Hotels in Rouen
What to see by foot: Rouen
 
The city of Rouen has immense historical importance as the site of the trial and
subsequent execution of Joan of Arc. Besides its gruesome connection to the maiden
martyr, the old town has a number of other attractions, including: hundreds of
old, half-timbered houses; quaint streets; some notable museums; and marvellous
churches.
The best place to start on a walking tour of the city is at the place du Vieux
Marche, where Joan's death by burning at the stake is commemorated by an enormous
cross. Thirty metres from the scene is a museum entirely devoted to the saint.
Inside are a research library and a waxworks museum which depicts her life from
its inception to its fiery end. The chill inspired by this violent image is
balanced by the excellent food market that can be found in another section of
the square. In the area between place du Vieux Marche and rue Thiers, there
are a few good bars, perfect for a leisurely stopover after a hard day of exploration.
Also in the old town is the Cathedral Notre Dame, which was a favourite subject
of paintings by the impressionist artist, Monet. The decorative Gothic façade
of the cathedral, with its ornate doorway, has been immortalised in these paintings,
which reflect its grandeur in a multitude of different lighting and weather
conditions. The cathedral has the added distinction of housing the tomb of Richard
the Lionheart, whose heart is buried there.
Another Gothic church in Rouen that is worthy of a visit is the Church of St-Maclou,
famous for the quality and craftsmanship of its intricately carved wooden doors.
Behind the church lies the Aitre St-Maclou, a cemetery dedicated to victims
of the plague, which now acts as a courtyard to the Musée des Beaux Arts.
The Musée des Beaux Arts provides a memorable experience for any art
lover. It contains a fabulous accumulation of paintings, sculptures and drawings
by masters such as: Caravaggio, Velasquez, Monet, Sisley, Rubens, Corot and
Dufy.
Alternatively, the Musée de la Ceramique has a prolific collection of
over 6,000 ceramic artefacts from between the 16th and 18th centuries; while
the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles is a wrought ironworks museum which
includes signs, locks, utensils, architectural tools and implements of torture.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Stars Rouen | | Hotel Mercure Rouen Centre | | Comfort St Sever | | Le Relais de Montigny | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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