Husband and I will be in Paris then Normandy region end of August. We're training it to Rennes, renting a car there, then driving to Mont St Michel for an overnight, then to Bayeux for 2 nights. We had planned to then drive to Rouen for an overnight, stop next day in Beauvais (to see the cathedral) then continue on to Amiens for another overnight before turning in the car and training to Bruges, then Ghent the Brussels. I have heard horror stories on this & other sites about the driving/parking issues in Rouen. We currently have reservations for an overnite in Rouen Centre Cathedale Hotel. Anyone have comments/recommendations as to how doable this will be? Should we stay overnite in Beauvais, then just do a quick Cathedral visit to Rouen and continue to Amiens? Any sugestions are most welcome! Thanks all.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33840 posts
That hotel isn't the Mercure is it? If it is, and it sounds like it without looking, Ed may be right about street parking but I have a story about one afternoon when my wife and I were driving around and around the Mercure trying to find its hotel carpark. The satnav kept showing me the hotel being very near, but with a couple of one way streets and very poor signage we couldn't even see the hotel and we certainly couldn't see the tiny sign for their carpark. Eventually I stopped next to a (very tasty) bakery and my copilot walked to the hotel, introduced herself and got directions to the carpark. It turned out that the sign was only visible from the other side of the road, in the wrong direction and once we knew which alley it was a doddle. If it is that Mercure we had a good time there, very central, plenty of feedbag around (I think we wound up at a PizzaPai of all things) and a very easy city to walk around. When we are back in that part of the world we will most definitely return to Rouen.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Rouen deserves a lot more time than Beauvais. Unbelieve the parking stories. You can usually come across a place on the street within a couple blocks west of the cathedral. Parking garages and large lots also abound.
Posted by
OP
Arlington, VA, USA
123 posts
Thanks Ed. Have you driven into Rouen? If so, any recommendations about navigating the place?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Zillions of times. There's nothing special about it, just one more city. Coming from the west just stay on the west side of the river (A13/N138) until you cross the Seine into town. If you try to cross the Seine barely upstream of LeHavre just to say you've seen the new bridge and then go up the right bank, you're going to kick yourself in the tail.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I think when Ed says "theres nothing special about it " he means the driving / parking issue,, not that visiting it is not worth it. I loved Rouen.. I only did it as a daytrip are regretted not spending the night so I could enjoy a second day wandering around the old city center.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Right, I was only talking about the driving. Rouen is a great place - - hence 'zillions'.