Joan of Arc Tower

Rouen’s charm lies in its eclectic architecture. Where to start? From the dazzling clock tower to the cathedral with its lace-like stonework and the 2,000 or so timber-framed houses in a riot of colors and styles, this city’s diverse heritage never ceases to amaze. But beauty isn’t everything. The stories these buildings tell are just as precious. Take for example that modest stone tower over there, on the left. You might not think much of it now, but it’s actually a hidden gem. Back in 1204, when King Philip Augustus of France took Normandy back from John Lackland, King of England, he had a massive castle built in Rouen. The castle, probably one of the largest ever built by the monarch, stands on the Bouvreuil hill, overlooking the city. It had a total of 10 defensive towers, with a keep, measuring some 30 metres tall and 14 metres wide, as its centerpiece. This keep, separated from the rest of the fortress by a moat, has withstood the test of time. Pretty impressive for a tower you almost missed, right? And that’s not all! This keep was a fortress, an administrative center, and a seat of power all at once. History was made here! During the Hundred Years’ War that pitted the kingdom of France against that of England at the end of the Middle Ages, it was here that Joan of Arc saw her life turned upside down in a matter of a few months. You probably know her story: an illiterate peasant girl who, at the age of thirteen, claimed to hear voices telling her to free France from the English. She rallied the French and led them to victory in Orléans around 1428. It is thanks to her that Charles VII was crowned King in Reims back in 1429. But her luck ran out. She was captured by the Burgundian troops of Philip the Good, who had made peace with Charles VII in 1435, in Arras. She was then handed over to the English and imprisoned in the Rouen castle. From December 23, 1430, to May 30, 1431, she was held captive in the so-called “Tour de la Pucelle”, aka the Tower of the Maid of Orleans. All that remains of the tower today are its foundations; you’ll find them at number 102 Jeanne d’Arc Street. On May 9, 1431, the young woman was taken to the very keep before you. Despite all threats and torture, they never got her to sign a confession. She was tried, found guilty of heresy, and was burned at the stake in the Old Market Square on May 30, 1431. The keep, now known as Joan of Arc Tower, was listed as a historical monument in 1840. It was refurbished in 2017 and now hosts an escape game that brings history to life. It’s like a trip back in time to the Rouen of the Second World War.