Place du Vieux-Marché

It is one of the most important squares in the centre of Rouen. It owes its name to the market that has been held there for several centuries. Archaeological excavations have revealed the foundations of Saint-Sauveur Church, where Corneille was christened, of the pillory and the trace of the medieval ground level reminding us of Joan of Arc's time.

It is precisely in this square that Joan of Arc was sentenced to be burnt alive on Wednesday 30 May 1431. The exact spot is now shown by a cross while the sainte is remembered thanks to a statue made by Maxime Real del Sarte adjoining the church.

Sainte Jeanne-d?arc Church is the work of Louis Arretche who, in 1979, designed a building with abstract forms whose interior is shaped like an inverted ship?s hull. The church boasts 16th century stained glass windows, masterpieces from the Renaissance that were saved from the bombings of the neighbouring Saint-Vincent church.
The Old Market Square is now a must-see in the Norman capital with its covered market, its wide range of restaurants and bars blending with quaint half-timbered houses.