Rouen

Cathedral of Rouen

Rouen is a city in the north of France. It has about 110,000 inhabitants.

First settlements in that region were from the 6th century before Christ. The Romans founded Rotomagus about 100 A.D.. Since 384 Rouen is the seat of a bishop. In 841 the Vikings conquered Rouen. It became the capitol of the Duchy of Normandy. In 1204 the French king reconquered Rouen. In 1419 the English crown (Henry V of England) conquered the city in the 100-year War between France and England. On May, 30th of 1431 Jeanne D'Arc (the Virgin of Orleans) was burned in Rouen. In 1494 the French got the city back. In 1834 the railway connection Paris-Rouen was opened. Rouen was occupied by the Germans in the Franco-German War of 1870 to 1873 and in both World Wars. In the World War II many buildings were destroyed.

Rouen has a great marine harbor 60 km from the city. Tourism, transportation, the colleges and the university are most important economic factors.

The university of Rouen has about 40,000 students.

Museums

• The Musée des beaux-arts is the museum of art of the city
• The Musée maritime fluvial et portuaire is a museum about the history of the port of the city and the navigation