Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen

Rouen

Built at the centre of the former Gallo-Roman castrum of Rouen, the primatial cathedral of Normandy is a book of stone begun around 1145 with the Saint-Romain tower, one of the earliest manifestations of Gothic. On Easter night 1200, a fire destroyed the district and a large part of the building, which was rebuilt in the 13th century. It houses the tombs of Rollo, the Viking chief who founded Normandy, and of his son William Longsword. Legend has it that the Butter Tower was financed by the alms paid by the faithful to obtain the right to consume dairy products during Lent. Struck by lightning in 1822, the Renaissance spire burned; the cast-iron spire that replaced it, begun in 1825, completed in 1876 and flanked in 1884 by four copper pinnacles, raises the building to 151 metres: the cathedral was the tallest building in the world from 1876 to 1880 and remains the tallest in France. Restored over many years in the 20th century, listed as a monument historique on the very first list of 1862, it stands next to the Historial Jeanne d'Arc, housed in the adjoining former archbishop's palace.

Getting there : Place de la Cathédrale, 76000 Rouen, in the heart of the pedestrianised historic centre; public car parks in the town centre nearby; building open for worship and visits.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound