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Published: 2/7/2025
What To Do During Your Visit to Rouen
Whether you’re looking for a fun day trip from Paris or to kick off explorations in France’s Normandy region, Rouen is an accessible and fun French destination.
Filled with history, architecture, arts and culture, in many ways, it feels like you’re stepping back in time as you exit Rive Droit train station and emerge on Rouen’s cobblestoned streets.
There’s no denying that Rouen’s Old Town is a history lover’s dream. After all, this is where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, where Julia Child enjoyed her first French meal, and is generally considered the birthplace of Impressionism. However, this ancient Celtic city that’s been home to Romans and Vikings is also a regional destination for shopping and eating with a lively, modern feel.
I felt like I’d stepped into Belle’s world from Beauty and the Beast as I wandered through Rouen’s narrow medieval streets lined with leaning half-timbered houses. I found bustling market squares, too many churches to count, and some of the kindest people in the world during my November 2024 visit to the capital of Normandy.
While the town doesn’t feel particularly tailored to tourists, it’s home to fascinating museums, gorgeous city walks, and excellent restaurants. It even has an UNESCO designation. You only need a day or two to see the best of Rouen, but this city of about 116,000 is well worth your time.
Let’s dive right into the very best things to do during your visit to northern France’s Rouen.
10 Favorite Things To Do in Rouen
1) Learn the story of Joan of Arc
Rouen is intrinsically linked with France’s patron saint: Joan of Arc. (French spelling: Jeanne d’Arc.)
While Joan spent very little of her short life in Rouen, the city has the unfortunate distinction of being where the English burned her at the stake. Even in America, Joan of Arc is a household name, but it took my visit to Rouen to understand her. She truly heralded in the birth of the French nation we know today.
If you can only visit one site related to her in Rouen, make it Historical Jeanne d’Arc. Part museum, part immersive audiovisual presentation, this was honestly the most unique museum experience I’ve ever had and I’m no stranger to museums!
You move from room to room while projections of costumed actors read transcripts from Joan’s posthumous rehabilitation trial in 1456 which exonerated her of heresy. Along the way, you meet 23 different witnesses and learn about Joan’s childhood, how she came to ride with French troops, and just how upset everyone was that she refused to change out of men’s clothing.
(If you’re not fluent in French, don’t worry, you can listen in the language of your choice with a headset.)
After you’ve “watched” the trial, the museum transitions to more typical exhibits. You also get to peep into a couple rooms that still resemble how they looked when the space was the Archbishop’s Palace.
Other Joan of Arc sites to visit in Rouen:
Tour Jeanne d’Arc – This tall stone tower on the Rue du Donjon near the train station is the only remaining part of the castle where Joan was imprisoned in 1429. You can go inside, but there’s not much to see. The distinctive “witch’s hat” roof makes the tower a nice photo op though.
Le Bûcher de Jeanne d’Arc – A marker in the center of the garden outside the Eglise Sainte Jeanne d’Arc in the Place du Vieux Marche indicates the exact spot where Joan was burned at the stake in 1429.
Eglise Sainte Jeanne d’Arc – The church, with its distinctive (ugly?!) architecture, is dedicated to the memory of Joan. It’s also known for its excellent stained glass, original to Saint-Vincent church which was destroyed in World War II.
If you walk away from your time in Rouen without a profound understanding of Joan’s story and her symbolism in France, you simply weren’t trying hard enough!
2) Visit beautiful Rouen Cathedral
Rouen Cathedral (officially Cathédrale primatiale Notre-Dame de l’Assomption de Rouen) is the jewel of the Rouen Old Town cityscape. With its 495 ft tall cast iron spire, for a brief shining moment, from 1876 – 1880, the cathedral was the world’s tallest building. (Not a long run, but hey . . . .)
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in England and am no stranger to cathedrals. But there’s just something about French cathedrals that feels especially ancient and ethereal. After all, the Rouen Cathedral’s origins date back to the 3rd century! It’s easy to see why this particular building has enchanted the likes of Claude Monet through the ages.
While you don’t need a ton of time to take in the cathedral, you’ll definitely want to set aside 20 minutes or so to admire the cathedral from the inside and out. Like so many really old buildings, the cathedral sports a potluck of architectural styles including Gothic, Flamboyant, and Renaissance.
A favorite feature of the cathedral is its “Butter Tower.” If you’re standing outside the main entrance, the slightly short tower on the left was partially built with funds raised from indulgences parishioners paid so they could enjoy butter and dairy during Lent.
Inside, you’ll find tombs of several notables including four Dukes of Normandy, one of whom was also the King of England: Richard the Lionheart. My favorite interior feature was the ornate stone Booksellers’ Stairway, built in the 1400s to access the cathedral’s library.
3) Stroll through Rouen’s medieval Old Town
Rouen’s Old Town on the north side of the Seine River is the perfect place for a leisurely walkabout. Since much of this area is a designated pedestrian zone, it’s especially lovely and lowkey to wander at your own pace through the town’s 2000 half-timbered houses.
The number one point of interest in Rouen’s Old Town is Le Gros-Horloge. You can’t miss this 14th century astronomical clock as you walk the Rue du Gros-Horloge between the Place du Vieux-Marche and the Cathedral. While you can go inside the clock to its dial room, I was happy to simply enjoyed its intricate exterior.
During your Rouen wanderings, you’ll quickly realize this town is stuffed to the gills with churches. Besides the cathedral, Old Town is also home to Saint-Maclou, Saint-Nicaise, and Saint-Ouen . . . just to name a few! The most distinctive (and somewhat controversial from an architectural standpoint) is the Eglise Sainte Jeanne d’Arc in Place du Vieux-Marche.
Other points of interest include, Aitre Saint-Maclou, a medieval cemetery near Eglise de Saint-Maclou. You’ll also want to stroll down picturesque Rue Eau-de-Robec which has a canal running down the middle of it. If you want to turn your walk into a hike, head up St. Catherine’s Hill on Rouen’s east side to find a view you might recognize from some of Monet’s paintings.
When your feet grow tired, you can pop into one of the ubiquitous cafes or boulangeries for a little refreshment.
4) Eat where Julia Child had her first French meal
While all of France is celebrated its culinary arts, Rouen has the distinction of being an UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Famously, this is where Julia Child ate her first French meal. You can still dine at La Couronne, where she ate that extremely influential meal in 1948. The restaurant is located in a 14th century half-timbered building overlooking Place du Vieux-Marche which is said to be one of the oldest inns in France.
The restaurant does offer a set Julia Child menu at lunchtime which features oysters, Dover sole, and souffle Normand along salad and coffee. As you might expect, it’ll cost a pretty penny to enjoy the meal that Julia called “the most exciting meal” of her life. This set menu for one costs 68 euros, or you can enjoy it for two people with wine pairings for 182 euros.
Since we arrived in Rouen on Saturday afternoon and La Couronne doesn’t offer this menu on Sundays, we sadly missed out. If you time your Rouen visit better than we did, be sure to reserve a table in advance.
While we weren’t able to dine at La Couronne, we did have a lovely dinner at Pascaline. This charming bistro has the added bonus of being open on Sundays, which is a bit of a rarity in France.
5) Learn about the city’s Viking past
Rouen might give all the medieval vibes these days, but it still identifies as a Viking city. (After all: Norman = North Men.) You can still find nods to the city’s Viking past if you look carefully. For example, the controversial architecture used in the Eglise Sainte Jeanne d’Arc in Place du Vieux-Marche is partially inspired by Viking architecture.
To literally immerse yourself in Rouen’s Viking past, you can head across the Seine to Cite Immersive Viking. Similar to Historical Jeanne D’Arc, this multi-room exhibit is a sensory experience involving video projections, interactive maps, and hands-on activities. You can also arrange a Viking themed walking tour of Rouen through the museum.
6) Drink calvados
Welcome to Normandy: the one region of France with no wine culture.
What the region lacks in vineyards, it makes up for with orchards. The region is known for its apples, pears, and other fruits. When it’s time to choose a drink to pair with your Normandy meal, the most traditional choices are hard cider or poire (hard pear cider.)
Or you could try the Normandy specialty liquor: calvados. This dry apple brandy is ubiquitous in Normandy bars and restaurants and is often incorporated into dishes and cocktails. While in Rouen, I recommend heading to Le Petit Bar, a small cocktail bar tucked behind the cathedral, to check out their impressive menu.
If you don’t mind paying hotel bar prices (I was jetlagged enough to throw caution to the wind!), the Spritz Normand at the bar in Hotel de Bourgtheroulde is an especially delicious way to sample calvados.
7) Enjoy impressionist artwork
Normandy is the birth place of Impressionism. This distinctive style of painting is one of my very favorites and I’ll always seek out a museum’s Impressionist gallery, whether I’m in Chicago, Minneapolis, or Paris.
This important art movement got its start further north in Normandy on the English Channel in Honfleur where the most famous impressionist, Claude Monet, studied under landscape artist Eugene Boudin. While Monet famously made his home in Giverny, (which is sadly open only during the spring and summer), he spent a fair amount of time capturing Rouen scenes.
The best place to enjoy Rouen’s role in impressionist art is the Musee des Beaux-Arts. This fantastic museum is free to visit and has a collection that spans the history of art. However, as you might expect, most folks come here for the impressionist collection which features lots of the Impressionists’ favorite landscapes.
8) Do some shopping
When you travel, I think it’s always wise to pay attention to what the locals are doing and in Rouen, they’re definitely shopping. We were in town for a holiday weekend and it felt like we were two lone Americans adrift in a sea of French visitors stocking up on clothing, household items, and of course, those blasted Nespresso pods.
It was too early in our trip to be focused on acquiring souvenirs, so sadly, the only shop I visited was the Monoprix on Rue du Gros-Horloge to grab some lunch. However, some tempting shops around the city included the Irish good store Le Comptoir Irlandis, Le Petit Souk which specializes in children’s clothing, Mademoiselle, and numerous boutiques.
Although not specific to Rouen, I always love a stroll through the local Flying Tiger Copenhagen whenever I’m in Europe. A visit to Printemps department store will clue you in to current fashion trends as well.
9) Go to a market
There’s almost always a market going on in Rouen. You’ll find market stands in Place du Vieux-Marche, there’s Marche des Emmurees across the Seine on the southside of Rouen, and there’s also Marche Saint-Marc just east of the cathedral.
We walked through Marche Saint-Marc which was one of the few places truly bustling on a Sunday morning. The market specializes mostly in food, but there are some antique/flea market stands towards the back.
One of my biggest regrets from Rouen is not grabbing lunch here because I was still self-conscious about my very limited French. Also basically running away from the kind little boy selling cheese who tried to speak to me in French probably wasn’t one of my finest moments either . . . .
10) Stay in a castle
There’s no shortage of hotels in Rouen, but for the most luxurious and memorable experience, you can’t beat staying in a castle in the heart of Old Town. True, Hotel de Bourgtheroulde is actually a 15th century mansion, but with its courtyard and imposing façade, you’ll be forgiven if you think of it as a castle.
While this is far from the cheapest option in town (it was so pricey, I definitely second guessed my decision to stay here a couple times!), you can’t beat the amenities or kind staff. There are several different styles of rooms to stay in and the property also offers a restaurant, bar, spa, and an impressive breakfast spread.
One unexpected perk was that since the hotel is located on the edge of Rouen’s Old Town pedestrian area, it’s very quiet! It was the perfect place to catch up on sleep and merge into French life.
Other Activities in Rouen
Rouen, France Travel Guide
Rouen is often recommended as a starting point for a tour of Normandy. Since it’s easily reached in a just a few hours of travel from Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport, if you’re willing to make one final jet-lagged push, it’s a good first destination in France. I was very happy to acclimate to French culture and language in a much smaller and friendlier city than Paris! (We chose it because of its equidistance between the Somme and the D-Day beaches.)
Like many European cities, there’s definitely a modern, industrial side of Rouen. As a visitor you’ll spend most of your time in the city’s medieval Old Town. Happily, we quickly discovered that there’s enough to do in the approximately one-square-mile of Rouen’s Old Town to fill an entire day or weekend.
Granted, Rouen doesn’t exactly exude “fast paced” vibes. Instead, this is a city where you should linger over meals, poke around the historical streets, and just generally marvel about being yet another little soul passing through this ancient Celtic city that predates the Romans.
Rouen Map of Favorite Visitor Sites
Rouen is located on the Seine River, between Paris and the English Channel. This map of Rouen shows all the sites and activities I discussed in this guide. As you can see, everything is quite close together and easily accessible on foot.
How To Get To Rouen
By plane: The closest international airport to Rouen is Paris Beauvais, about 50 miles east of Rouen. If you’re flying from the United States, you’ll most likely be flying into Charles De Gaulle (sometimes referred to as Roissy Airport) which is about 85 miles southwest of the Normandy capital.
By train: Trains bound for Normandy depart from Paris’s Gare Saint-Lazare. Trains stopping at Rouen run approximately every two hours. The journey from central Paris to Rouen Rive Droite station takes 1.5 – 2 hours, depending on whether you’re on a regional express (TER) or a regular train.
By car: Parking is notoriously tricky in Rouen, especially around the city center, so I recommend arriving by train if possible. The city centre is extremely pedestrian friendly. If you do drive, your best bet for parking is the underground ramp under the train station.
We also had no issues getting Ubers around the metro area when we needed to get to and from the car rental location on the outskirts of town.
Drivetimes to Rouen:
Paris to Rouen: 2 hours
Le Havre to Rouen: 1 hour 15 minutes
Bayeux to Rouen: 1 hour 40 minutes
Calais to Rouen: 2 hours 20 minutes
Where To Stay in Rouen
As mentioned above, we loved our stay in Hotel de Bourgtheroulde and I’m glad we splurged on it. You can’t beat its location right in the heart of Old Town.
Radisson Blu – I also seriously considered here when researching Rouen lodging options. While it doesn’t have the same curb appeal as Hotel de Bourgtheroulde, its on-site restaurant Le Jehanne is quite highly rated. It’s located right next to the tower where Jeanne D’Arc was imprisoned and is very convenient to the train station.
Hôtel Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale – Another convenient Old Town option, this hotel is located in one of Rouen’s picture perfect half-timbered houses. Rooms are modern and modestly priced.
Hôtel Littéraire Gustave Flaubert – I also considered staying at this highly rated hotel which is named for one of Rouen’s most famous native sons.
Conclusion: How To Enjoy A Day or Weekend in Rouen, France
Both an ancient and modern city, Rouen offers a gateway into some of the most interesting episodes in Western European history. As the capital of Normandy, this city is a great place to kick off a tour of northern France. You can jump right into Norman culture by viewing Impressionist art at the Rouen Musee des Beaux-Arts and enjoying your first calvados!
Other favorite things to do in Rouen including visiting the beautiful Gothic cathedral, learning the story of Joan of Arc, walking through the 2000 half-timbered buildings in Old Town, and seeing medieval landmarks like the Gros-Horloge. You can also indulge in the French art of gastronomy and follow in the footsteps of Julia Child.
Whether you choose to visit as a day trip for Paris or spend a couple nights, Rouen is a French city you’ll always remember fondly.
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