This post is part of our Europe travel series. If you missed the beginning, you could catch up here. In the previous post, I shared the memories of Money Gardens, you can read that here.
Rouen is a historic city in Normandy, France, renowned for its medieval architecture and rich history. It was an important center in the Middle Ages and is famously known as the place where Joan of Arc was tried and executed. Today, the city blends its historical charm with modern life, offering museums, cafés, and pleasant riverside walks along the Seine.
After visiting Monet’s gardens, we took the train to Rouen. The journey lasted just around an hour and a half. As we stepped off the train and onto the streets of Rouen, we were greeted by wide, serene avenues under a soft gray sky. The air was cool, a gentle reminder of the lingering clouds, making our walk both refreshing and peaceful.
Our first stop was Donjon de Rouen, just a six-minute walk from the train station. This historic fortress, built in the Middle Ages, was once used to house soldiers and defend the city. Inside, we explored the single chamber where the soldiers had lived and worked. We climbed the narrow spiral staircase to enter it, and inside, old radios, maps, and shields were on display.
After visiting Donjon de Rouen, we headed to the historic center. As we walked, we noticed the famous timber-framed houses. Some leaned slightly, others were twisted in charming ways, their beams and carvings showing centuries of care and repair. The streets seemed full of history, and at every corner and behind every faded shutter, we could imagine stories from the past.
As we continued through the historic center, we came across the Gros Horloge, a 14th-century astronomical clock, proudly marking the passage of time.
A few steps further, the Rouen Cathedral rose above the streets, its Gothic spires reaching skyward. It was one of the most beautiful cathedrals we had seen. Monet had painted it many times, capturing its ever-changing light and shadows. Standing before it, we admired the delicate carvings and soaring arches, feeling the history and devotion embedded in the stone.
Just a short walk from the cathedral, we reached Aitre Saint-Maclou, a medieval ossuary. It was built after the Black Death to hold the remains of the victims. The walls were carved with skulls and bones, a quiet reminder of life’s shortness. The carvings were somber but strangely poetic. They offered a reflective contrast to the grandeur of the cathedral we had just seen.
Finally, we arrived at Église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc, a church built to honor the martyrdom of Joan of Arc. Rouen was the city where she was tried and executed. As a young peasant girl, Joan led French troops to several important victories during the Hundred Years’ War, helping France fight back against the English. She was later made a saint by the Catholic Church for her bravery, faith, and love for her country.
Inside the church, colored sunlight shone through the stained-glass windows, creating gentle patterns on the stone floor. The quiet of the church felt peaceful, inviting reflection rather than showing off grandeur. Seeing the place where Joan of Arc showed such courage made our visit to Rouen very moving.
By five in the evening, our wandering had worked up an appetite. We paused at a small fruit shop, By five in the evening, we stopped at a pizzeria and grabbed a couple of slices before boarding our train back to Paris.
Two hours later, we returned to Montparnasse, weary but exhilarated, our minds still tracing the colors of Monet’s gardens, the leaning timber-framed houses, and the Gothic spires of Rouen. After a quick refresh at the hotel, we went to a nearby Indian restaurant for dinner, where the warm spices and comforting flavors perfectly rounded off the day.
The next day, we visited the Orangerie, where Monet’s paintings were displayed. We were thrilled to see how the reality of his gardens had been transformed into art. You can read those memories
here.
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