Laura-Jane Adventures

As I write this I am sitting in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport reflecting on my last few days in one of Normandy’s largest cities – Rouen. The city lies on the river Seine and is characterised by its many churches and cathedrals. My friend Marianne, whom I was visiting, likes to remind me it is the city of one hundred clocks. Every hour the air is filled with the sound of chimes.

The reason for my visit is because Marianne is Au Pairing in Rouen, looking after three energetic young girls who are blessed with parents who clearly push them to learn and get involved in various activities. I took the chance to come and visit her whilst I am off on winter break from university. The family she is working for kindly allowed me to stay and spoiled me with their time and two lovely dinners. It’s fair to say I feel very lucky to have been able to stay with them.

If you are looking for a place in France to visit, that neither feels too big or too small, then I’d say Rouen is the place for you. It is not too far from Paris and FlixBus is a great way to get to and from Paris airport. A couple of days here will allow you to experience french life without the hustle and bustle of Paris. This was my second time visiting and I would definitely return.

The town is arguably most famous for the ‘Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen’ which was opened in 1876. The detail on the cathedral is incredible.

Then a short work from Rouen’s Norte Dame is Gros Horloge, which is a beautiful astronomical clock from the fourteenth century. It is located right in the heart of Rouen’s centre and surrounded by some lovely little shops. This trip for me was a budget trip and these little boutiques made it very hard to refrain from spending money I didn’t have. However, if visiting I would say you will probably find something you like here so bring some extra space in your suitcase and some spending money.

When it comes to dining in the town there are endless options. Not so many for vegetarians but you are in France so it’s expected. Nevertheless, you will have access to endless pastries and every type of cuisine you could want. My favourite places in Rouen which I have visited multiple times whilst staying in the city are; Citizen Coffee and Bolibol. Citizen Coffee boasts the best caramel macchiato I have ever tasted and the locals love it for their coffee. Bolibol is a very quaint little restaurant that specialises in Buddha Bowls – they are delicious.

Rouen is definitely the place if you are looking for a relaxed, take your time, type of travel. At first glance there may not appear to be too much to do but if you know what you like to see as a tourist then it is what you make it. One of the things I love to do even when visiting my own city is go to galleries and museums. My personal favourite in Rouen is ‘Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen’ which is the Museum of Fine Arts. It is free and has some beautiful pieces. Me and Marianne loved exploring the collections.

So that’s just a few of the things Rouen has to offer. A massive thank you to Marianne and her host family for letting me stay with them. If you are interested in Rouen also check out Culture Trip as they have a few good posts on the city.

Lots of love,

Laura Jane.