ARCHITECTURE, Rouen

Favorite thing: From what I have shown on other tips, it might seem that in Rouen, there are either very old remains of the past or very modern buildings. Actually, in some streets that are never visited by tourists, there are buildings of other periods, such as this one that must have been built at the end of the19th or the beginning of the 20th century. But in Rouen (not only in Rouen !), that kind of building does not interest anybody ! May be in 50 years, when most of these buildings will have been destroyed, we will miss them. Perhaps !

Favorite thing: Actually, even in the modern building itself shown on the previous picture, there is a blend of modern and ancient or better a pinch of ancient among the modern : an ancient building has been destroyed in 1944 but its doorway has been rebuilt to be the entrance into the brand new buildings.

Favorite thing: The “salle des Procureurs” is not used any more for its original purpose, but this passage leads to a part of the “Palais de Justice” that is actually working. I guess the door should have been closed. It was open, so I went and found myself in a place where a dozen of "customers" (if I can say so !) of justice were queuing and did not seem very happy with it. I did not take any picture, that would have been improper, and withdraw quickly.

Favorite thing: The “Salle des Procureurs” (the Prosecutors Hall) was nearly entirely destroyed by 1944 bombings. It took many years to rebuild it. The outer walls have been rebuilt with their own carved stones. Here, one of the side walls, at the bottom of the Salle des Procureurs. It has been rebuilt almost identically with its delicate stone lace on the second level of windows.

Favorite thing: The roof of the “Salle des Procureurs” had been treated in a modern style that fits perfectly with the old buildings : from outside, it is covered with slates, from inside, it seems to be a boat upside down.
It is no more used as the Prosecutors Hall but host a show (center of the picture) on the destructions and on the rebuilding.

Favorite thing: An amazing little building called La Fierté Saint Romain (Saint Romain's pride) has been built against the Halles aux Toiles. It was built during the Renaissance in a Greco-Roman style. It contained the relics of Saint Romain

Favorite thing: La Halle aux toiles (Tissues Hall) was built in the 16th century for the trade of tissues, linen, etc... It was severely damaged in 1944 and rebuilt. The front, shown here, shows a whole set of high windows, topped by a large slate covered roof. It is now used mainly for art expositions.

Favorite thing: Before 1520 the stages in half-timbered houses were often "en encorbellement" (corbelled construction). After 1520, it was forbidden.

As the whole frame is of wood (often oak), it is strong but can distort somehow. Look at the strange shape of the main horizontal beam of the central house !