Why Rouen?
It was an easy day trip from Paris, also I wanted to see Mont St. Michel (namesake and all) but after researching how to get there I realised it wasn’t going to fit my schedule. Rouen, like St Michel, is part of Normandy region located in the northern part of France.
Side note, if you’ve ever seen that creparie photo with the blue door, it’s located in this place. Unfortunately, it was a Monday when we went and apparently most establishments close, this one included.
How did you get here?
It was an easy train ride from Gare St. Lazare, tickets were purchased online in advance and they cost EUR20 round trip.
What did you do here?
Train prices are usually higher than what we paid for but the fact that we bought them 3 months in advance and the departure time is early in the day (9am) probably helped. We arrived in Rouen at 10am and found it to be a small town, not like Paris I mean, this doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. It was too early to see what’s around so we had breakfast first at Citizen Coffee which is described to be a hipster place (-_-) at least they spoke English AND their french toast is to die for.
After breakfast most of the establishments were open and we went walked around, their architectural style is Gothic (reminded me of Prague) but I prefer French Baroque (think Versailles) I didn’t realise most shops, museums, and local attractions close on a Monday but the upside was (depende how you see it) we arrived during their sale season.
For lunch we ate at this quaint B&B inn and I wish I could say their food was remarkable but it was just ok. The inn was beautiful though, when you enter the gates you go into this square surrounded by plants and trellis, the walls of the building beautifully painted green. At close to 5pm we headed back to Paris.
What’s the one thing you recommend/most memorable moment in this place?
I would’ve wanted to see Joan of Arc’s museum :(, crepes at La Régalière, and a photo of the Astronomical clock.
it begins with a step 