Notre Dame Rouen (officially called Primate Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption), seat of the Archdiocese of the same city, was built in the historic center from the twelfth century.
The building is built on the foundations of a first basilica of the fourth century affected by the Viking invasions and a eleventh novel set whose crypt has been preserved.
Norman Gothic style, the cathedral remains close to the high Archbishop's Palace in the same period.
This masterpiece of architecture is particularly famous for its lantern tower located at the crossing with the cast arrow conducted in 1876 rises to 151 m high. An earlier wooden arrow Renaissance was burned by lightning in 1822.
This makes it the highest French cathedral and Europe, only the cathedrals of Cologne and Ulm are higher.
Its width is also exceptional, with a western facade of 61 m. This proves asymmetric elsewhere and was completed in the sixteenth century. Also famous for the series of 28 paintings that Monet devoted to him at different times of day and in varied bright hues, it houses in the ambulatory of the graves of the former dukes of Normandy, like that of Rollo, founder of the duchy. As for the English King Richard the Lion Heart, who loved the city, he made his heart drop into the crypt after his death.
Completed the first time in 1250 following a project conducted in record time (the faithful who often helped workers particularly during maneuvers trucks), then revised several times to gain in width and size, Cathedral had to Rouen suffer during the wars of Religion, but was only slightly affected by bombing in 1944. and again in 1999, during the storm, a bell tower collapsed and damaged part of the nave and choir stalls located below.
Richly furnished and decorated, it retains stained glass windows like the entire building, turn out a summary of the history of art.
Open every day. Free visit free. Guided tour and visit the crypt: 2 euros. Information at +33 2 35 71 85 65 or +33 2 32 08 32 40.
