Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dukes and lords in both countries were aligned more along family lines than by na-
tional identity. When the French king died without a male heir (1328), both France
and England claimed the crown, and the battle was on.
England invaded the more populous country (1345) and—thanks to skilled
archers using armor-penetrating longbows—won big battles at Crécy (1346) and
Poitiers (1356). Despite a truce, roving bands of English mercenaries stayed behind
and supported themselves by looting French villages. The French responded with
guerrilla tactics.
In 1415, the English took still more territory, with Henry V's big victory at
Agincourt. But rallied by the heavenly visions of young Joan of Arc, the French
slowly drove the invaders out. Paris was liberated in 1436, and when Bordeaux fell
to French forces (1453), the fighting ended without a treaty.
From Place du Vieux Marché, you'll walk the length of Rue du Gros Horloge to
Notre-Dame Cathedral. From there, walk four blocks to the plague cemetery (Aître St.
Maclou), loop up to the church of St. Ouen, and return along Rue de l'Hôpital ending at
theMuseumofFineArts(a5-minutewalktothetrainstation).Themapon here highlights
our route.
• If arriving by train, walk down Rue Jeanne d'Arc and turn right on Rue du Guillaume le
Conquérant (notice the Gothic Palace of Justice building across Rue Jeanne d'Arc—we'll
get to that later). This takes you to the back door of our starting point...
Place du Vieux Marché
• Stand near the entrance of the striking Joan of Arc Church.
Surroundedbyhalf-timberedbuildings,thisoldmarketsquarehasacoveredproducemar-
ket, a park commemorating Joan of Arc's burning, and a modern church named after her.
A tall aluminum cross, planted in a flowery garden near the church entry, marks the spot
where Rouen publicly punished and executed people. The pillories stood here, and during
the Revolution, the town's guillotine made 800 people “a foot shorter at the top.” In 1431,
Joan of Arc—only 19 years old—was burned at this site. Find her flaming statue facing
the cross. As the flames engulfed her, an English soldier said, “Oh my God, we've killed a
saint.” (Nearly 500 years later, Joan was canonized, and the soldier was proved right.)
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