Rouen – A 2025 Travel Guide to this charming French city!

Welcome to Rouen, a charming historic, medieval city on the banks of the river seine. In this travel guide, I’ll show you where the largest city in Normandy is, how to get there and what there is to do in the city, including a tour of the Cathedral, some of the keys sights including the astronomical clock and market square, as well as the Joan of Arc museum. All this can be done on a day trip, but I’d highly recommend spending a night here to truly appreciate the architecture and the change in atmosphere after sunset.

If you want to stay the night, I highly recommend my Airbnb which can be booked here: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/33662601?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=f4b33009-5e2e-45ad-8a6f-c2752a14535a

If you want to check out the audioguide tour, you can do so on the Rouen Tourism Office’s website here: https://www.visiterouen.com/offres/audio-guides-rouen-dans-les-oreilles-jeanne-darc-dans-les-oreilles-rouen-fr-4120695/

The Joan of Arc museum is a must visit on a trip to Rouen, if you want to reserve a certain time, I’d recommend purchasing a ticket in advance here: https://www.historial-jeannedarc.fr/en/visit/

Rouen is easily accessible by train from Paris Saint Lazare Station, you can check out schedules and costs for the trains here: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

All prices in the video are correct as of January 2025 at the time of the video going out and are obviously subject to change.

Chapters:
0:00 Ey up!
0:29 Location
1:00 Getting in
2:00 Getting around
2:28 Airbnb tour
4:55 Rouen Walking Tour
5:56 Rouen Cathedral
9:02 Saint Ouen Abbey
9:53 Gros Horloge Astronomical Clock
11:02 Market Square
12:30 Joan of Arc Museum
13:55 Rouen after dark
14:45 Byeeeeee

If you’ve enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and subscribe for more travel guides and vlogs. Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Rouen and if so, what did you think?

#travel #rouen #solotravel

known for its stunning medieval architecture half timbered houses and iconic Cathedral this city promises a blend of Rich history and irresistible charm walk cobblestone streets and squares tracing the legend of Joon of Arc as this city evokes French culture and Heritage at every corner I’m jetto Joe and I’m here in the Charming French city of Ruan Ruan is located in the Normandy region of northern France along the banks of the river s the city lies roughly 84 mil Northwest of Paris and is roughly 56 mil from the city of laava that lies on the English Channel Ruan is the largest city in Normandy and was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe Ruan is easy to reach by train with Ruan rivat railway station being on the main line from Paris San Lazar station a journey which takes roughly an hour and 15 minutes a 50-minute journey in the opposite direction will take you to laava on the English Channel tgv Services also link Ruan with Leon avenon and Mars If you drive in the a13 motorway links rant to Paris and the Norman city of khah the nearest International Airport is Paris B it’s located about 85 km to the east of the city this Airport’s only service by lowcost carriers like Ry a and wiiz and public transport from this airport to ran is nonexistent paris’s main airports of shal deal and oy airport are accessible although public transport connections need to be made in Paris City Center [Music] once in Ruan you’ll find the city is flat and compact it’s perfect to explore on foot the city has a tram Network consisting of two lines that run underground in the city center the tram connects the city center with the suburb south of the river sen as well as the railway station and ruan’s three brt lines that all link up in the city center [Music] I woke up fresh the following morning having arrived in Ruan from Paris by train the evening before one of my favorite things to do on holiday is get up make a coffee and get back in bed and just take 15 minutes to relax before hitting the ground running come on in let me show you around the Airbnb the kitchen was well equipped for a holiday rental with a Coffee Machine toaster microwave oven double hob and all the pots and pans needed to self cake ler this led into a living room that was flooded with light and downstairs was the bedroom with a really comfy double bed and doors out to the Terrace the bathroom and wardrobe space was a bit on the snug side but it was fine for a short stay this duplex style Studio nestled in a peaceful residential area of ran and set within one of the city’s iconic half timbered houses was absolutely stunning modern aable and immaculately clean it was also within walking distance of all the city’s attractions so what more could I ask for I’ll pop a link to it in the description below anyway let’s go see some sites but first let’s go get some breakfast I am hungry the best thing about this holiday rental was that it was right next door to Abu lingerie so fresh pastries were on order every morning and they were 0 % worth getting up early for too also please Don’t Judge Me for putting My GCSE French to use breakfast started that’s another great thing about friends is the pastries fresh pastes you look at that so good might not be the healthiest breakfast but I don’t care cuz that is hitting the spot it’s good I’ve had breakfast I’ve had a quick change feeling pretty fresh let’s go out and explore all that Ruan has to offer that morning I went from the flat over to the Ruan tourism office as the evening before i’ had booked an audio guided City and Jon of aror on a bit of a whim to get me acquainted with the place so I’ve just been and collected my audio guide tour it’s self-guided I collected it from the Ruan City tourism office and I think it cost me about 7 quid but I’ll pop the cost to the audio guide uh on the screen now for you this audio guide cost €8 from the Ruan tourism office and it takes you on a guided tour through the cities streets and sides armed with a phone style audio headset and a map that points out all the stops on the tour all you have to do is simply follow the map and key in the number on the map when you reach the relevant site easy peasy the best thing about this tour is you can take this at your own pace too soaking up the history as you walk the Charming straights the T kicked off at ruong Cathedral this imposing Gothic Cathedral immortalized by Monet’s impressionist masterpieces is dominated by its towering Spire once the tallest in the world and its Towers each built in a different architectural style the Spire is still the tallest in France Christianity has been in the city for nearly 2,000 years but this incredible Gothic Cathedral behind me was consecrated in 1063 in the presence of William Duke of Normandy who went on to become William the Conqueror of England and this isn’t the only link Ruan Cathedral has to the British Monarchy walking up to the main doors and stepping inside the sheer size of Ruan Cathedral is absolutely breathtaking as you notice all the detail and intricacies of the towers there are so many different nooks and crannies memorials altars and stunning stained glass windows to looker as light floods the cathedral from all Corners bathed in a warm glow of sunlight from the windows above lay Ruan cathedral’s next link to the British Monarchy this is the tomb of Richard the lionart king of England now his body is at fono ABI in the LA Valley but his heart was ENT tuned here at Ruan Cathedral basically leaving his heart here showing his love for the city the inscription on the tomb translates from Latin as here lies the heart of Richard King of the English who died in 1199 known as the lionart and then just across the ABY is the epit for his grandma Empress Matilda who is buried here in Ran cathedral but has a very understated um plaque just on a wall at the side of the cathedral the inscription on Empress Matilda’s Epitaph a woman who briefly claimed the English throne in 1141 during the Anarchy a bitter Civil War fought against her cousin King Steven of England for the crown translates from Latin as Matilda daughter of Henry I King of England and Normandy was the wife of Henry V Holy Roman Emperor and the mother of Henry II father of Richard the lionhart heing Ruan grandmother and Grandson one who ruled and one who wanted to lay on opposite sides of the cathedral from each [Music] other I’m not a religious person but it is a beautiful cathedral it really is following the guide through the city Santan Abby a former benedic aburn church was another major site on the trail and had some lovely gardens around it construction on this church started in 1318 and wasn’t completed until 1537 thanks to a little Skirmish called The 100 Years War the church was undergoing some restoration work at the time of my visit but that didn’t detract from its beauty it was huge inside daunting even given the fact that it was empty it was perfect to soak in the atmosphere and not feel rushed around [Music] places decided to stop and just get a little cup of coffee and also a little Nutella cake so good and I suppose that was the beauty of this being self-guided it was being able to take it at my own pace and do things on my own time including having coffee when I wanted to fully caffeinated though the toring sites continued including stopping off to see this Effigy of Monet on my way down to the gr o the ruana astronomical clock this clock dates back to the 14th century its mechanism was installed in 1389 making it one of the oldest in France and it’s located on a Renaissance style Archway that crosses the street it’s since become one of ruan’s most famous landmarks [Music] from here the tour continued and ended on the market square unlike some other European cities The Market Square actually still operates as a market and it’s also a lively hub for bars and restaurants the streets and squares around it are also filled with bars pubs and restaurants so you won’t have to go far if you’re feeling hungry or thirsty The Market Square played a key role in the medieval history of France for it was here on May the 30th 1431 that Joon of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy at the age of 19 this was following a period of imprisonment in Ruan and a trial orchestrated by the English during the 100 Years War her martyrdom upon her death made her a national symbol of French unity and resistance and she was declared a saint by the Catholic church in 1920 now I’ve been walking quite a lot today with this walking tour and I think I deserve a little treat might only have just finished my walking tour and it might only be half 1 in the afternoon but I don’t care cheers it was a beautiful day despite being early October it was 18° setting the sunshine so why not after a couple of lunchtime wines I made my way down to the Jon of Ark Museum where I’ve made an afternoon reservation for a ticket online the museum is housed in the 15th century archbishop’s Palace the very building where her trial took place it offers an immersive Journey Through History using state-of-the-art multimedia displays where visitors can explore Jon’s remarkable story from her Divine visions and Military triumphs to execution and eventual sainthood the exhibits include immersive films and reconstructions that bring the Medieval World to life the Tor is given in French but translations with the help of some of the most uncomfortable earphones known to man are available it’s a must visit destination for anyone interested in this iconic figure and her enduring impact on French history and culture J ofak Museum that was very very interesting I highly recommend the Jon of AR museum tickets cost €1 for adults and eight for children and it’s open Tuesday through Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. with the last admission being at 5:15 p.m. if you have a specific time you want to go I’d recommend reserving online in advance and if so I’ll pop a link to the website in the description below now at night Ruan taks on a complet completely different atmosphere as its bars restaurants and pups come alive what I really like about it though is the street lamps they kind of flicker they give the impression that they’re a real flame which is a really nice touch with all the timber framed buildings now what I’ve done tonight is I’ve just found myself a little wine bar glass of wine some Shak cutter some cheese and it was excellent as well just what I needed on my last night in ru there was just a different field to Ruan at night and the historical streets really had atmosphere that’s why I definitely recommend spending a night or two in Ruan you get to see a side of the city that you don’t always see during the day although and under the radar City Ruan definitely has plenty going for it for a short break especially if like me you’re into your history architecture and taking things a bit slower let me know have you been to Ruan and if so what did you think hit like if you’ve enjoyed this video or subscribe for More Travel content now I’ve had a great time here in Ruan it’s a fantastic little city and I’d highly recommend it for a night or two thanks for watching see you again soon