My home city, Rouen

Enough speaking about Graz and Austria, I would like now to come back home ! I would like to introduce you my home town where I studied during the two first years of my Bachelor. I initially come from the countryside so for me, even if Rouen is quite a small city, it was really a new experience!

Rouen is located in North-West of France and crossed by the Seine. There are 111 000 inhabitants. It is a very nice medieval city with a lot of history as it is the city of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc).

Joan of Arc was a young girl born in 1412 coming from a very catholic family. From the age of 17, she hears some voices which say that she has to deliver France royalty from the British presence. She leaves to Chinon in order to speak about these voices to the the king Charles VII. As the king believes in her and asks her to transfer the British, she goes to Orleans where she wins the victory against the British. But later, she is captured by the Burgundians (Bourguignons) who have shared France with the British. They take their revenge and she is sold to the British in 1430. She is burned on the Old Market place in Rouen (Place du Vieux-Marché) in Rouen on the May, 30 1431. The King Charles VII didn't try to defense her while she helped him to ascend the throne in 1428.

This old event is not very pleasant to remember, so now I'm going to tell you what to see in Rouen. 

Let's start from the trainstation:

The trainstation is, according to me particulrly charming and beautiful.

If you follow the street down from the trainstation, you will arrive 10 minutes later in the center of Rouen, with her Courthouse. If you go to the left, you will find the Old Market place (la place du Vieux-Marché) where there is a church in honor to Joan of Arc. From this place, if you go to the left again, you will find the Joan of Arc street which is the main street of Rouen with her numerous shops and her golden big Clock (le gros Horloge) which is one of the symbol of Rouen. If you keep going in this direction, you will have the privilege to admire the wonderful and famous Notre-Dame cathedral. If you then go to the left, you will reach the district with the Town hall and his garden.
Finally, if you go on the right side of the city, you will find the docks and the river "La Seine".

The old Market place

The Notre-Dame cathedral

The big Clock

The town hall of Rouen

The town hall garden

Rouen: docks and the Seine

The streets of Rouen come from the medieval period and have a lot of history. It is really a wonderful old architectur !

My favorite street in Rouen : The street "Eau de Robec"

Last week, there was a huge event in Rouen which is called "L'ARMADA DE ROUEN". It lasts two weeks where old boats from the whole world come to the harbor of Rouen. There were a lot of concerts from famous international bands, like Amadou & Mariam, Pony pony Run run, Madness, Mika... It happens only every 4 years so I was a little bit sad to miss the event as all my friends were there and they had so much fun!
One of my best friend who is a singer played in this event in front of 10 000 people. I missed it but I will see her in two weeks again so no matter ! By the way, I will introduce you to her in a next article.

So, I think, you all have now an overview of my lovely homecity ! I hope it will tempt you to come!

I really like this city because it is small and I feel good there with my friends !