Sunday Morning in Rouen

Rouen, a small city located in the Normandy region of France, felt almost like a step back in time. We took our trip there on a beautiful, sunny Sunday morning, and were absolutely charmed.

The town is small enough that, for our purposes, one morning there was enough to hit the sights. It's a perfect place to observe the half-timbered architectural style that the region is known for.

We started with a trip to a small coffee shop, followed by a quick tour of the highlights. Going to a French city on a Sunday, particularly up in the northern part of France, means that many of the shops will be closed. However, most restaurants will be open, and Rouen was also bustling with the town market, with stalls filled with everything you can imagine, from Camembert cheese to specialty wines and honey.

One of the things Rouen is most well-known for is We took a quick peek into the Eglise Jeanne d'arc (The Church of Joan of Arc). The stained glass windows were so detailed. It was hard to tear your eyes away, or even to know where to look. This church is one of the most modern that I have been into while in France, built in the 1970s.

We walked under The Tour de Gros Horloge (The Great Clocktower)

The Cathedrale Notre-Dame was exquisite both outside and in. The gothic style, with its intricate details and skeletal-like structure was my favorite thing we saw in Rouen. It strongly contrasts the modern church of Eglise Jeanne d'arc. It's always interesting to compare the differences and similarities between the various cathedrals and churches in each French town.  These buildings, though today often associated with past grandeur and history, also used to be at the very heart and center of life.

Cathedrale Notre-Dame

Rouen was a wonderful place for a quick visit. Tons of history, delicious food, beautiful architecture, and a different atmosphere from the hustle and bustle of Paris.