In my view, heaven is in France.

This adorable tea-room situated smack in the centre of the historic heart of Rouen, will melt your heart with its tempting cakes, tarts and above all its heavenly hot chocolate.

The building was previously the workshop of artist and ironworker Ferdinand Marrou and the owners of Dame Cakes have turned it into a chic and romantic culinary getaway.

Charming service with a big smile, it will make you feel like you are visiting your favourite aunt that spoils you rotten with love and sugar. On your way out you can buy some gifts and take back a few sweet delights for gifts or as a special treat for yourself…

Dame Cakes

Monday to Saturday 10h00 – 19h00

70 Rue Saint-Romain, Rouen

+33 2 35 07 49 31

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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 du trône” in Paris. Legend has it that the seventh century Bishop of Rouen (Romain) slayed a fierce dragon here and since the eleventh century, the people of Rouen celebrated this historic event by having a fair.

If it is fun and laughter you are after, or the thrill of experiencing heart stopping rides, then this must be on your agenda.

http://www.foirestromain.fr/

Left bank of the River Seine, Rouen.
22 October 2010 – 21 November 2010.

Open 7 days a week

Monday to Thursday: 13h30 - 23h30
Friday to Sunday: 13h30 - 1h00

Image from Le Blog de Rouen

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 it in 1811, but eventually the municipality of Rouen purchased the land in 1832 for its botanical garden that was opened for the first time to the public in 1840.

Jardin des Plantes de Rouen

114 Avenue des Martyrs de la Résistance
76100 Rouen
02 32 18 21 30

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This tower is one of the last remnants of the dungeon and castle originally built by Philippe Auguste in Rouen in 1204 and later demolished by Henry IV in 1594.

Today it is called the Tower of Joan of Arc or La Tour JEANNE D’ARC in French, where legend has it; she was imprisoned and tortured just before her burning at the stake.

The tower was restored in the nineteenth century by the architect Desmarest and is today one of the most visited sites in Rouen and open to the public.
A permanent exhibition presents the history of the castle of Rouen and the significant figures that shaped its history.
The first floor is devoted to the military architecture of Philip Augustus and presents a model of the castle of Rouen in the 13th century.
Another model of the city of Rouen in the 15th century is on display on the second floor.

61 Rue du Bouvreuil
76000 Rouen
02 35 98 16 21

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by Jaco Seyffert

When in France… well, have wine!!! And it is exactly what we did. After a long day of sightseeing in Rouen we needed to rest the old feet and have a good old glass of French inspiration.

Situated on a pedestrian street and surrounded by many antiques shops, we happen to stumble upon “Garde Robe Wine Bar”. What a great find it was indeed. We were immediately welcomed to pick our table on the terrace and was served with a great big Rouen welcome.

It was difficult to choose the right wine, seeing that we were all foreigners, but our waiter recommended and steered us into to right direction. Not only did we enjoy the wine, but indulged ourselves by ordering a second bottle, accompanied by a cheese and delicatessen platter.

I higly recommend this wine bar and even go as far to say it is a “must do”. Hop over for drinks with friends or family or just to taste the exquisite cheeses from the region.

Le Garde Robe

11, Rue Père Adam, 76000 Rouen

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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 something stronger than Marlboro during their lunch hour.

Curiosity did get the better of me though, I parked my car; grabbed my happy snappy and took a brisk stroll over to the bridge to inspect this phenomena up-close.

Bingo – I was caught. The piece of art named “Camille” was created by Belgian born artist Arne Quinze and was fashioned to lure the public into discovering the other side of the Seine River – which I can now proudly say I did.

As in the artists own words;  “I have named the bridge Camille, because it is also an emotional story as it is a reference to Claude Monet’s wife Camille. Moreover, this name is a tribute to Camille Pissaro, who painted the bridge several times as he considered it as an important beacon in the city of Rouen.”

If you want to read more about the artist go check him out HERE

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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 graffiti crazy, but instead blasted the Museé des Beaux Arts with a projection of light.

An absolute visual delight brings this 19th century building alive with the sight and sound of the Impressionists master pieces. Seeing the celebrated Rue Saint-Denis by Claude Monet come alive in all its vivid colours of Red White and blue as if he is actually busy painting it, gave me a new appreciation for this illustrious master

This is a must see! Every night until the 26 September.  It starts at 23h00 in July, 22h30 in August and 22h00 in September.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen‎
1 Place Restout
76000 Rouen

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Photo by Facebook Group * La Réserve * - * Wine & Cocktail Bar *

I just stumbled upon this very cute little restaurant-wine bar on the corner of Place du Vieux Marché. The décor in surprisingly funky colours and leopard print, but dump the plastic plants outside guys.

We sat down for a quick bite, but ended up spending almost two hours on the terrace watching the fab and the drab walk by. Our waiter, a very attractive and charming red head was extremely helpful and friendly, giving us the best service with a huge smile, although a bit out of breath from running in between all his cheerful clients in the heat of day. Feeling ravenous, I decided to try their speciality “La Réserve Club Sandwich” and my friend the “New York Club Sandwich”, good portions washed down with a bottle of red wine. We finished off our superb meal with two Espressos. I will defiantly be going back just to try the other choices on the menu, the bruschettas looked more than scrumptious, or enjoy a few glasses of wine at the bar. I give it a big thumbs up for service, food and above all, good value for money. La Réserve 57, Place du Vieux Marché 76000 – ROUEN 02 35 70 25 22 <
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by Jaco Seyffert

Another of France’s great architectural wonders, famous for its Gothic architecture, impressive Cavaillé-Coll organ and its 115 meters high octagonal tower (dubbed the ducal crown of Normandy).

The first bricks were laid in the early 14^th century that will eventually measure 137 meters long, under 33 meters high vaults. Sadly construction were abruptly halted during the Hundred Year’s War and she was badly damaged during the Rouen revolt in 1382, known as the “Harelle”, caused by constant warfare, high taxation, poverty and the plague.

Now named after Saint Ouen the Archbishop of Rouen who was buried there, it was curiously dedicated to Saint Peter in the beginning.

The first thing that caught my eye were her well preserved stained glass windows dating back from the original construction in the 14^th century to 16^th century.

In 1890 Aristide Cavaillé-Coll added the large four-manual pipe organ, considered to be one of the finest and important organs in France.

This is a “must do” for any visitor to Normandy…

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by Jaco Seyffert

The morbid history of this haunting building dates back to the Great Plague in the mid 14th century.During the great plague of 1348, two thirds of Europe’s population would die in this devastating pandemic. Rouen was not spared, this previously flourishing city, were dealt an irreversible blow and sank to a mere shadow of her former prosperity.

With cemeteries full a new site was constructed – The Great Saint Aître Maclou, to house the many dead and dying.
The three galleries surrounding the cemetery were built almost two centuries later, between 1526 and 1533 to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains.
The sinister décor on the buildings, depict human skulls and bones, gravedigger tools and objects of worship in the burial rites.
More strangely, is the skeleton of a black cat, discovered in a wall. Belief at the time was, that it was the Devil and was placed there alive, to ward off evil and bad luck

Although its dark history, it now houses the Regional School of Fine Arts

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