Rouen was
founded by the Romans who called it Rotomagus. It was the capital of the province
of Neustria until it was overrun by
the Norsemen who made it the capital o fthe Duchy of Normandy. Rouen
was taken by the French King Philippe Auguste in 1203. Joan of Arc was burned
at the stake here in 1431.
The Musée de la Céramique features numerous exhibits of
ceramic art, among these are a showcase of the works of Masseot Abaquesne. The
Musée des Beaux-Arts has pieces from Rubens, Caravaggio, Poussin, Corot and
others. There is an entire area devoted to the works of Géricault, and included
amongst them is a portrait of Delacroix. There are several Impressionist works
here as well, including several versions of the Rouen Cathedral by Monet. The Musée Jeanne-d'Arc focuses on the life
and martyrdom of Joan of Arc. The
vaulted cellar contains dioramas and wax sculptures which depict her life from
her birth in Domremy, to her death in the Rouen
square where she was burned at the stake.
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen is probably best known by
being immortalized by Monet in a series of Impressionist paintings. Porte
Central, the main door, is surrounded with sculptures depicting the Tree of
Jesus. The church was consecrated in
1063, but was the victim of bombings during World War II, and reconstructed
following the war.
Mont Saint Michel
Le Mont-Saint-Michel is a rocky, cone-shaped islet in the Gulf
of Saint-Malo, connected by a
causeway with the mainland. The islet, celebrated for its Benedictine abbey,
has small houses and shops on its lowest level. Above these stand the monastic
buildings, many of which date from the 13th century and are considered
outstanding examples of Gothic architecture. The entire islet is crowned by the
abbey church, about 240 ft above sea level. The visitor can visit
shops and museums in the medieval style village below, before ascending to the
abbey and enjoying the magnificent view it gives of the surrounding bay and
countryside.