Photo Scrapbook: Rouen

Rouen, the capital of Normandy, was heavily bombed during WWII, but sections of the old city were spared and the half-timbered, glazed-tile houses have been meticulously preserved. It's a lovely city, known for its famous citizens, such as Claude Monet, Gustave Flaubert, and Joan of Arc.


Le Cathedrale de Notre Dame dates back to the 11th century. It houses the tomb of Richard the Lionheart and contains his heart. His effigy is on top of the tomb and his name inscribed in Latin on the side.


Interior of the imposing gothic-style cathedral, also the subject for a series of paintings by Claude Monet. He painted the same exterior scene at different times of the day; two of the paintings are at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.


After visiting the tomb of Richard the Lionheart in Le Cathedrale de Notre Dame, it's a short walk to the Gros Horloge, an astronomical clock dating from the 16th century.


This small flowerbed and inscribed marker commemorates the site where Joan of Arc, age 19, was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431 following her trial as a heretic. In the background is the St. Joan of Arc Church, located in the Old Market Square. It's a large, modern structure which dominates the square and is famed for its collection of stained glass windows, especially those from the 16th century from St. Vincent's Church.


We had a busy morning sightseeing in Rouen Sept. 22, and before going back to the River Baroness, we wanted another photo of historic half-timbered, glazed-tile houses. We took a break across the street from the St. Joan of Arc Church, located in the center of the Old Market Square. (front, l-r) Heidi, Bonnie, Doug, Carla, (back, l-r) George and Jim.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)