Rouen

Next up on our road trip through France is Normandy's capital of Rouen, once one of the largest cities of Medieval Europe. The city has an incredible history. Unknown to the Romans, it was founded by the Gauls and overrun by Vikings in 841. It became capital of the Duchy of Normandy and the residence of the dukes, including William the Conqueror. It is also the city where Joan of Arc was killed and a favorite place of Monet's to paint.

We arrived late in the evening and checked into our tiny budget-friendly hotel. We had two adjoining rooms, which should really be called adjoining closets. There was barely enough room to walk around the beds and the bathroom was no different from a camper's. Although it was uncomfortable, it was in a great area of town. After breakfast at the hotel, we were able to leave our car parked there and spend the morning walking around the old part of the city.

We stopped in first at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, which you may recognize from a famous series of paintings by Monet. The cathedral is incredibly old. In fact, a church has been at this location since the 4th century. The cathedral itself was consecrated in 1065. It was listed as the tallest structure in the world from 1876 to 1880. Through the years, it has been damaged by lightening, fire, and bombs that fell on it during WWII. It contains the tombs of Richard the Lionheart and John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford, who had Joan of Arc tried and killed. Other people buried here include William I, Duke of Normandy, Arthur I, Duke of Brittany, and Empress Matilda.

The church is really quite amazing to look over. We all thought it looked as if it were decorated with lace.

We took a stroll through town to check out the Gros Horloge (Great Clock), an astronomical clock, and the town's belfry, both built in the 14th century.

Can't you just imagine Vikings bashing around this town?

From here, we headed up the street to the Place du Vieux Marché, which is the square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Today, a very tall cross marks where her stake was placed and a church named after her is nearby.

We had a good morning in Rouen. Given the historical significance of the city, it was a must see for us. A few hours is really all we needed there to see the sites. We grabbed some fruit and cheese at a grocery store for lunch, got in the car, and headed out of town.