Things to Do in Rouen, France & Is It Worth Visiting?

The city of Rouen in Normandy, France, is a beautiful and historic city with lots of things to see and do. My visit to Rouen was part of an Interrail trip with a dog. We found it to be a great place to visit with Henry, and finding dog-friendly cafes and restaurants was easy.

There are many visitor attractions; the cathedral, churches and old town area were my favourites.

About Rouen in France And Its History

Rouen is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the capital of Normandy. Historically, it was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in medieval Europe. It was also the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy during the Middle Ages. Rouen was 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.

From the 13th century, Rouen had a remarkable economic boom, thanks in particular to the development of textile factories and river trade. Both the French and the English claimed the city during the Hundred Years’ War. Significantly, it was in the city that they tried Joan of Arc and then burned her alive on 30 May 1431.

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Since the medieval era, the city has maintained its architectural heritage in its monuments. This is despite the destruction of the Second World War. The city is considered an important cultural capital of France.

Things to Do in Rouen

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen is beautiful and enormous, with three towers/spires and a decorative façade. The entrance is in a big town square near the tourist information office.

They started construction of the cathedral in the 11th century; however, it took 800 years to complete the building in 1880. They consecrated it in 1063 in the presence of William the Conqueror. The cathedral incorporates various architectural styles.

Entrance to the cathedral is free; however, donations are requested. The cathedral is home to the summer light show, which is not to be missed if in the city.

There are intricate features to see inside, and admire the sheer size of the place. The main nave is imposing with massive columns at the edges. There are chapels, sculptures and artworks to see while perusing the building.

Visit Aître Saint Maclou

Aître Saint Maclou caught my eye while browsing Google Maps because of its dark topic. It is a restored 16th-century ossuary for plague victims. The courtyard is free to visit; however, you can book tours, including spooky late-night ones.

The ossuary was used to store the bones of the dead after the graveyard ran out of space. They kept these on the upper levels; however, none are visible now.

The building has macabre carvings on the timber features. There are also art galleries and a cafe in the courtyard. In the covered area, they have a selection of information boards about the ossuary and the “Death Dance”.

Église catholique Saint-Maclou

I really enjoyed visiting Église catholique Saint-Maclou, construction of which began in 1437. It’s a fantastic church inside and out. Art historians consider this church to be a jewel of Flamboyant Gothic art.

The church was free to enter and quiet compared to the headline attractions we visited.

There was also an art exhibition going on inside. It also has sculpted wooden doors from the Renaissance period.

The suspended cross in the nave caught my eye the most. This is one of the stranger religious sites we have visited on our travels, but we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Donjon de Rouen

Because of time constraints during my visit, I only saw the Donjon de Rouen from the outside while walking the dog. I purposely sought it out after spotting the tower while walking to the hotel when arriving. The tower is the last remaining part of the 13th-century castle where they imprisoned Joan of Arc.

Light Show – Cathédrale de lumière

The light show at Rouen Cathedral is a spectacle and a must-see event if visiting. The show runs from June through to September each year. While visiting in September, the show started at 9:30 pm and ran for about 30 minutes.

The show told the story of humanity in a unique, immersive way. The show was both visually fun and the soundtrack really enhanced it.

Joan of Arc Church

The Church of Saint Joan of Arc is new in the grand scheme of things. They completed it in 1979. It is easy to find in the ancient market square, known as the Place du Vieux-Marché. This is next to the ruins of the 16th-century Church of Saint Vincent. The square is where they burnt Joan of Arc at the stake for heresy in 1431.

They designed the church with sweeping curves and vibrant stained-glass windows. The windows come from the 16th-century Church of Saint Vincent, which was destroyed in the 2nd World War. However, someone had the foresight to keep these beauties in storage before the destruction. The window panels depict Christ’s childhood, the Passion, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the lives of some saints. This is a free place to visit to learn about Joan, and it is a very tranquil spot for reflection.

The Astronomical Clock, Le Gros-Horloge

The Gros-Horloge is a 14th-century astronomical clock in the city centre, near the cathedral. They installed the clock in a Renaissance arch crossing the Rue du Gros-Horloge. The Gros-Horloge mechanism is one of the oldest in France. They made the movement in 1389. They originally built the clock without a dial, with the hour hand representing 24 hours. The clock is very ornate, and its façade features a gold sun with rays radiating. This is on top of a starry background.

The road is busy with tourists taking photos, artists painting and buskers singing. You can also pay to visit the tower next door, which shows the history of the clock – basically a museum of Gros-Horloge.

Historical Jeanne d’Arc – Joan of Arc Museum

The Joan of Arc museum, AKA Historical Jeanne d’Arc, is where you can learn about the life of Jeanne d’Arc in a fun manner. They house this at the Archdiocese of Rouen.

The history museum focuses on Joan of Arc’s life and death. However, they present this as a series of videos. The concept explores Jeanne’s trial. A court case follows you through her life from childhood to her trial.

The building is pleasant too, as are the exhibitions at the end, including movies about Joan of Arc.

Place du Vieux-Marché

Place du Vieux Marché is the square where Joan of Arc was executed; thus, there is a memorial there. There is also a new cool-looking church in Place du Vieux Marché; it is dedicated to Saint Joan of Arc.

Rouen Market is also in the square. This is an ideal place to purchase supplies if self-catering or backpacking. There are also the ruins of Saint-Sauveur church, which add to the square’s historical character.

The Square has bars, cafes and restaurants with outside seating. These are all housed in colourful timber-framed buildings. These are very photogenic and also serve French cuisine.

Saint-Ouen Abbey Church

Sadly for me, Saint-Ouen Abbey was undergoing restoration work; thus, I could not visit inside. Saint-Ouen Abbey is an imposing Gothic Roman Catholic church and a former Benedictine monastic church.

The church is similar in size to the nearby cathedral. Saint-Ouen Abbey is famous for both its Gothic architecture and its large, unaltered Cavaillé-Coll organ.

Tourist Information Centre

The Tourist Information Centre is in the square overlooking the cathedral. It is in a beautiful building, and the staff were helpful. You can arrange tours, get tickets or purchase souvenirs inside too.

Architecture of Parlement de Normandie

The Parliament of Normandy was formerly the ancient Court of the Exchequer of Normandy, established by Rollo, the first duke of Normandy. It was built in the French Flamboyant and Renaissance styles. It was built between 1499 and 1508, which was during the reign of King Louis XII of France.

Hôtel de ville de Rouen – The Town Hall

Another pleasant building to see while sightseeing is Hôtel de Ville de Rouen, the town hall. This is next door to the Saint-Ouen Abbey Church. The town hall used to be used as the living quarters for monks from the abbey. This dates from 1800 and is eye-catching.

They registered the building’s façade as a historic monument. The back of the town hall and the abbey church is a garden to explore. They created the garden in the early 19th century, incorporating a variety of styles.

Enjoy Some Regional French Cuisine

There are options for cafes, bars and restaurants in Rouen. Options include local French cuisine from the Normandy region.

My favourite dish during my stay in Rouen was the Andouillette AAAAA sausage from Le P’tit Bec, a delightful restaurant. Dining out was one highlight of our visit to Normandy.

National Museum of Education

The National Museum of Education tells the story of education in France since the 16th century. Inside, the museum includes a mock schoolroom, paintings, furniture and other artefacts. The museum is in a 13th-century Gothic timber-framed house dating from the 1470s.

Food Shopping

Rouen is a very pleasant place to go food shopping; the markets and independent food shops all stock some tasty food options.

Rouen has an array of options for stocking up to cook at your accommodation. This includes the market near the Joan of Arc Church and specialist food shops.

Rouen market stocks a variety of foods, including fresh fish, meats and cheeses. You can also pick up some street food here, including a cone of whitebait.

Timber-Framed Houses on Rue Martainville

Rue Martainville runs alongside Église catholique Saint-Maclou. The street is lined with old timber-framed buildings and places to sit outside. Most of these on Rue Martainville are protected monuments.

Explore The Side Streets In The Old Town

A fun thing to do in Rouen is to explore the narrow cobbled side streets and see what pops up. On our visit, we found some really beautiful places and cute cafes to sit and watch the world go by. The unique decor of the buildings can be seen if slowly ambling through the city.

Find The Landmarks Painted By Famous Artists

Throughout the city are various noticeboards about paintings by famous artists Monet and Pissarro. These tell the story of his art and show paintings from the places where he worked. There are various places to find them, including many by the cathedral and near the River Seine.

It’s fascinating that Monet painted the cathedral over 30 times. They have a QR code to help you find out more when visiting.

Head Down The Seine to the Viewpoint

Heading downstream on the river leads you to a viewpoint on a hill. This is called Rouen Panorama De La Côte Sainte Catherine, which has sweeping views of the city. It’s such a scenic place that Claude Monet painted it. Also downstream is Île Lacroix, an island in the River Seine, which has parks and views to enjoy. It’s the city’s leisure area, with sports clubs, including rowing and canoeing, and an ice rink.

Église Sainte-Madeleine de Rouen

Another church to visit is Église Sainte-Madeleine de Rouen, which was built between 1767 and 1781. They built this church in the neoclassical style. The gardens to the front were lovely on a walk, with views of the building.

Enjoy Some Normandy Cider

The Normandy region of France is known for its delicious ciders, and these are available in most pubs, cafes and restaurants. We enjoyed quite a few on our trip to France. This included Cidre Fermier du Pays de Bray Extra Brut. I really got into the local ciders after visiting Dieppe Market, also in Normandy.

Museum of Fine Arts

Rouen Museum of Fine Arts is on the edge of Verdrel Square. The museum was founded shortly after the revolution in 1801. The Museum of Fine Arts includes an Impressionism section with works by Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. The gallery also has an impressive collection of landscapes. Overall, the gallery is well worth visiting if you enjoy art.

Is Rouen in France Worth Visiting?

Rouen is a fantastic city in Normandy and is well worth seeing. We really enjoyed the vibe and the attractions. The old town is beautiful and has lots of historic buildings. The foodie scene was great too, and it was a pleasure to dine out. Finally, we found the nightlife lively and the people friendly.