Rouen has been the capital of Normandy since the time before the Plantagenets and was therefore an important stop on our tour through the region. All in all we stayed in Rouen for three nights. The first of these we spent at the Hotel Dieppe, then left the city and upon coming back we rented an apartment. As much as I loved the location of the apartment, I can’t recommend it at all. The hotel was great though and directly across the street from this beautiful train station.
Art Noveau train station @Rouen
Walking around that first evening in Rouen made me realize right away what a long history this city has. The Cathedral of Rouen was beckoning us to visit, but it would have to wait for another day.
the Cathedral @Rouen
As our apartment was right next to the Church of Saint-Maclou I loved taking a look at it, whenever I passed it.
Church of Saint-Maclou @Rouen
The church of Saint-Maclou was unfortunately closed. I think it’s only open on one day of the week. We saw at least the Aitre Saint Maclou which was a cemetery during the time of the black death in the 16th century. It looked like a cloister with beautiful wooden walkways and markings on time. The courtyard is really peaceful despite its use as an Ossuary, but when you don’t believe in ghosts there is nothing to fear. This kind of cemetery is unique in Europe, because where else where bones kept in galleries and not in crypts?
Aitre Saint Maclou @Rouen
Look at the details in the timber. It’s full of bones and skulls to match the purpose of the place.
wooden details @Aitre Saint Maclou
up here in these galleries the bones of the black plague victims were kept @Aitre Saint Maclou
The 14th of July might be the national day of France but that doesn’t mean that everything is closed. We had breakfast at the apartment with fresh baguette and then left to a grey sky to start our in-depth sightseeing tour of Rouen. The many timber-framed houses around the center of Rouen can’t be missed. Some of them look totally crooked and I was wondering how they kept on standing.
very old timber-framed houses slightly askew @Rouen
timber-framed houses @Rouen
But there was also this checkered house with its little turrets that was not to be overlooked.
checkered house @Rouen
The Hotel de Bourgtheroulde, a historic building from the 16th century, has been converted in a five star hotel.
Hotel de Bourgtheroulde @Rouen
The courtyard is still open to the public and and has a beautiful fresco from that time. It depicts the famous meeting of Francis I and Henry VIII in 1520 in the Field of Cloth of Gold.
fresco of the meeting in the Field of Cloth of Gold @Hotel de Bourgtheroulde
If my budget for this trip had allowed it, I would have stayed in this hotel. The courtyard looked amazing and I could see myself drinking coffee or an aperitif here. Yours, Pollybert
courtyard with the fresco @Hotel de Bourgtheroulde
