Rouen – capital of Normandy and Rollon Viking

Rouen is the capital of Rollon and the Dukes of Normandy.

The capital of Normandy, a very interesting city - Rouen. As it was not called in its time, except for the famous name that Victor Hugo gave it - "the city of a hundred bells" Rouen was also "the Hamburg of the West", "the city-museum", "Gothic Athens". I like its "old and duma" - the capital of Rollon - the first Viking, who settled here in the distant X century.

A city that always harbors something undiscovered from the history of France.

Depending on the time you have in Rouen, as a guide, I offer some fascinating walking tours of this wonderful city.

This can be from a simple walking tour of the ancient part of the city for 3 hours, to a full-day excursion in several stages, or 2-3 excursions at different times.

Rouen is at the same time a very old city, where the legends of the dukes of Normandy are still alive, but also a city eternally young, where there are always a lot of students on the streets.

His story is connected with many celebrities not only of Normandy, but all over France, from the first Vikings – Normans like Rollon, the great national heroine of France Joan of Arc, to Napoleon I. In this city were born writers Maurice LeBlanc and Flaubert, he was very loved by Gi-De Maupassant, Stendhal, Victor Hugo.

Rouen, whose inhabitants have always been proud of it, sometimes having more privileges in navigating merchant ships on the Seine than the Parisians, and the Seine has always been an important royal route to the sea! Its inhabitants, the heirs of great warriors - Vikings and Dukes of Normandy, such as Richard the Lionheart have a special character and free spirit.

The city has always occupied and still occupies an important position in the industrial and business life of France.

In Rouen, history and modernity coexist. The museums of Rouen store in their museums the treasures of art and skill of its inhabitants. Rouen is a city where youth festivals, concerts, holidays and armadas of ancient sailboats on the Seine are held.

In Rouen, we will walk with you from the main square, which preserved a rare equestrian statue of Napoleon I through the cute strange streets of Rouen associated with its long past, tell and show you the history of the names of its streets, the style of its ancient houses, its churches and cathedrals. We will definitely visit the majestic Cathedral of St. Owen, where I will tell you about the flaming Gothic and ancient stained glass windows. We will walk in the picturesque quarter around the cathedral, where streets and houses seem to compete in the picturesque facades.

We will see the narrowest street of Rouen and the oldest former morgue - the cemetery of the atrium of Saint-Macloux. In the beautiful church of Saint Macloux, I will tell you about the famous pioneer of Christianity, Saint Macloux. We will walk through the streets of workshops and ateliers, because Rouen is not only a city of cathedrals, but also a city of great masters, you will see this by looking with me at the museum of wrought iron products or the museum of ceramics.

We will see with you the quarter of the famous Rouen Cathedral, who wrote so much to Claude Monet that he dreamed that the cathedral turned pink and fell on it! We will look at the tombs of the Dukes of Normandy in the cathedral and look at the bell tower next to the Great Clock of the city - Gros Orloge. Of course, we will look at the Old Market Square, where Joan of Arc was burned, the place of her burning, but so that you do not accidentally sadden about the death of Jeanne, we will look at the beautiful mansion of the rich Mr. Burtgeruld and the museum of the great poet and playwright, the father of French tragedy - Pierre Cornell.

We will visit the Episcopal Palace of Rouen Cathedral to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of Joan of Arc’s life, her trial in Rouen and the popularity of Jeanne as a national heroine in France. If you come in the summer season, you will be able to watch a light performance in the evening on the facade of the cathedral, when the old cathedral wakes up like Cinderella to dress up in the princess’s elegant dress.

The Museum of Fine Arts of Rouen is a separate very beautiful song, which I love and always show during the tour, as this museum gives an idea of the city, its celebrities and residents.

I, your guide, will guide you through the halls of the museum with a guided tour for 2-3 hours and you will be fascinated by the beauty that you can always paint at all times and eras. The museum is very rich and even has a large collection of Russian icons. There are paintings of such famous artists as Rubens, Caravaggio, Velázquez, David, Ingres, Sisley, Monet, Géricault. The Hall of Rouen Impressionist artists will impress you with the brightness of colors, and the hall of the tribune with the scale of the paintings.

As for the taste of Rouen, you won’t be disappointed by Norman cuisine. Rouen has restaurants for every taste. You can dine in one of the best gastronomic restaurants in Rouen, and Rouen is also famous for its chefs, not for nothing that the famous chef Cyril Lignac often comes here. Or I will show you not so “ordinary” Michelin stars – a cozy old restaurant, where the dishes will be in the Rouen taste.

I assure you, with me, yours, you will love this city, which has its Norman charm and character.

**The price of the tour is 2.5 hours.