Tourist Attractions in Rouen

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Rouen

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Rouen

Normandy is a land of peaceful countryside, green meadows, beautiful Gothic castles and ancient legends. It is the land of the famous William the Conqueror, who practically started the history of neighbouring England as a state. In Norman Rouen, the legendary Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc, was condemned and executed. Nowadays, an elegant temple rises near the site of her burning.

The streets of Rouen are a real museum of Gothic architecture. Several hundred houses are built here in the magnificent “flaming Gothic” style. Exquisite facades and spires of the Palace of Justice, decorated with fine stone lace, and incredible stained-glass windows of the Rouen Cathedral cause delight even in people indifferent to architectural beauty.

Top-15 Tourist Attractions in Rouen

place du Vieux-Marché

 4.5/5

7549 reviews

The legendary Joan of Arc, heroine of the Hundred Years’ War and canonised by the Catholic Church in the 20th century, was burned in Place Vieux-Marche. Many of the buildings surrounding the site are in one way or another associated with her name. The square contains a museum dedicated to Joan’s memory, as well as a monument surrounded by flowerbeds marking the site of her execution. The square is flanked by ornate half-timbered houses that decorate the cityscape.

Open time

Monday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen

 4.7/5

14194 reviews

The cathedral is one of the most striking monuments of Gothic architecture in France. It was erected in the XIII century on the foundations of a Romanesque church of the XI century. The archbishop’s palace adjoins the cathedral and forms a single architectural complex with it. The bell tower of the cathedral reaches a height of 151 metres. The architecture of the cathedral made a strong impression on the artist C. Monet, who created a series of paintings dedicated to the cathedral.

Open time

Monday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Saint-Ouen Abbey Church

 4.5/5

852 reviews

The abbey was founded in the 6th century and gradually became the most influential monastery in Normandy. The monastery existed until the 9th century, when it was destroyed by the Norman pagans. It was rebuilt in the 11th century under William I the Conqueror. The first church of the monastery was built in Romanesque style, later in the XIV-XVI centuries the building was rebuilt in accordance with the canons of Gothic style.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM

St. Maclou Catholic Church

 4.6/5

1357 reviews

The temple is built in the picturesque style of flaming Gothic. Its spires really resemble tongues of stone flames reaching to the heavens. The church was built between 1437 and 1521 on voluntary donations from patrons of the arts. The church is decorated with brightly coloured stained glass windows of the XV century and elegant decorative elements. During the Second World War the church was partially destroyed, the reconstruction was completed in 2010.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Saint Georges de Boscherville Abbey

 4.5/5

962 reviews

Benedictine monastery from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, which was badly damaged during the religious wars between Protestants and Catholics. Some of the buildings had to be rebuilt, so there are both XII century and XVII century buildings on the territory of the abbey, and there is some mixing of architectural styles. The abbey is surrounded by a picturesque French park with hedges, an orchard and a garden of medicinal plants.

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St Joan of Arc's Church

 4.5/5

3341 reviews

The church is located on Place Vieux-Marche. In the 16th century, it was replaced by a Gothic cathedral, of which only the stained glass windows remain. The Church of St Jeanne is built in a modern manner using asymmetrical architectural forms and interesting engineering solutions. The roof of the structure symbolises the flames in which Joan died. The complex of church buildings also includes a covered market.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Donjon de Rouen

 4.2/5

760 reviews

The tower is the only surviving structure of Rouen Castle, which was built for Philip II Augustus. The fortifications were built using local limestone. The structure was destroyed during the Wars of Religion. The donjon tower is famous for being the site of the trial of the Maid of Orleans in 1431. However, Joan was imprisoned in another tower, now destroyed.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Tribunal Judiciaire de Rouen

 3.2/5

66 reviews

The palace is considered one of the most picturesque buildings in Rouen. It was built in the 16th century to a design by R. Le Roux and R. Angot and was used for the meetings of the city council. The building is a vivid example of secular Gothic. Today, the palace is the seat of the local court and houses two museums and a library. The palace façade resembles a fanciful stone lace because of its ornate details.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Rouen Museum of Fine Arts - Meeting of Metropolitan Museums (RMM)

 4.5/5

3571 reviews

The gallery is one of the largest in Normandy, with a permanent exhibition in 60 rooms. Especially significant and complete are the collections of the XVII and XIX centuries. The collection contains works by Modigliani, Renoir, Lancret, Moreau, Monet and other masters. In addition to paintings, the museum collection includes sculptures, graphics, jewellery and furniture. The museum constantly hosts temporary exhibitions of famous and recognised artists.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Musée Le Secq des Tournelles

 4.6/5

577 reviews

The museum has existed since the nineteenth century and is housed in a sixteenth-century church building. Originally located in Paris, it was later moved to Rouen. The collection of the museum contains products of artistic forging from the Roman period to the XX century. Many exhibits are brought from Arab and Asian countries, as well as from Russia. You can see wrought iron lattices, utensils, decorative railings, signs and much more.

Open time

Monday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Panorama XXL

 3.9/5

2266 reviews

An interactive exhibition that immerses visitors in the atmosphere of different eras. “Panorama” is a huge metal cylinder 34 metres in diameter and 35 metres high. Inside this cylinder is a circular volumetric mural that reproduces a chain of events of a certain historical period. In 2015, it was the year 312 – the time of the adoption of Christianity by Emperor Constantine; in 2016, it was a panorama of Rouen from the time of Joan of Arc.

Place is closed permanently

Ceramics Museum - Meeting of Metropolitan Museums (RMM)

 4.4/5

146 reviews

The collection is housed in a historic 16th century mansion. It contains exhibits from the 16th to 19th centuries. For the first time in France, the secret of faience making was revealed by a resident of Rouen. Until then, only Italian masters had possessed the secret. By the XVII century Rouen became famous all over the world for its ceramic products. During a guided tour you can learn about the technology of pottery making.

Open time

Monday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Friday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 2:00 – 6:00 PM

Le Gros-Horloge

 4.6/5

6292 reviews

A pedestrianised street located between the Market Square and Rouen Cathedral. The street is lined with town houses with half-timbered facades. Its name comes from the old astronomical clock, which is located on a 16th century stone arch. A few centuries ago, a special caretaker was hired to keep the mechanism in good working order and lived near the arch.

Open time

Rouen Botanical Garden

 4.5/5

5986 reviews

The garden was laid out in the 17th century. At first it was a private territory, once even Napoleon Bonaparte owned it. In the nineteenth century, the garden became the property of the city and became accessible to all. Some parts of the park are closed to the public because of research activities. The city’s botanical garden has a large rose garden with varieties bred by Normandy specialists.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 8:15 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:15 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:15 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:15 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:15 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:15 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:15 PM

Pont Gustave-Flaubert

 4.3/5

861 reviews

The 2008 bridge is equipped with lifting structures and has a high capacity. The spans are specially positioned high above the water so that large vessels can pass safely underneath. The bridge’s support columns rise 91 metres above the Seine and the spans are over 1 km long. The structure was designed by engineers E. Zublen and M. Virlozho. The cost of construction works totalled 155 million euros.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours