Église St-Ouen, Rouen
Aerial view of Église St-Ouen. Image © Google Earth.
View of St-Ouen from the Hôtel de Ville. Photo
Richard Groult. 
Église St-Ouen from the east. Photo
duimdog. 
Lantern tower of Église St-Ouen. Photo
sarutora.
Details of the splendid Gothic facade. Photo
pjryan3.
Bare interior of the abbey church. Photo
duimdog.The Église St-Ouen is a beautiful example of High Gothic architecture located next to the imposing Hôtel de Ville in Rouen, Normandy. Once part of an abbey, the church is so grand that it might easily be mistaken for Rouen Cathedral.
History
The Abbaye St-Ouen is the outgrowth of a 7th-century Benedictine abbey and represents the work of five centuries. The nave of the abbey church dates from the 15th century, its choir from the 14th (with 18th-century railings), and its stained glass from the 14th to the 16th centuries.
It was to St. Ouen's cemetery that Joan of Arc was taken on May 23, 1431, and sentenced to be burned at the stake unless she recanted. She signed an abjuration, condemning herself to life imprisonment, but that sentence was later revoked.
What to See
The Church of St-Ouen is larger than Rouen Cathedral and has much less exterior decoration, so the vast Gothic proportions and purity of its lines make an immediate impact on the viewer.
Flanked by four turrets, the 115m (375-ft.) octagonal lantern tower of St. Ouen Church has been dubbed "the ducal crown of Normandy."
The stained glass windows, dating from the 14th to 16th centuries, are the most spectacular features of the spare interior. The 19th-century pipe organ is among the finest in France.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Église St-Ouen; Church of St. Ouen |
| Type of site: | Abbey church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Date: | 14th and 15th centuries |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
| Location: | Place du Général-de-Gaulle |
| Phone: | 02-32-08-31-01 |
| Hours: | Mar-Oct Wed-Mon 10am-12:30pm and 2-6pm; Nov-Feb Wed and Sat-Sun 10am-12:30pm and 2-4pm |
| Cost: | Free |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of St-Ouen. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Rouen Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Darwin Porter, Frommer's France 2007 (October 2006).
- Rough Guide to France 9 (April 2005), 396.
