Victor Hugo nicknamed it the City of One Hundred Spires, and Rouen certainly lives up to the name, with a skyline that positively prickles with church steeples. From the singular, rectangular edifice of the Cathédrale de Rouen's La Tour de Beurre (butter tower) to the majestic points of the 95-foot tall cast iron steeple, the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame doesn't disappoint. It is said that the butter tower takes its name (and its original funding) from the 15th century noblemen, who paid the clergy handsomely to be able to eat butter during Lent.
The old centre of the city contains many well-preserved examples of its medieval past. Most of the churches and monuments are close together and can be seen on foot in the vieux ville. Head to the place due Vieux Marché to see excellent examples of the city's narrow, timber-framed buildings. In the square, is the Eglise Jeanne d'Arc. This contemporary church, built in 1979, has a sloping, slate roof that is meant to evoke the flames from the fire that burned Joan of Arc in the place.
A tall cross opposite the church marks the spot where she was burned at the stake, and a statue of her faces the cross. From the place du Vieux Marché, head towards the Eglise St. Maclou in the place Barthélémy. This 15th-century Gothic church has intricate, triangular peaks and ornately carved wooden doors. There are many, lovely medieval timber houses in the surrounding streets.
Rouen developed as a port city, and its location at the mouth of the Seine means that there is easy access to beaches, and it is a popular destination for cruises to dock. The city has a strong gastronomic culture, with a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, some excellent outdoor markets and the Club des Toques Rouennaises, an association of local chefs. Visit the markets at Les Emmurées and place St-Marc for excellent gourmet specialties, local earthenware crockery, vegetables and fruit.
