Day 4-Rouen

Rouen The place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431.

Rouen is subject to tides as this section of the river is the estuary. The tides rise up to 24 feet.  Because of its location on the river the bridgeswere bombed during the 2nd world war. Below is a picture as an example of what was left following heavy bombing.

Founded by the Romans, Rouen is situated amidst chalk cliffs. It started in 6,000BC and is now  the second largest city in France and today the 4^th largest port. It hosts 700 charming half-timbered houses of the old town. and the beautiful  Notre Dame Catherdral which  Claude Monet painted  approximately 24 times. “The city of a Hundred Spires”

In the picture below of this square you can see a grassy section. This is 4 mass graves of bones taken from the surrounding buildings. The bodies are from the 1348 plague where 5 million died out of 12 million. 

 You can see the bodies in the windows and coming down the chutes being stuffed into the first floor building.

Later The buildings in this square were cleared of the bodies, had a second floor added and made into a school.  I can honestly say I don’t believe I would be going to school here…

The fun buildings of the town and a little shop to stop and get a cake.

This church was started in 1400 and finished in 1520. With its Gothic style and windows that span to 90 feet, creating the illusion of being closer to God.  I learned that you read these windows bottom to top and left to right. It has 5 entrances  and rises 490 feet high. In 1939 a lot of the windows had been removed in preparation of the bombings.  Half the city, including the church, was heavily bombed in the war killing 450 people.

In the pictures you can see long pieces of wood used to support the church as it was rebuilt. About  5 million out of 15 million lost their lives in the first plague in 1348.

The clock that you see in the square is built in the 16^th century and had only one hand by design. It also had the days under the face.  Such a beautiful clock.

The different people dressed in various costumes are the young ones that are going to get married.  They go into the square with their wedding party and parade around.  What a fun ritual!

Joan of Arc was born in 1412. She is known for hearing divine voices and visions to drive out the English and bringing Charles VII of France to Reims. She was given a small army which she lead to several important victories.  In 1430 without the support of the King she fought the English and was captured by the Bouruignon soldiers and she was sold to the English for equivalent of $10 million today.

She was dressed as a man and that was considered heretical. Her clothes were taken away but were given back by the not so nice guards and when the bishop saw that she was still dressed like that, he committed her to be burned May 30, 1431 at the stake in the Old Market Square.  She was only 19 years old. Her ashes were thrown into the Seine to be forgotten; but as a martyrshe was revered and remembered.  In 1920 she became a saint.

The modern church that surrounds the stake is designed to represent the flames of the fire.

So our next day is really exciting to me as we are off to Normandy.
Au revoir...