Rouen

From Giverny, it was an hour drive to Rouen. Rouen is 2000 years old and best known as the city where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. During WW II, 50% of Rouen was destroyed but fortunately, the historic center survived. Many Rouen sights are closed from noon-2pm and all day Tuesday.

We followed the Rick Steves' walk, which took about 1 1/2 hours. Park at the Place du Vieux Marche, where the tour starts.

At Place du Vieux Marche, you'll find a covered produce and fish market. It's open Tue-Sun until 1:30 pm.

Nearby, an aluminum cross marks the site where 19-year-old Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

  

A statue of Joan of Arc faces the cross.

The Joan of Arc Church was built in 1979, incorporating the ruins of a 15th century church. It's open Mon-Thu & Sat from 10am-noon and 2-6pm, Fri from 10am-noon and Sun from 2-5:30pm.

Stained glass occupies an entire wall of the church.

The ceiling is expansive and reminiscent of a ship's hull. 

Half-timbered buildings surround the square near the church.

In the square, you'll find La Couronne--reported to be the oldest restaurant in France and where Julia Child had her first French meal.

The walk takes you up Rue du Gros Horloge.

Gros Horloge or Great Clock. This 1528 clock decorates the old City Hall. The clock has only 1 hand marking the hour. Back then, that was enough precision. It was not necessary to know the minute, let alone the second.

After passing under the Gros Horloge, walk half a block and turn left. You'll find the Palais de Justice or Parliament building.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral, a favorite subject of Claude Monet, is located further up Rue du Gros Horloge. It's open Tue-Sun 8am-7pm, Mon 2-7pm. 

Rue des Chanoines--see if you can squeeze between the buildings. 

The Joan of Arc Museum is housed in Rouen's Archbishop's Palace. We didn't tour the inside.

Half-timbered houses were popular from the 14th-19th century. The chalky limestone from the Seine River were of poor quality--you can scratch it with your fingernail--and oak was plentiful.

Some of the buildings lean but are still occupied.

Further down the street, walk through the covered lane to reach the Plague Cemetery. As many as 2/3 of the population died during the plagues of the Middle Ages. This courtyard served as a mass grave.

We had time to see only one museum in Rouen and chose the Musee des Beaux-Arts. Most of the museums in town are free. I wish we had time to see the Musee de la Ceramique or the Musee le Secq des Tournelles (Ironworks)

We were able to see one of Monet's paintings of the Notre Dame Cathedral in the Musee des Beaux-Arts.

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