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February 24, 2020

Rouen: Capital of Normandy

The capital of the region of Normandy in northwestern France is a city rich in history. Rouen was frequently visited by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet; one of its restaurants introduced renowned chef Julia Child to French cuisine; and its old market square still pays homage to the young martyr Joan of Arc.



Notre-Dame Cathedral, Rouen


Notre-Dame Cathedral, the tallest cathedral in France, was the subject of over thirty paintings by Monet. He painted the view at different times of the day and year in order to capture the changes in light and how they altered the stone's appearance. He then completed the paintings at his studio in nearby Giverny.



La Cathédrale de Rouen, Claude Monet
Musée d'Orsay, Paris



Pedestrian-friendly rue du Gros-Horloge is the old town's main shopping street and it leads from the cathedral to Rouen's old market square, Place du Vieux Marché. Le Gros-Horloge (big clock) which gives the street its name is an astronomical clock dating from the Renaissance.






Rue du Gros-Horloge




Le Gros-Horloge


The city's half-timbered houses, typical of Norman architecture, were constructed for centuries using the plentiful local oak trees. La Couronne on Place du Vieux Marché is the country's oldest inn (est. 1345). It's also where famed chef Julia Child ate her first French meal in 1948.



Half-Timbered Houses





La Couronne (with the flags), Place du Vieux Marché


Joan of Arc is the heroic young woman who rallied French troops against English invaders during the Hundred Years War. She was burned at the stake in Rouen at the age of 19 and is now the patron saint of France. On Place du Vieux Marché, there is a museum, memorial and church in her honour.



Joan of Arc Museum



Joan of Arc Memorial




Joan of Arc Church



Statue of Joan of Arc, Paris



My brief visit to Rouen allowed for a quick sampling of local Normandy cheese, then we continued westward to the English Channel for an overnight stay in the chic seaside resort of Deauville.



Normandy Cheese


Related Post:
Giverny: Claude Monet's Home & Garden

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