17 Exciting Things to Do in Rouen: Normandy’s Vibrant Capital
Rouen is hands down one of the most fascinating cities in Northern France. Once the second most populous city in France during the Hundred Years’ War, Rouen is known for its stunning, colorful, half-timbered houses, grand stone buildings, and impressive cathedrals.
Rouen’s history is intertwined with many important historical figures. Claude Monet was captivated by Rouen, famously painting its cathedral multiple times to capture its changing light. Victor Hugo called Rouen the “city of 100 spires,” a testament to its many churches and religious landmarks.
William the Conqueror and Richard the Lionheart spent considerable time here – Richard was even crowned Duke of Normandy in Rouen.
Finally, Rouen’s connection to Joan of Arc – known as Jeanne d’Arc in French – adds another layer of intrigue, with her story woven into many of the city’s monuments and landmarks.
Seriously – Rouen is just so fun. I truly loved our time in Rouen and would recommend it to anyone. Here are the top things to see and do in the city.
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17 Things to Do in Rouen
1. Jeanne d’Arc Historial
The Joan of Arc Historial is a must-visit in Rouen, as the city is deeply tied to her story. Located in the historic Archbishop’s Palace—the very site where Joan was tried and condemned to death, and later posthumously retried and acquitted over 20 years later—this experience offers a compelling dive into her life and legacy.
The museum is not a collection of exhibits or artifacts but a multimedia presentation that tells the saga of Jeanne d’Arc’s story as you move through rooms of the palace.
The entire experience is structured as a story, with characters conducting a posthumous retrial of Jeanne d’Arc to determine if she was truly guilty. Along the way, they recount her life story and introduce “witnesses” who provide additional details and information.
A quick refresher on Joan of Arc: Joan of Arc was born in eastern France during the Hundred Years’ War. A deeply religious young woman, she believed she was called by God to lead France to victory over the English.
With the blessing of the king, she led the French army to a crucial victory at Orléans. However, she was later captured, tried for “heresy” by the English, and burned at the stake in Rouen.
She became an instant martyr and inspiration for France, has been sainted in the Catholic church, and today is still a revered historical figure.
2. Cathedrale de Rouen
I loved the Rouen Cathedral – it’s absolutely gorgeous!
The front façade is intricately decorated with extremely delicate, almost lacelike stone features—a stylistic choice common among the churches of the city. The central spire is also extremely tall, standing at 151 meters, making it the tallest in France. You can spot it from all over the city.
Its immense size and beauty captivate the eye, but its history is equally fascinating. The cathedral has seen incredible events over the centuries, from destruction of the original building by Viking invasions in 841 to the bombings of World War II in 1944.
Inside, you’ll find tombs of historical heavyweights, like Rollo, the Viking founder of Normandy, and the heart of Richard the Lionheart, King of England.
The architecture reflects centuries of Gothic evolution, with the asymmetrical western façade showcasing 700 years of changes and craftsmanship. It’s also been immortalized in a series of Claude Monet paintings, where he aimed to capture the façade in different lights and moods.
And if you visit in the summer, the cathedral transforms into the “Cathedral of Light” during evening shows. Vibrant projections light up the façade with colorful displays.
The show changes year to year, and I will say we weren’t super impressed by the one we saw – it seemed to be trying too hard to be high brow – but others are quite good. Either way, its worth checking the times in the tourist office and trying to catch a show when you visit.
3. Gros Horloge
Dating back to William the Conquerer, and a sign of his favor, the Gros Horloge, or Great Clock, served as a symbol the city’s autonomy and prosperity. The clock features displays of the days of the week, the moon phase, and symbols of the city.
Beyond simply admiring its beauty, for a few euros you can climb the tower, see the interior, admire the bells and machinery dating back to the 14th century (the oldest in Europe), and get great views over the city.
- Cost: €7.50
- Hours: April-Oct: 10am-1pm, 2pm-7pm; Nov-March: 2pm-6pm
4. Admire the Incredible Half-Timbered Buildings
Rouen has an incredible number of half-timbered houses in the city center. In fact, there are over 2,000 half-timbered buildings—one of the largest “collections” of this type in France. Half-timbered houses really make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and they give Rouen an unmistakable charm.
You can find half-timbered houses all around the historic city center of Rouen, but a few great areas include around the Saint MacLou Church, Rue Damiette, Rue Eau de Robec, Rue du Bec, and Rue de Gros Horloge.
5. Aitre Saint Maclou
The Aitre Saint Maclou is an open-air, enclosed courtyard that once served as a cemetery for victims of the bubonic plague. During the mid-1300s, this devastating plague wiped out nearly a third of Europe’s population—a staggering and almost unfathomable loss.
Initially, plague victims were buried in the courtyard cemetery, but the sheer number of deaths quickly filled the available space. Once the cemetery reached capacity, the remains were exhumed, and the bones were stored in the roof and upper levels of the buildings surrounding the courtyard.
Later, the buildings’ lower levels served as a school while the upper levels still functioned as an ossuary. Eventually, all the bones were transferred to a cemetery outside the city.
Today, you can walk through the open courtyard and take in the decorations on the half-timbered buildings, which include skulls, axes, and other symbols of death. Detailed signage in front of the courtyard walks you through the timeline and details of the cemetery’s use.
6. Saint Maclou Church
Saint Maclou Church, dedicated to the Breton Saint Malo, is a stunning example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Adorned with intricate decorative details, its arched facade, featuring five Renaissance porches, sets it apart from the typical Gothic churches of Europe.
The stonework and embellishments on the church are truly incredible, with crisscrossing patterns on the gables and ornate cornices, curlicues, and trefoils decorating the buttresses.
The church is only open on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, but its worth admiring the exterior any day of the week.
7. Place du Vieux Marché
The Place du Vieux Marché, or the Old Market Square, is a historically significant site in Rouen. While it’s no longer used for markets, it is most notable as the location where Jeanne d’Arc was burned at the stake. A cross and marker at one end of the square mark this important place in Rouen’s history.
This square also holds the Eglise Jeanne d’Arc and La Coronne restaurant, which we’ll discuss next.
8. Jeanne d’Arc Church
The Jeanne d’Arc Church is a relatively modern building, constructed in the 1900s, with a striking and unique design meant to resemble an upside-down ship.
I’ll admit, in pictures its hard to really see the “ship” in the church – it’s honestly a lot more obvious in real life.
Notably, it houses the stained glass windows from the Church of Saint Vincent. While Saint Vincent’s was destroyed during World War II, the windows had been removed beforehand, allowing them to be preserved and displayed here.
9. La Coronne
La Coronne is the oldest restaurant in France, dating back to 1345!
Originally an inn (auberge), it also served meals to travelers. Today, it’s a full-service restaurant with history practically engrained in the walls. To start, its located right on the Place du Vieux Marché—the very square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Apparently, people watched her execution from the balconies of the restaurant.
It’s also the restaurant where famed chef Julia Child dined when she first arrived in France. Her meal here famously sparked her love of French cooking.
The restaurant is upscale, with a menu that includes some pricier options. However, we found the food, the historic ambiance, and the experience of dining in such a legendary establishment well worth the cost.
A house specialty is canard à la Rouennaise, a traditional Rouen-style duck dish. I opted for the sole—Julia Child’s dish of choice—and it was absolutely incredible.
Overall, we had a great experience here and it was a very fun way to actively experience many aspects of Rouen’s history.
10. Musée des Beaux-Arts
The Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen’s Fine Arts Museum, is housed in a beautiful, palace-like building. Its collection features a wide range of works, including Medieval, Renaissance, and Impressionist paintings, along with a selection of sculptures and models.
While the museum features works from artists across Europe, it also highlights many Rouennaise artists. The most popular part of the museum is the Impressionist Hall, showcasing paintings by famous artists like Monet, Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, and more.
Several of the Monet paintings on display were created in or near Rouen, including one of his famous depictions of the Rouen Cathedral.
Monet was fascinated by how different lighting and conditions transformed the cathedral, painting it 18 times to capture its varying moods and atmospheres.
11. Secq des Tournelles Museum
This fascinating museum was a surprising and delightful favorite in Rouen. To start, the museum is housed in an old church, making for a creative location, and is full of wrought iron items and masterpieces.
I was actually so intrigued by the items on display, which included gorgeous and impossibly intricate keys, locking mechanisms, small boxes, doors and gates. You’ll also find tools, jewelry, signage, lamps, furnature, chests, and decorations.
The sheer variety of metallic creations is impressive and the setting is very aesthetic!
12. Abbaye Saint Ouen + Park
Saint Ouen is a massive abbey-cathedral, notable for its long, narrow design, which gives it a slightly different feel compared to other cathedrals. One of its standout features is the stunning stained glass windows that line the walls, flooding the space with light.
Be sure to check out the charming park behind the church, complete with ponds and walking trails—a peaceful spot to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
13. Musée Flaubert
The Flaubert Museum is located in the home that was the birthplace of Gustave Flaubert, the son of an esteemed dentist/surgeon in Rouen in the early 1800s.
The museum is about the different medical advancements and medical technologies of the time, and what things were happening in the dental/medical world.
I was excited to visit this museum, but I actually wouldn’t recommend it. To start, the exhibits were difficult to understand, as they were only in French, and even as a French speaker, it was still challenging.
I also thought that the exhibits sharply swung between being a little on the dull side to almost being jump scares – there were displays of a dead baby, a mummy, and models of skinless heads that honestly kind of freaked me out.
While it’s free and does have a few interesting spots, overall it was a pass for me.
14. Antiques/Rue Damiette
Rouen is the third most important city for antiques in France, and Rue Damiette is one of the best places to explore and discover old treasures. The street is lined with one antique shop after another, each filled with unique and fascinating collections.
As a bonus, Rue Damiette is also home to incredibly beautiful half-timbered buildings, adding a huge dose of charm to your shopping experience.
15. Walk the Seine
The Seine, the same river that flows through Paris, runs right through Rouen, offering scenic pathways on both sides. These wide paths are perfect for walking or biking, and a stroll along the river with views back toward the old town is a lovely way to end your day.
16. Jeanne d’Arc Tower
Also known as the Donjon of Rouen, this tower is the last remaining building in the medieval castle of Rouen, built by King Phillip II. This castle was an important fortification during the 100 Years War, but today it is famous for being the site where Joan of Arc was interrogated before being tried for heresy in 1431.
17. Place Saint-Amand
Finally, this square is a small one and a quick stop as you’re exploring Rouen, but its one that we quite enjoyed.
In recognition of Monet’s continual interest in Rouen, and his impact on the Normandy region, this cute little square in the city is dedicated to him, with a bust of Monet displayed on a pedestal at the center.
Map of Attractions in Rouen
The Wrap Up
Rouen was a vibrant, delightful city. We honestly didn’t quite know what to expect going into it, but the rich history, combined with beautiful architecture made the city a memorable experience. I would whole heartedly recommend adding Rouen to your next French vacation.
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