Rouen — Rollon's Dragon Curse

Your journey begins in the Place du Vieux-Marché, the historic heart of Rouen. This 5,000 m² square, which has served as a market since the Middle Ages and is lined with 16th-century half-timbered houses, was the scene of Joan of Arc's execution in 1431. Today, a modern church from 1979 and an equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, sculpted by Henri de Puidts in the same year, commemorate her fate. It is here that the first puzzles confront you with the legacy of Rollo, whose dragon, according to legend, still haunts the premises. Your investigation will lead you to the Donjon de Rouen, built around 1205 by Philip Augustus, where Joan of Arc was imprisoned in 1431. 35 meters high, this cylindrical tower, classified as a Historic Monument in 1877, is the remnant of Rouen Castle, demolished in the 19th century.

After exploring the Donjon, your quest directs you to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, a Gothic masterpiece whose construction began in 1030 and whose nave was completed around 1280. Its 151-meter spire, added in 1876, dominates the urban landscape. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1862, it houses an archaeological crypt open to the public since 1993, revealing Carolingian remains from the 9th century. Claude Monet immortalized this cathedral in his series of 26 paintings between 1892 and 1894, offering an artistic vision of Norman heritage. Every stone of this edifice whispers secrets, from the clues hidden in Monet's painted details to the millennia-old foundations.

Your path then leads you to the Église Saint-Ouen de Rouen, a former Benedictine abbey founded in the 7th century by Saint Ouen. Built primarily between 1318 and 1430 in the Rayonnant Gothic style, it is distinguished by its length of 137 meters and the height of its vaults of 33 meters. Its monumental organ from 1890, classified in 2005, still resonates with the mysteries of the past. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1840, this church will present you with new challenges, where the history of Normandy intertwines with legends. You will have to decipher ancient symbols that could reveal the next step in your hunt for Rollo's dragon.

The adventure continues towards the Palais de Justice de Rouen, a major UNESCO World Heritage site since 2015, as part of the Seine Normandie fluvial landscape. A former archbishop's palace, it was rebuilt between 1495 and 1525, its Renaissance facade having been restored after damage in 1944. It was here, over a covered area of 6,000 m², that Joan of Arc's trial took place in 1431. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1862, this place is steeped in intense judicial history. Your route then takes you to the Rue du Gros-Horloge, a 300-meter paved pedestrian street, connecting the Place du Vieux-Marché to the Place de la Cathédrale, lined with 15th-16th century half-timbered houses. The Gros-Horloge arch, a Gothic belfry built in 1389-1398 with its astronomical clock from 1529, is a landmark visited by over a million people annually.

By completing your thematic circuit in the city of art and history of Rouen, you will have unraveled the threads of the legend of Rollo's dragon, while traversing centuries of history. From the Carolingian remains of the Cathedral to the half-timbered houses of the Vieux-Marché, each site will have revealed a facet of the Capital of Normandy. You will have discovered the history of Joan of Arc, Gothic architecture, and artistic influences such as those of Claude Monet. This GPS treasure hunt will leave you with a deep understanding of Norman heritage and the richness of Rouen, a city that has preserved its historic monuments while looking to the future, offering an enriching interactive visit for families and history enthusiasts.