We are planning on stopping in Rouen on our way from Bayeux to Brussels (via Paris)- we will be driving to Rouen, dropping our rental car off, then training on to Paris. How much time should we plan between arrival and departure (considering time to return car, get to train station, etc.)? Trying to balance not being rushed in Rouen, versus not being exhausted after such a busy day of travel. Thanks for any tips!
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
I would allow 5-6 hours for what you mentioned. You will want to spend several hours in Rouen. There are some excellent places to eat there and much to see. You can walk all of it or take the Metro between the city center and the train station.
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1864 posts
We spent about three hours sight-seeing there, including lunch, June, 2008. it took us a while to find a parking place, then we walked the length of Rue du Gros Horloge, the pedestrian historic street, admired the facade of the cathedral (we had just been to Giverny, it was our Monet day!), walked farther to the plague place mentioned in the RS book (sorry, I don't remember the name, St. Something), and had lunch at the cafe right next to the cathedral. After lunch, we walked the other way on the same street to the site where Jeanne d'Arc died, then left town. At this point on our trip, we had seen too many cathedrals, so we skipped the cathedral-probably add another 45 minutes if you want to visit there. Rouen felt like a larger crowded city, not really the sort of place we wanted to browse.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
The two main things in Rouen are the cathedral and the Sainte Jeanne site. They're about a quarter of a mile apart on Rue du Gros Horloge (the street with the big clock in the arch over it). You can cover both in an hour. I'd go inside the cathedral, if for nothing else than to see Lionheart's sarcophagus.
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL
46 posts
Thanks for the help! Last question - do I need to pre-book our tickets from Rouen to Paris, or can I just buy them when we are ready to leave? (Note that I have purchased our Thalys tickets from Paris to Brussels) I know there might be a cost-savings to book ahead, but that aside, any reason not to buy at the station? Thanks!
Posted by
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
353 posts
If you have time and interest, the Gros Horloge (Grand Clock) is a great visit. The audio guide is in English and gives a good history of both the city and the clock. You get to see the inner workings of the clock and end with a view over the city from the top of the clock tower. I think we were there for about 45 minutes. I highly recommend it.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
There's no need to get tickets ahead of time to get into Paris.
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
Three hours is plenty of time for Rouen. Be sure to see the plague memorial. The Jeanne d'Arc church was very modern and underwhelmed-looked like it belonged in Scandanavia.