Language Courses in Rouen, France
Rouen is the historic capital city of Normandy in northern France on the River Seine, and the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) region. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of mediaeval Europe, Rouen was one of the capitals of the Anglo-Norman dynasties, which ruled both England and large parts of modern France from the 11th to the 15th centuries. It is conveniently situated less than an hour by train from Paris, making the attractions of the capital easily accessible.
It was in Rouen where Joan of Arc was burnt in 1431. In the centre of the Place du Vieux Marché is the modern church of Saint Joan of Arc, next to her place of execution. This is a large, modern structure which dominates the square. The form of the building represents the pyre on which Joan of Arc was burnt.
The city is known for its Notre Dame cathedral, with its Tour de Beurre (butter tower). The cathedral was the subject of a series of paintings by Claude Monet, some of which are exhibited in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The Gros Horloge is an astronomical clock (dating back to the 16th century) though the movement is considerably older (1389), and another notable feature of the city is its many surviving half-timbered buildings.
Other famous structures include the Gothic Church of Saint Maclou (15th century); the Tour Jeanne d'Arc, where Joan of Arc was brought in 1431 to be threatened with torture (contrary to popular belief, she was not imprisoned there); the Church of Saint Ouen (12th-15th century); the Palais de Justice, which was once the seat of the Parlement (French court of law) of Normandy and the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics which contains a splendid collection of faïence and porcelain for which Rouen was renowned during the 16th to 18th centuries.
There are many museums in Rouen: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, an art museum with pictures of well-known painters such as Claude Monet and Géricault; Musée maritime fluvial et portuaire, a museum on the history of the port of Rouen and navigation; Musée des antiquités, an art and history museum with antic or gothic works; Musée de la céramique, Musée Le Secq des Tournelles...
The Jardin des Plantes de Rouen is a notable botanical garden dating to 1840 in its present form. It was previously owned by Scottish banker John Law and was the site of several historic balloon ascents.
