Rouen: On our way to the coast of Normandy

Rouen is a curious place. The old town is at a river bend on the Seine. Unlike most towns in France, Rouen chose to not embrace its waterway(s). Back in the 1800s, they relocated their main train station to the right bank (a very fine art nouveau building too). Our bus happened to arrive on the left bank and we crossed the Seine on foot. Otherwise, if we had arrived by train, we would have missed the Seine all together.

Rouen had a very nice Cathedral, which fascinated Monet. What was recorded by Monet was almost decimated completely during WWII. Though information is not straight and forthcoming, we think much of the old town was rebuilt, including many half timber looking buildings. I am not convinced they necessarily even had that many before the war - someone 's idea of the past that was never there. This is in drastic contrast to Le Havre, which is still coming up on the itinerary.

All of Rouen's public museums are free, great move! They have some good stuff too!

In France, eating on long distance buses is usually prohibited, so if the bus driver's assistant has his sandwich in a ready-to-eat position, we pull out our sandwiches, chips, chocolate bar and drinks and let the picnic begin!. ;-)


The scene outside the bus window.


Walking across the Seine. That's the spire of the Cathedral in the distance.


Our first up "close" look at the Cathedral.


We walked inside and found that one third of the Cathedral was "closed", so after a quick tour we decide to return later.




Our apartment had an oven so Sun-Ling bought some pre-made puff pastry sheets and voila!


We head out to the train station to check on our departure day schedule and discover it's an outstanding Art Nouveau building.

The entrance hall of the Musée des Beaux-Arts is striking, with several monumental works in view.


A panorama of Rome by Joseph-Désiré Court.


Un mariage à Yport by Albert Fourié.


Ourselfies.


A tour guide holds court in front of "The Flagellation of Christ" by Caravaggio.


More monumental pieces.


Portrait of a woman with a snake by Paulus Bor.


Monet painted the Rouen Cathedral more than 30 times. Here's one of them with my "same scene" photo below it.


One of Monet's famous paintings of the Cathedral's West Facade.


The Seine Bridge and Port of Rouen by Pissaro with my sorta-similar photo below.




"Port of Rouen" by Torello Ancillotti .


An artist new to us: Jacques-Émile Blanche. We liked him a lot.



A painting by Jacques Villon, the brother of Marcel Duchamp.


Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen. There is a modern church (located in an old square) dedicated to her.






Our apartment was located near Rouen's famous clock. We walked by it more than several times.


Streets of Rouen.






The Ironwork Museum, housed in a deconsecrated church, was free and turned out to be quite interesting.


And the Ceramics Museum was pretty cool too.




Night photos of the Clock and the Cathedral.