Rouen Old Town Self Guided Walking Tour

Aître Saint-Maclou Step into Rouen's haunting Black Death ossuary at Aître Saint-Maclou. See medieval bone carvings and danse macabre art in this 14th-century plague cemetery turned museum.

Gauls to Normans Walk through Rouen's transformation from Gallic settlement to Norman capital. Discover how Vikings shaped this medieval city before William the Conqueror's rise to power.

Église Saint-Maclou Marvel at Flamboyant Gothic architecture at Église Saint-Maclou. This 15th-century church features intricate stone portals, stunning stained glass, and an 83-meter spire.

Rue St-Romain Stroll historic Rue Saint-Romain, named after Rouen's patron saint. Browse charming boutiques and cafés along this medieval street connecting centuries of Norman heritage.

Historial Jeanne d'Arc Experience Joan of Arc's trial at the Historial museum in the actual Archbishop's Palace. Immersive exhibits bring the 1431 heresy trial to life through projections and artifacts.

Back of Rouen Cathedral Discover Rouen Cathedral's Gothic chevet, flying buttresses, and 13th-century stonework. See the Librarians' Portal and golden Madonna from this unique rear perspective.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen Stand before France's tallest cathedral spire at 151 meters. See the Gothic masterpiece Monet painted 30 times, featuring three towers and stunning Flamboyant architecture.

Rue du Gros-Horloge Walk Rouen's liveliest medieval street beneath half-timbered houses. This historic thoroughfare connects the cathedral to the famous Gros-Horloge astronomical clock tower.

Le Gros-Horloge See Europe's oldest working clock from 1389. Climb the Renaissance arch to view the 24-hour dial, moon phases, and panoramic Rouen views from this medieval belfry.

Place Dominique Laboubée Discover street art meets medieval Rouen in this charming square. See Jef Aérosol's tribute mural and floating umbrellas amid ancient half-timbered walls.

Parlement de Normandie Admire Flamboyant Gothic architecture at the 1499 Palais de Justice. This former parliament building features intricate stonework and houses La Maison Sublime, France's oldest Jewish monument.

Rue Jeanne d'Arc Walk the wide boulevard that cuts through Rouen's religious war history. This modern street marks where Protestant-Catholic conflicts transformed the medieval city forever.

Rue aux Ours Trace Rouen's evolution from Louis XIV's reign through the French Revolution. This historic street witnessed the city's transformation from royal power to revolutionary terror.

Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde See Renaissance splendor at the 15th-century Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde. This mansion features the Aumale Gallery sculpture and survived WWII bombing to become a luxury hotel.

Place du Vieux-Marché Stand where Joan of Arc was executed in 1431. This historic market square blends medieval tragedy with modern life, cafés, and daily markets in Rouen's heart.

Église Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc Visit the striking modern church honoring Joan of Arc. See 16th-century rescued stained glass inside this 1979 "Overturned Boat" design marking her execution site.

Le Bûcher de Jeanne d'Arc Stand at Joan of Arc's exact execution spot marked by the tall Cross of Lorraine. Archaeological evidence confirms this as where the 19-year-old saint died in 1431.

Rue Guillaume le Conquérant Walk toward Gothic towers along this street named for William the Conqueror. Trace Rouen's journey from Napoleon's restoration through post-Revolution rebuilding.

Scars in Stone See WWII bomb damage preserved on the Palais de Justice. This medieval courthouse still bears 1944 scars, showing Rouen's wartime destruction and resilient survival.

Dispatchwork Rouen Find Jan Vormann's colorful LEGO street art repairing war-damaged walls. This playful Dispatchwork project fills bomb scars with bright childhood memories across medieval Rouen.

Viking Capital to Norman Empire Discover Rouen's transformation from Rollo's 911 Viking capital to Norman empire seat. Walk streets where Richard the Lionheart and William the Conqueror shaped history.

Musée des Beaux-Arts Explore one of France's finest art museums featuring Monet's cathedral series. Free permanent collection includes Impressionist masterpieces, Renaissance works, and Normandy landscapes.

Rue Bouvreuil Climb this historic street toward Rouen's 13th-century prison tower. Discover medieval intrigue, Joan of Arc connections, and WWII escape stories at the Donjon.

Donjon de Rouen See where Joan of Arc faced torture threats in May 1431. This 35-meter tower is the sole survivor of Philip Augustus's 1204 castle fortress.

Rouen After Joan Learn how Rouen rebuilt after Joan's execution. Discover Charles VII's 1449 reconquest and the city's golden age boom creating the Butter Tower and Palais de Justice.

Musée Le Secq des Tournelles Explore the world's largest wrought iron collection inside a gutted Gothic church. See 16,000 medieval locks, gates, and keys in this unique Saint-Laurent museum.

Urban Transformation Walk through Rouen's 1843 railway revolution and industrial boom. Discover how steam factories, Monet's art, and WWI transformed this medieval city into modern Normandy.

Place du Général de Gaulle Stand in Rouen's formal civic square beneath Napoleon's equestrian statue. This elegant plaza features the City Hall's Gothic-Renaissance façade and WWII Resistance namesake.

Abbaye Saint-Ouen Step inside the "Crown of Normandy" lantern tower church. This 14th-century Gothic abbey features 80 original stained-glass windows and France's finest Cavaillé-Coll organ.

Rouen's Darkest Chapter Meet Rollo's Viking statue in the gardens, then learn about Nazi occupation, WWII bombing, and Jewish deportations. Discover how Rouen survived its most devastating chapter.