Hotels in Rouen

With its rich cultural heritage and fascinating history, the city of Rouen is a fantastic holiday destination. Home to a lively bar scene, an ample array of attractions and plenty of first-rate eateries, it's a city begging for exploration on foot. Navigate the city's charming and centuries-old streets before heading over to explore Joan of Arc's execution site in the storied central square. It’s a unique city that not only shaped France but also influenced England’s Middle Ages. Follow the medieval trail entombed in the Notre Dame Cathedral to find King Richard I's embalmed heart.

The city has a wide range of exciting hotels and hostels for tourists to stay. Accommodation types include just about everything, ranging from big-name chains to smaller independent boutiques. The Medieval Quarter in the city has an array of period hotels, like the renowned 15th-century Hotel de Bourgtheroulde. Outside the city's central area, you can find budget hotels and attractive apart-hotels.

Neighbourhoods of Rouen

This is among Normandy's most impressive medieval cities. As such, the city has a wide range of delightful neighbourhoods, including historic quarters and charming areas along the riverside:

• Medieval Quarter: For beautifully preserved 15th-century timber buildings, head to the Medieval Quarter (Vieux Rouen). Some of the buildings on rue du Gros Horloge date back as far as Joan of Arc's period.
• Carmes Saint-Maclou: The city's eastern region offers a plentiful selection of boutiques, shops, and cafes. There's also an impressive gothic church that's well worth a visit, too.
• Saint-Sever: This region, south of the river, is primarily industrial. However, there are also several fine historical attractions, like Saint-Sever church. This area is also where you'll find Rouen-Orléans station.

What to see and do in Rouen

Rouen boasts an impressive variety of historic buildings and heritage attractions. As it's the site of Joan of Arc’s execution, you should also visit Place du Vieux-Marché, where Joan of Arc's burning took place. Today, the Église Jeanne d’Arc church stands marking the spot with its alluring circular stained-glass windows. The Historial Jeanne d'Arc museum details Joan's life and legend. You'll find Cathédrale Notre Dame right next door, too. This 12th-century cathedral boasts an impressive number of treasures, not least, the heart of Richard I. Another magnificent religious building is in Abbatiale St-Ouen, a 14th-century abbey with sublime interiors. The city is a famed literary and artistic hub, so you should undoubtedly view the fantastic artwork on display at Musée des Beaux-Arts. Next to the art museum is Musée Le Secq des Tournelles, another museum with exceptional metalworks on display. At sunrise, every Monet fan should head up Colline Sainte-Catherine, a pretty hill with excellent city views that Monet famously painted.

What to eat in Rouen

Rouen offers a rich and eclectic range of restaurants, ranging from typical Normandy fare to globally-inspired flavour and vegetarian treats. Look out for these regional treats:

• Canard à la rouennaise, a complex duck dish that involves a unique pressing device.
• Mirlitons de Rouen, an almond tartlet.
• The classic chicken dish escalope à la Normande.
• Lapin au cidre - rabbit braised in French cider.

Typical events and festivals in Rouen

Like many other French cities, Rouen offers plenty of exciting festivals and events, including:

• National celebrations like Bastille Day and Carnaval.
• A delightful Christmas market and festivities through December.
• The Joan of Arc Festival in May. This featured fun parades and plentiful period costumes.
• Numerous film festivals. These include Elles font leur cinéma in March, A l'Est du Nouveau in April, and This is England in November.
• A rare Rouen Armada every five years. This is among the largest such events in Europe.

How to move around in Rouen

Rouen is a very compact city, most particularly if you stick around the old town. Navigating on foot is quick and convenient. The local cycle-sharing app, Cy’clic, is an easy-to-use scheme that's free for the first 30 minutes. Most other city areas connect via the metro light rail system, which runs right through its centre. If you want to explore the broader region of Normandy', it's best to hire a car. However, the buses link to all the other districts if you prefer not to drive yourself.

The climate in Rouen

Rouen has a temperate oceanic climate. Summers are generally warm, with temperatures peaking around 25° C. The city is generally rainy and windy all year round, especially in autumn and winter. The weather is best between June and September, which also coincides with the region's peak travel times.