Inside
Who better to ask than a local on their inside scoop of the city? We all know that the locals know their city best and here at the Rouen Normandy Tourism and Congress we have asked Jaco Seyffert who is the River and Ocean Development Manager for his advice on what to do and not to miss when you are in the Capital city of Normandy for 24 hours.
I am not a native from Rouen, but moved here 10 years ago when I fell in love with the city whist visiting it on holiday. The history of the city was the first that captured my attention and I was immediately drawn to delve deeper and discover its rich and sometimes surprising past.
So much
to discover
For most people that come and visit the city for the first time, the not to be missed are the Cathedral, the place where Joan of Arc were burned at the stake, the Fine arts Museum and The Big Clock. Yet, there are so much more to discover and one needs more than a day to really discover the city.
A hidden gem that I recently discovered is the relic of Saint Olaf that is on display in one of the chapels in the Cathedral. This Viking is credited for bringing Christianity back to his kingdom in Norway and is very dear to his people. King Harald V of Norway, offered this precious relic of Saint Olaf to the cathedral as a gift to strengthen the cultural links between Norway and Normandy.
Markets,
food and drink
I love food and one of my favourite things to do in the city is to wonder around the many markets in the city centre. The colours and perfumes of fresh fruit & vegetables and the displays of the finest French cheeses at the Old Market Square – especially those from Normandy – will surely make your stomach scream for a treat. I usually grab myself some local Camembert and a baguette, still hot from the oven, find myself a calm spot on the banks of the Seine, and spoil myself to a Norman treat, whilst peacefully watching the world sail by on the river.
A restaurant that I can strongly suggest is the restaurant La Place. The owner is the two times Michelin starred, Gilles Tournadre, that serves great quality food. A must try is the starter “The La Place salmon sushi” and their signature burger “Le Burger Place” served with homemade fries, this is gorgeous.
Old Square Market
