Rouen France

Travelled:51km
Visited:Rouen
Stay:Oissel-aire, free parking, € services GPS N49°20.281' E1°05.515'

After a walk around the weekly market in Montville we set off for Rouen. We always feel a little trepidation on approaching a large city but if we can go in early and on a weekend, it helps. We did a bit of research on the camper contact and camping car info web sites, which both stated parking in LaCroix Island. We had a look but it was a bit too isolated for us especially that we only planned to stay for the day. So we went back across Pont Corneille and parked along the road Quai Jacqu  es Anquetil. When we looked over the railing we saw 12 spots in a specified motorhome parking area. (It is also on the tourist map).

 Anyway the effort was well and truely worth it. We rate this as a must see town. We loved the 2000 half-timbered houses leaning every which way offering the old city so much charm. 

Then of course there are the churches- the Notre Dame Cathedral with its 152m high cast iron spire. 

A modern painting of the resurrection.

The Saint Maclou church with its lovely 'lacey' exterior. 

The Saint Ouen Abbey Church had an interesting exhibition inside about the restoration projects of mills and their machinery.

 On our travels we also saw the Great Clock built above a Renaissance archway. 

We then wondered into the old market place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Now there stands a modern church to honour her. The roof shape is to remind us of fire! 

By now it was time for 'the lunch'. So we made our pick of a traditional Normandy restaurant that has been established since 1912. 

I did the menu of fish soup then veal in calvados sauce. Mark enjoyed his steak. Feeling very full we did some more walking.

 We had a quick peek in the Pierre Corneille Museum which is the house where he lived and wrote some of his plays. 

There happens to be a festival here this weekend with lots of food stalls and lots of people. Pity we just had lunch!

 Also if you want to shop, this the place. Lots of clothing stores as well as antiques and hand made ceramics.

 We stopped by and took a photo of the tower in which Joan of Arc was held in its dungeon. 

We then had a look at the wrought ironwork museum which is located in a former church. It boasts to have the largest collection in the world from gates, signs, door knockers to appliances, tools and jewelry. The keys, locks and safes where amazing.

 Once again out in the city we came across the Palais de Justice which still shows extensive bullet and shell damage as a remembrance to those who resisted the Germans in WWII. 

Our last wow moment on the way back to Bluey was the courtyard of a then magnificent town house, now the Hotel Bourgtheroulde. 

Then once over the Seine River we take Bluey 15km out of town, upstream to a quieter place.