Rouen is a very attractive city with a world-famous cathedral, sitiated in the Normandy region of northern France.
You will make more of your visit if you are familiar with a little history of the town, so below we highlight some of the important historical events that have taken place at Rouen, France over the last 25 centuries.
Rouen History
Of Celtic origin, the city of Rouen formerly belonged to the tribe of the ‘Velocassi’ Gauls, who established their capital at “Rotumac” or “Ratuma” and “Ratumacos”, then known by the Romans as “Rotomagus” (etymologically probably meaning the “dwelling or round place”), on the place where Rouen would later rise.
Rouen, like all of Gaul, was conquered by Julius Caesar and the Romans changed “Rotomagus” into a powerful fortress city. Traces of the Roman past are not as obvious as in other places in France (a part the foundations of a Roman amphitheatre) has been discovered, partly because the buildings were generally made of wood; however, over time, the excavations have unearthed several finds, including medals, coins and weapons.
The city of Rouen, according to tradition, was Christianized in the Second Half of the Second Century by St. Nicasius and then from St. Victrice in the Early Fifth Century.
It was subject to the Kingdom of the Franks with Clovis (466-511) and Clothar (497-561). It was sacked by the Normans in 841 and it became their possession in 876.
Moving forward to medieval history Rouen was an important Municipality, with a powerful and wealthy bourgeoisie devoted to trade (the guild of merchants and ship owners of Rouen was among the most powerful of France). In 1549, Henry II (1519-1599) granted to the port of Rouen the monopoly over the trans-oceanic trade in spices.
During the wars between France and England it was the focus of important historical events such as the trial of Joan of Arc [1412 ca.-1431], with Rouen returning to the Kingdom of France in 1449 (during the Hundred Years’ War it came to England, in1419).
Under the reign of Charles VII (1403-1461) and Louis XI (1423-1483), the city continued to prosper and it became larger with many palaces, churches and fountains, also thanks to the government of Bishop George d’Amboise (1460-1510). The bishop’s authority was very powerful in Rouen, so that the same bishops had the power to coin money.
Occupied by the Germans in 1870 and 1940, it was badly damaged by bombing. Rouen is a centre of major artistic and historical interest, as well as industrial and commercial, with a port on the lower reaches of the Seine that is among the most important in France. The Seine River divides the city into two parts: the “Vielle Ville” (old town), surrounded by low hills, on the right, and the most modern part on the left, with residential and industrial buildings.
Rouen preserves outstanding monuments like the Cathedral of Notre Dame, one of the most beautiful Gothic churches of France, and also the churches of Saint-Maclou, Saint-Ouen and Saint-Patrice, also of Gothic style. The city is also home to various cultural institutions like the “Musée des Beaux Arts”, the Museum “Le Secq des Tournelles” and the “Musée des Antiquités”.
