Château Gaillard - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Rouen, situated on the banks of the River Seine, is Normandy’s vibrant, historic and cultural capital. Wandering around the old town of Rouen, visitors will enjoy the historical ambience found in the winding cobblestone lanes, which are lined with maisons à colombages. Today, it deserves a visit for its monuments, Gothic art being particularly well represented, but also for the charm of its alleyways and the many half-timbered houses there are.

Notre-Dame de Rouen cathedral is a monument where you can read all the evolution of Gothic art. The construction of the building was undertaken in the middle of the 12th century, on the site of the Romanesque cathedral whose crypt has been preserved. The facade thus represents a precious testimony of the evolution of Gothic art from the middle of the 12th century to the beginning of the 16th century.

Le Gros-Horloge is a beautifully decorated astronomical clock that was made in the year of 1389. It is one of the oldest working clocks in Europe. This popular tourist landmark in the old town of Rouen is flanked by a Gothic belfry from the 14th century. It was heavily damaged during the second world war. Above the clock face, a globe shows the phases of the moon. Many depictions of sheep show the importance of the wool trade. it was one of the prime attractions in this area.

This 19th century majestic fine arts museum was established by Napoleon I. One of the richest and most visited museums in France which has an extensive and varied collection of painting, sculpture, drawing, and decorative arts in 63 rooms. The museum's exceptional Depeaux collection, consisting of paintings donation in 1909, places it at the forefront of French provincial museums for Impressionism. It is one of the worth visit places in this area.

This vertical lift bridge across the Seine in Normandy is 56 metres tall and 55 metres long. Its deck is lifted straight up by a butterfly-shaped pulley system so tall ships can pass through. It takes 12 minutes to raise the section. It is the highest drawbridge in the world. The length of the pulling part of the bridge is 116 meters, and its general extent is much greater and reaches 670 meters. The unique design features enable the traffic of ships of various sizes.

A majestic castle which was A jewel of French Renaissance architecture built by Philippe l'Orme in 1548. There is a sign of every renowned architects of that time. it underwent considerable and magnificent enlargement in the future and It is now one of the notable architecture in this area. The château is especially noted for its exterior, notably the Fountain of Diana is also the main attraction here.