More Rouen and dinner

TravelerThis stunning photo captures the ornate underside of the Gros-Horloge arch in Rouen, France. 🏛️ What You’re Looking At: • This richly sculpted vaulted ceiling belongs to the Gros-Horloge (Great Clock) archway. • The carvings show pastoral and mythological scenes, including: • A shepherd figure with animals • Likely depictions of Apollo or classical gods with spears • Numerous deer and forest creatures, adding to the pastoral theme • Inscriptions in Latin are visible, referencing classical or allegorical themes. 📍 About the Gros-Horloge (Great Clock): • Location: Rouen, Normandy, France • Date: The mechanism dates to the 14th century; the arch and clock face were completed in the 16th century • Function: Originally part of the city’s gate, it housed one of the oldest working clock mechanisms in Europe • Style: Renaissance, with Gothic elements on the surrounding buildings You’ve captured one of Rouen’s most iconic landmarks — an extraordinary fusion of architecture, sculpture, and timekeeping.

TravelerThis distinctive structure is the Church of Saint Joan of Arc (Église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc) located in Rouen, Normandy, France. 🕍 About the Church: • Completed: 1979 • Architect: Louis Arretche • Style: Modernist / Expressionist • Purpose: Honors Joan of Arc, who was executed in Rouen in 1431 in the square nearby • Location: Place du Vieux-Marché (Old Market Square), the exact site of Joan of Arc’s martyrdom 🔺 Notable Features: • The sweeping, curved roof is designed to evoke: • The shape of a fish, an early Christian symbol • Flames rising — symbolizing Joan of Arc’s execution by fire • A Viking ship — reflecting Rouen’s Norse heritage • Inside, it houses 15 original stained-glass windows from the 16th century, rescued from the old Church of Saint Vincent (destroyed in WWII). It’s a powerful blend of historical memory and modern design, deeply rooted in French identity.

TravelerThank you for sharing this stunning interior photo — it beautifully captures the serene and spiritual atmosphere inside the Church of Saint Joan of Arc in Rouen. 🪟 The Stained Glass Windows: • These windows are not original to this modern church — they date back to the 16th century and were saved from the destroyed Church of Saint Vincent, which was bombed during World War II. • The windows were painstakingly preserved and reassembled here, acting as a symbolic and literal preservation of Rouen’s religious and cultural heritage. • They depict scenes from the New Testament, the life of saints, and include intricate medieval storytelling in colored glass. 🛋️ The Interior Design: • The wooden ceiling mimics the hull of an overturned boat — possibly a nod to both early Christian symbolism and Normandy’s maritime history. • The walls and benches maintain a minimalist, organic style, emphasizing simplicity and reverence. • Light enters gently through both the small side windows and the majestic stained glass — creating a play of natural and colored light across the space. ⚜️ Final Touch: • The blue flag with gold fleur-de-lis visible in your photo honors Joan of Arc’s association with the French monarchy. • This church stands not just as a religious structure, but as a memorial — a deeply contemplative place marking the exact square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431.