Rouen Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Rouen showing heritage architecture and night scenes
Discover the historic medieval city where Joan of Arc was executed. Walk along quaint cobblestone streets in this Normandy city.

Rouen is famous as the location where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. It is the former home of one of the country’s greatest writers, Gustave Flaubert. The city’s cathedral attracts travelers and sightseers just as it once inspired works of art by Monet. Rouen has many museums and historic landmarks created during its important role in Anglo-Norman rule.

Admire the gothic design of the 13th-century Rouen Cathedral. See stained-glass windows dating back more than 800 years as well as the tomb of Richard the Lionheart, a former king of England. The church’s majestic façade inspired impressionist artist Monet to create works now worth millions of dollars.

Find one of Monet’s cathedral paintings in the city’s Musée des Beaux-Arts, which was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801. Browse paintings, sculptures and other artworks around the halls of the 19th-century building. Many genres are included, such as impressionist and renaissance art.

Make your way to the Gros Horloge (Big Clock), one of the world’s oldest and largest surviving mechanical clocks. Made in 1389, it has an 8.2-foot (2.5-meter) diameter. Admire the clock’s design with a sun at its center and 24 rays of sunlight pointing to the hours. At the nearby Saint-Ouen Church, appreciate its grand gothic design and famous 19th-century organ.

Stroll along the charming cobblestone street of Rue Eau de Robec to browse its shops and cafés and enjoy interesting architecture. Water flowing down one side of the road offers a tranquil ambiance. Turn down Rue Saint-Romain, near the cathedral, to see gothic and renaissance architectural styles. Some houses have thatched roofs and wooden façades.

The city has warm summers and cold winters with a fair chance of rain. Local people are known as “ Rouennais.”

Take a look around the Tour Jeanne d’Arc in Rouen Castle, where it is said the famous heroine was shown instruments of torture designed for her. In contrast, modern Rouen will show you a very pleasurable experience.

Where to stay in Rouen

Rouen featuring a small town or village and heritage architecture

Rouen City Centre

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

Historical sites, museums and art galleries are just a few things travellers like about Rouen City Centre. Sights like Saint-Ouen Church and Rouen Cathedral are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater Rouen area at Palais de Justice Tram Station.

Rouen City Centre
Gros Horloge showing street scenes

Quartier Vieux Marché-Cathédrale

Historical sites, museums and art galleries are just a few things travellers like about Quartier Vieux Marché-Cathédrale. Sights like Palais de Justice and Rue du Gros-Horloge are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater Rouen area at Palais de Justice Tram Station.

Quartier Vieux Marché-Cathédrale

Centre Ville Rive Gauche

Shopping, restaurants and historical sites highlight some of the notable features of Centre Ville Rive Gauche. Make a stop by Saint Sever while you're exploring.

Centre Ville Rive Gauche
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Gare-Jouvenet

You'll appreciate the restaurants during your time in Gare-Jouvenet and you might want to plan a stop by Tour Jeanne d'Arc and Hotel de Ville while you're in the area.

Gare-Jouvenet
Rouen featuring signage

Quartier Saint-Marc - Croix de Pierre - Saint-Nicaise

Historical sites, bars and river views are just a few things travellers enjoy about Quartier Saint-Marc - Croix de Pierre - Saint-Nicaise. Check out Rue Eau de Robec or Saint-Ouen Church while you're exploring the area.

Quartier Saint-Marc - Croix de Pierre - Saint-Nicaise
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Quartier Pasteur

River views, historical sites and coffee shops are just a few things travellers enjoy about Quartier Pasteur. Check out Kindarena or Flaubert Museum and the History of Medicine while you're exploring the area.

Quartier Pasteur
Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
4 out of 5
7 rue Croix de Fer, Accès Parking via Rue des Arsins, Rouen, Seine-Maritime
The price is AU$172 per night from 5 Apr to 6 Apr
AU$172
per night
5 Apr - 6 Apr
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Rouen. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (842 reviews)
"Staff fantastic. Great location for walking in old city."

Reviewed on 23 Mar. 2024

Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
Hotel Litteraire Gustave Flaubert, Signature Collection
Hotel Litteraire Gustave Flaubert, Signature Collection
4 out of 5
33, rue du Vieux Palais, Rouen
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$173 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
AU$173
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Rouen. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions Musee ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (554 reviews)
"Great location, lovely breakfast options, comfortable and welcoming room with nice bath. Enjoyable stay all around."

Reviewed on 4 Feb. 2024

Hotel Litteraire Gustave Flaubert, Signature Collection
Radisson Blu Hotel, Rouen Centre
Radisson Blu Hotel, Rouen Centre
4 out of 5
6-8 Rue du Donjon, Rouen
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is AU$232 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
AU$232
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Rouen. Enjoy a full-service spa, breakfast, and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the spacious rooms ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (331 reviews)
"I stayed overnight in a nice room with a comfy bed, decent-sized desk and mini fridge, tv, safe, electric jug, iron & ironing board 👍. Wifi worked well and there were lots of well-placed power sockets. It had a great view, city buildings interspersed with trees and gardens, and on the other side, ..."

Reviewed on 19 Feb. 2024

Radisson Blu Hotel, Rouen Centre
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
House in Rouen near Armada 2023, dock76 and Quai de Seine right bank
House in Rouen near Armada 2023, dock76 and Quai de Seine right bank
Rouen
Stay at this vacation home in Rouen. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a terrace. Popular attractions Kindarena and Maritime Museum of Rouen are located nearby. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (18 reviews)
Unkomplizierte Übernachtung
"Haben extrem kurzfristig eine Übernachtung in Rouen gesucht und bei Emilien gefunden. Von der Innenstadt ca. 3,5 km entfernt, aber ein Supermarkt ist durchaus fussläufig zu erreichen."

Reviewed on 31 Jul. 2023

House in Rouen near Armada 2023, dock76 and Quai de Seine right bank
Studi'home
Studi'home
77 rue Ecuyere, Rouen, Normandy
Stay at this apartment in Rouen. Enjoy billiards or a pool table and 1 bedroom. Popular attractions Palais de Justice and Place du Vieux-Marche are located nearby. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (24 reviews)
"Extremely hot with opening ground floor windows as only option for relief. People walking by looked in. Only way to get relief at night was same……nit a very safe way to sleep. We left early and would definitely never use again. We knew there was no ac but had no idea there would be no air flow or ..."

Reviewed on 25 Jul. 2021

Studi'home
Villa Caron
Villa Caron
53 Rue Coignebert, Rouen, Seine-Maritime
Stay at this apartment in Rouen. Enjoy free WiFi, a kitchen, and a refrigerator. Popular attractions Hotel de Ville and Museum de Rouen are located nearby. Discover ...
Villa Caron
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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