rouen Cathedral.
In 1944, during the Normandy operation, the city was badly damaged by bombing, the Rouen Cathedral was almost completely destroyed, which was subjected to a powerful blow of the elements also in 1999. But it is completely restored and looks exactly the same as one of the founders of Impressionism, Claude Monet, portrayed it. (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 canvases are kept in the most famous museums in the world, and the collection of the impressionists of the Musée des Beaux-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: they 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 Madame Bovary "Described the Rouen Cathedral, and Rouen itself, and its surroundings, although he admitted that he had never loved this city, he 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 referred to as “kolombage.” Compared to the German half-timbered, kolombage has more vertical lines and resembles the English half-timbered half-timbered style, which is not surprising: a lot connects Normandy and A ngliu. You cannot find two identical houses in the "kolombage" part of the city, they all look like authentic medieval buildings, although they were also mostly destroyed during the Second World War, but carefully restored and after reconstruction acquired all modern communications.
Trade has always been the main occupation of Rouen, while the main items of export from the city itself are blue and white faience, linen, woolen and cotton textiles, as well as forged metal products that adorn the interiors of many buildings and churches in Rouen. The city's metallurgical factories were raised on British iron ore, and to this day metallurgy is one of the main industries in the city.

general information

Historic capital of Normandy, the center of the modern region of France Upper Normandy and the prefecture of the Seine-Maritime department in the north of the country.

Administrative divisions: 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%, outside religion - 8%. But these numbers are most likely incorrect. About a third of the inhabitants of France as a whole call themselves atheists in polls, and another third - agnostics, and Rouen is hardly an exception here.

Currency unit: Euro.

Largest river: Hay.

Major airports: the nearest international airports are Orly and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle in Paris (130 km).

Numbers

Area: 21.38 km 2.

Population: 112,787 (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, moist.
Average January temperature: + 4 ° C.

Average temperature in July: + 18 ° C.
Average annual rainfall: 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.

sights

■ Old Market Square (Vieux-Marche), the Old Town with houses of Gothic, Renaissance and half-timbered architecture.
■ Religious buildings: Cathedral of Notre Dame de Rouen (Norman Gothic, founded in 1210, construction was mainly completed in the 16th century, the central spire - the 19th century), the Church of the Abbey of Saint-Ouen (Gothic, XIV-XVI centuries), Church of Saint-Maclou ("flaming" Gothic, 15th century), Church of Saint-Godard (Gothic, late 15th century), Cathedral of Saint Jeanne d "Arc (1979). Historical center, Cathedral of Notre Dame, Churches of Saint-Ouen and Saint-Maclou are on the provisional list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
■ Buildings: Palace of Justice (formerly the Normandy Parliament building, Gothic, 15th-16th centuries), Town Hall (former dormitories of the Abbey of Saint-Ouen, Renaissance, 16th century), Burgteruld Hotel (mansion) (Renaissance, 16th century), Clock tower Gro Orlozh (Big Clock) with an astronomical clock (XIII-XVI centuries) and a museum, Jeanne d'Arc tower (XV century).
■ Museums: fine arts - canvases by Veronese, Velazquez, Rubens, Poussin, the collection of the Impressionists (Monet, Renoir), natural history, antiquity, ceramics, navigation, river and port business, metalwork Le Sec de Tournel, National Museum of Education; museums of Jeanne d "Arc, Gustave Flaubert, Pierre Corneille.
■ Botanical Garden (exists since 1840).
■ In the vicinity: castle of the XII century. Richard the Lionheart in Les Andelys, the towns of Giverny (Claude Monet's estate with a garden), Etretat, Honfleur, Deauville; Route of the Abbeys (Saint-Ouen in Rouen, Saint-Georges in Saint-Martin-de-Borscheville and Saint-Pierre in Jumieges), Route of Fruits.

Curious facts

■ Most of the Gothic cathedrals are characterized by the complete identity of the towers of the facade, hence the expression "twin towers". But the towers of Rouen Cathedral differ significantly from each other. The northern tower is called Saint-Romain - Roman, the southern one is nicknamed the Oil Tower - for the yellowish tint of the stone from which it was erected in 1485. Perhaps the name is primary here. It is forbidden to use butter during Lent. Those who could not refuse it, in the Middle Ages, paid the churches six deniers - a kind of compensation for a small sin. These funds were used to build the Oil Tower.
■ Behind the Church of Saint-Maclou in the Middle Ages there was a cemetery for the victims of the plague (now a concert venue). One of its attractions is the mummified body of a cat placed behind glass, which was stuck hundreds of years ago between the stone blocks of one of the crypts.
■ In 2010, the first "Normandy of the Impressionist" festival was held in Rouen. Its program included exhibitions, lectures, conferences, music concerts and historical performances. The second festival is planned to be held from April 27 to September 29, 2013. Its main theme is water on the canvases of the Impressionists and, in parallel, everything related to the rivers of Normandy.