The visit of tall ships, the Armada, takes place every five years or so and is a spectacular sight along the quays of the River Seine in Rouen. Crowds throng the quaysides to visit the many stalls, see the ships, even go aboard some of them, and enjoy the festivities. The 7th Armada has just taken place in June 2019.

Rouen has a medieval centre with many half-timbered buildings (colombages), Gothic churches, including Notre Dame cathedral, the modern church of Joan of Arc with its stained glass windows, and the medieval necropolis of Aître St Maclou (which is currently undergoing restoration). Some of these images are linked to a website.

Apart from a wealth of museums and monuments Rouen is a thoroughly modern city hosting festivals of all sorts, musical events and activities on the Seine. This is England is a festival of British-made short films held in November and organised by the Rouen-Norwich-Club.

Being in Normandy, Rouen is a great centre for gastronomy and local producer markets.

Getting round Rouen by hire bike, bus or tram is easy - and doesn't cost much! Rouen station dates from the 1920s but has been recently modernised inside. You can cross the Seine by ferry to La Bouille.

Visit some of the castles and abbeys along the Seine or not far from Rouen... St Georges-en-Boscherville, Arques-la-Bataille, Chateau Martainville, Chateau Vascoeil, the ruins of Jumièges, the castle of Dieppe.

These cuttings from the Eastern Daily Press dating from the 1950s show the enthusiasm of both cities for twinning and the large number of individuals and groups who went on visits and exchanges. The Twinning Charter was signed in 1959. In 2019 Rouen and Norwich are celebrating 60 years of twinning! Click on an image to see a more complete version.
Courtesy of Archant/Eastern Daily Press