Book a cheap hotel in Rouen

Rouen sits on the edge of the River Seine in Northern France, in the region of Upper Normandy, of which it is the capital. It is also the historic capital city of Normandy. Placed between Paris and the English Channel, the city has a population of 110,000 while its metropolitan area includes some 520,000 inhabitants.

Rouen became the Norman capital from 912 until the time of William the Conqueror. With easy access to the sea through the Seine, it became a prosperous trading city and port, exporting wine and wheat to England and importing tin and wool in return. During the Hundred Years War Rouen and the surrounding area were conquered by Henry V of England in 1419, eventually resulting in Joan of Arc’s burning at the stake, before Charles VII recaptured the city in 1449. The Wars of Religion in the 16th century saw some brutal battles between the Protestants and Catholics in the city. Rouen was badly damaged in WWII with its cathedral narrowly escaped total destruction. Today it is a thriving city offering visitors a beautifully restored town centre.

A two-day trip
Two days is the perfect amount of time to r get to know Rouen. Premiere Classe Rouen Nord – Bois Guillaume Hotel, Premiere Classe Rouen Ouest – Petit Quevilly Hotel, Premiere Classe Rouen Sud - Oissel Rond Point aux Vaches Hotel and Premiere Classe Rouen Sud – Zenith – Pacr Expo Hotel are all just a short taxi ride away from the city centre. Rouen is most famous for its Notre Dame Cathedral and its façade painted by Monet so make sure that is your first stop. After this visit the spot where Joan of Arc was buried at the stake, then check out Palais de Justice, once the seat of the Parliament of Normandy. Why not end the day admiring the view from the top of la Grosse Horloge (‘the big clock’). There are plenty of museums around the centre mapping out the history of the city so spend day two exploring these. Highlights include musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, showcasing work from Monet, and the museum dedicated to the life of writer Gustave Flaubert, born in the city.

A one-week break
If you have a week then not only can you get to know Rouen perfectly but you can also visit the surrounding region of Upper Normandy. The Upper Normandy coastline has stunning views with dramatic white cliffs dropping to lovely beaches. The Alabaster Coast is particular stunning for cliff top walks. The region is also home to the Boucles de la Seine Nature Park, an 81,000 acre protected area of natural beauty. A day or two spent here offers the perfect getaway from the city of Rouen.

A family holiday
Rouen is a great place to take the whole family! The Jardin des Plantes de Rouen is a scenic botanical garden, dating back to 1840, that all the family will enjoy. While situated just north of Rouen is the Parc de Cleres, a 53 hectare zoo that will keep everyone entertained for a day.

Transport
Rouen can be reached by car from Paris on the A13, from the channel port city of Dieppe on the N27 and from the French end of the Eurotunnel on the E402. The city is served by its Gare de Rouen-Rive-Droite train station which has regular trains to major French cities while Rouen Airport serves both major European and domestic destinations. Transportation in the city is very good with both a tram and bus system. And with all these Premiere Classe hotels nearby, your stay is guaranteed to be hassle-free.

Gastronomy
Staying in Rouen gives you the perfect opportunity to feast on the famous food of Normandy. The region has many traditional dishes with some of the favourites including ‘duckling a la roué rouennaise' (duck in a red wine sauce), ‘goose en daube’ (goose casserole), ‘rabbit a la havraise’ (rabbit stuffed with truffled pigs’ trotters), larded calf’s liver braised with carrots and veal in cream and mushrooms. The region is also famous for its pastries, being the birthplace of ‘brioche’. ‘Douillons’ (pears baked in pastry) are another favourite of the region.

Special events
There is often plenty of events going in Rouen in the calendar year. The most famous is the Joan of Arc Festival held the last weekend of May which celebrates the famous Rouen resident and much-loved French saint. The downtown centre is turned into a medieval town complete with troubadours, fire-eaters, and craftsmen populating the area. The Rouen Film Festival, held at the end of every March, seeks to highlight French films that are previously unreleased while there is also a Christmas market each year in November and December held around the city’s famous cathedral. You can buy just about anything there from cheese and handcrafted items to flowers and fresh pancakes.

Interesting fact
The heart of Richard the Lionheart is entombed in the Chapelle de la Vierge, in the cathedral, as a tribute to the city he held in such high esteem.

Useful links
http://www.rouentourisme.com/
http://www.westernfrancetouristboard.com/