Rouen is situated on the Seine River and is the capital of Normandy. It was also one of the capitals of the Anglo-Norman dynasties, which ruled both England and large parts of modern France from the 11th to the 15th centuries. Rouen was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe.
Above: the west front of Rouen Cathedral with the Archbishops and apostles visible on the left; below: flying buttresses on the north side. Rouen is known for half-timbered houses, the Gros-Horloge and Joan of Arc.
Rouen Cathedral c. 260 is a Roman Catholic church which has been rebuilt over 800 years with features from Early Gothic to late flamboyant and Renaissance architecture. It was the subject of a series of paintings by impressionist Claude Monet.
Above left: interior wall of the north transept with rose window; centre: 15th-century stairway to the medieval library in the northwest corner of the transept; right: Retable in the Chapelle des Fonts (17th c.).
Above: combination view of the interior wall of the north transept and the 15th-century stairway. Rouen Cathedral holds the Tombs of four Dukes of Normandy: 1) Rollo, Viking and 1st Duke of Normandy, 2) his son, William the Long-Sword, 3) Henri the Younger, and 4) the heart of Richard the Lion-Hearted, Duke of Normandy and King of England.
Above top and above: Le Gros-Horloge (Great Clock), a 14th century astronomical clock installed in a Renaissance arch crossing the Rue du Gros-Horloge; below left: “The Voices of Joan of Arc” stained glass window.
The museum Historial Jeanne d’Arc is housed at the Archdiocese of Rouen where Joan of Arc received her verdict and where she was exonerated posthumously via a retrial in 1456. There is a fee to enter.
Murphathon tip: trains to Normandy leave Paris from Gare Saint-Lazare. Tickets can be bought online in advance. I use raileurope.com; the app is free to download. If your train is cancelled, cancel your ticket in the station and rebook for the next train. This will ensure that you have a seat.