Northern France - Day Two - Rouen

Rouen is a City where Joan of Arc was executed.

So you would think that was the theme of the Town. but it is not. 

It also William the Conquer Territory.

So that was also part of the theme of the City

The Cathedral welcomed us in the morning with its arms open.

This Beautiful Cathedral is one that has gone with the town, been through so many wars and is still being worked on.

It has seen Martyrs die and kings crowned, bombs and fires, but is still stands in grandeur

There was a lot of carve marble and stone of the Cathedral and we were to see more on the inside.

Some we could tell was new.

The small Baptisamy to the side was clean and still in use.

The Windows a mix of Old and New

And carved stairs inside that seem to go to bricked doors?

 It had a very high ceiling that has grown in time.

Some of the Statues from outside were on display inside, to show the work of the artisan of the past.

 Some were the worse for wear and erosion.

 But the windows were bright and joyful.

 The dark side was quiet and peaceful

The lighten side was busy with tourists.

(notice Jennifer exploring)

 Once out on the street, we found the Town Clock.

This has been here since the 1600s

 Distractions were around us, like this lovely flower shop

 But the clock was the target to look at.

 As it had the fine detail of carving under it.

 So we continued towards the Market and the place Joan of Arc was Burned.

 The street hasn't changed much in the centuries.

 and this made the town absolutely wonderful for exploring

 Some of the buildings looked like they would fall down soon, but they have been the way for centuries.

we stumbled across the little market on the way to the market.

Local fruit and Vegetables were on Sale.

 we got the Market and explored those, fish Stall were everywhere

The stall was just doing crustaceans 

Jennifer found herself a Pain aux Raisins

Basically at pastry with Raisins and sugar

 The Joan of Arc Chapel was closed 

so we wander around the street so more

 Jennifer just couldn't get enough of them.

we even found a small chapel where a local priest

was preparing some young men for an event.

The Chapel of St Joan is a Modern Chapel but was cute.

Outside there are statues of the Guy
who set up the area as a tribute to her.

So off we went exploring again.

We saw another cathedral ( this town has 5 and we visited 3)
But before that, we popped into the St Joan Museum.

 This one was for St Joan, and
the knights that supported her.
And how she became a saint.

 The museum is in the Cardinals residence

 Taking Photo's was not permitted

But I could take pictures of the views from the windows.

Even the windows were modern Impressions.

With the Palace, we could take pictures

 This is where they made Joan of Arc s Saint.

 The rooms were beautiful and still used today

But we had to keep moving.
Next Eglise Catholique Saint Maclou

 Flamboyant gothic Catholic church featuring sculpted wooden doors from the Renaissance period.

This was a work of art on the outside,

 Fine workmanship in stone

But Inside it was plain

 Except for the windows

 There were some flashes on the fancy stone in places

But a quiet and somber place.

So we were off again.

this time we started to explore the back street again after some lunch outside the Cathedral.

 Exploring the back can be dangerous. 

You can end up spending too much, 

as I found out when Jennifer found a fabric shop.

 But what back streets.

Even the architecture was wonderful to see.

but Saint Ouen Abby was the last place for the day.

The sun was out and townsfolk were in the grounds enjoying the spring sun.

 This is an impressive Abbey

 The windows were large and original

 The ceiling tall as if they were there.

 The windows though were Highlight

 They let in plenty of light and shown bright showing us the workmanship that had gone into it.

 What a place to finish the day on.

 The side entrance, of course, was closed, 

but the door in the door was amusing.

After that we quietly heade back through the back streets again.

What a lovlely place to explore.