Fun things to do in Rouen

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Rouen used to be dominated by a huge castle built by King Philippe-Auguste between 1204 and 1210. All that is left of this great castle now is one of it's 8 towers, now known as La Tour Jeanne d'Arc . This is where we are told that Joan of Arc was held prisoner and tortured before being burnt at the stake by the English in this city. The tower now houses a small museum dedicated to the french warrior saint.

Admission is €1.50 per adult and the museum is open from 10am to 12noon and 2pm to 6.30pm (summer) or 5pm(winter) on Mondays to Saturdays, but only afternoons on Sundays.

It's a bit of a climb to the top and disappointing that you don't get any sort of a view when you get there. The museum is mildly interesting, but you probably do need to be fairly familiar with the story of Joan of Arc to get the most out of it.

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The Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine arts museum) of Rouen is crammed full of impressionist paintings including a vast number by some very big names. In fact the collection is so notable that even someone as ignorant of impressionist art as I am actually recognised a good number of the pictures and the names of the artists.

Paintings by Monet, Sisley. Degas and Pissarro abound, so if impressionist painting is your thing, this is the place to be. I had never really appreciated impressionist art properly until coming here. The audio guide (available in English) is very informative to philistines such as myself.

Sadly, this was the only place in Rouen that I visited that wouldn't allow you to take photographs inside.

Don't miss the chance for a quiet break and chance to rest in the lovely Square Verdrel opposite the museum entrance.

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This is just a few blocks from the cathedral. It is a beautiful museum with several floors of art work. We had wanted to see things on St. Joan of Arc, and there was a section on it, but we wished we had gone to the other museum.

They did have a place to put your suite cases so you could walk through the place.

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Facing Rouen Cathedral's Tour de Beurre stands the small Gothic building of the House of Exchequer

Louis of Orlean, governor of Normandy in 1492, was crowned Louis XII, King of France in 1498. Assisted by the Archbishop of Rouen, who later became Georges of Amboise, he decided in April 1499 to create an assembly the main function of which was to dispense justice; the permanent exchequer.

The exchequer was to be held in law courts built by the city of Rouen. The decision to go ahead with construction was taken by the town's aldermen on April 25, 1499. It was to be erected on one of the city's famous squares; place du marche neuf, today known as place Foch.

Construction began in the autumn of 1499. The building was planned to be 50 metres long, 16,5 metres long and 10 metres high; the permanent structures built in Caumont or Vernon stones and the other parts in stones from the Oise region.

The law courts were mainly composed of one large room, the prosecutor's room, situated on the ground floor where the workshops used to be.

The members of the exchequer moved into the new law courts in 1507. The president of the exchequer then began, on behalf of the King, the construction of the royal palace, adjacent to the palais neuf, the new court. This building was completed in 1509.

In 1515 King Francois I transformed the permanent exchequer into the parliament of Normandy. This supreme court was to dispense justice in legal proceedings and act as court of appeal for different courts of the province and for Normandy as a whole.

The parliament had several chambers (for both penal and civil issues) and a chancellery. In addition to the councillors who sat in these chambers, a King's prosecutors office, composed of several prosecutors, was created.

More construction took place here during the 18th and 19th centuries, and the buildings were damaged in WWII. Restoration took almost 30 years after the war to complete.

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Meet Monet, Pissaro, Gaugin and others

The Museum of Fine Arts offers a complete journey to the land of the most famous Impressionists: Especially Monet who painted the facade of the cathedral 20 times at a different time of day, in another light.
We have had the chance, during our visit, you can visit a special exhibition devoted to these tables. For the occasion differ from these tables were combined. Impressive!

But the rest of the collection is worth more than a visit.

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Le musée des beaux arts vous offre un voyage complet au pays des impressionistes les plus connus: Surtout Monet qui peignit la façade de la cathédrale 20 fois, à un différent moment de la journée , sous une autre lumière.
Nous avons eus la chance , lors de notre passage, de pouvoir visiter une exposition temporaire consacrée à ces tableaux. Pour l'occasion différents de ces tableaux furent réunis. Impréssionant !!!

Mais le reste de la collection vaut plus que certainement le détour .

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Chateau Vascoeuil is not in Rouen but it is a lovely day trip and probably qualifies as Off the Beaten Path. You are definitely out in the countryside and it is magical. Get a map or directions from the Rouen Tourist Office unless you are traveling with a Michelin atlas.

You enter the chateau grounds and immediately start to see sculpture placed all over the gardens. It ranges from classical to crazily modern and all of it is fun. There is a giant apple and two dancing people made of chains. There are quite a few fountains. The pigeonnaire has visiting exhibits and the main chateau is certainly worth a visit. The basement has Picasso erotica and you may not want to take the children to it. There is a posted warning.

On the grounds is a small river, a waterfall, water sculptures and a delightful tea garden. You can eat inside or out under the trees by the river. The food is excellent.

It's a great day out of town or could be combined with a trip to Lyons la Foret, a charming village.

The museum is installed in the former St.-Laurent Church. It has a large collection of artistic iron work from every period from prehistoric onward. The building is large enough to include large items like railings. (We much regret that we were too ignorant at the time to visit this 2* attraction).

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The Museum of Fine Arts moved to its present location in 1887 where its most impressive collection can be adequately seen. It not only is one of the most outstanding French "Provincial" museums outside of Paris, but it has the best ceramic collection in France (including porcelain and of course Faience de Rouen). There are quality paintings from the 15C to the present. Several great French artists were born or lived for a time in Rouen (remember Monet?) and their works gravitated to local owners, amplifying the collection which was established during the Revolution. Monet's cathedral facade series (12, I think) each would go for over $40 M if one came on the market. There are 3 at the Orsay and one here.