Funfair Saint-Romain One would expect Rouen to be grey and dull during autumn, yet suddenly, every year the river bank transforms into a wonderland of lights, laughter and joy.  The air is filled with the sweet aromas of BBQ, pastries and candy, to make your mouth water and the hips wider. Young and old flock in their hundreds to enjoy the second biggest Funfair in France, only behind the “Foire... 

Flower Power Being both a botanical and landscape garden, the “Jardin des Plantes de Rouen” is worth a visit. Boasting an orangery, rose garden, several greenhouses, statues and in particular a runic stone from Denmark. Originally forest land, the first owner (Louis de Carel) built a walled garden and pavilion in 1691. Consecutively over the years it had a few owners, including Napoleon who acquired... 

What are they smoking? by Jaco Seyffert I never really noticed the Boieldieu Bridge whilst driving over it during my day to day commuting, but after the city of Rouen decided to shut down this main traffic artery, that links the right bank to the left bank of the city and commission an artist to construct a massive piece of orange art on it, I was convinced that someone in city hall must be smoking... 

Giving colour to a monument by Jaco Seyffert How do you transform a national monument into a piece of art, without a drop of paint? Easy… you wait until it is dark and bombarded it with colour. Now most of us would react with horror and absolute disgust to disfigure an architectural wonder with the whole spectrum and flamboyance of the rainbow., but rest assured. The French has not gone completely... 

“Joie de Vivre” by Jaco Seyffert A warm Summers Sunday on a terrace and I am slowly savouring my “Café Latté”  on one of the most picturesque squares in France; The Vieux Marché. Surrounded by typical Norman architecture, I have to smile as a group of Japanese tourists walk by, taking photos of everything and everyone. I hope I smiled. The plump flower seller did, whilst drying her hands... 

Monet seen from the sky by Jaco Seyffert This Summer, the region of Normandy will be hosting the first international “Normandie Impressionniste” festival From paintings, showcasing the works of Claude Monet, Sisley, Turner and many other impressionist artists, but also contemporary art through cinema, theatre, dance, photography, literature, as well as light shows and firework displays. Rouen in...