Colline Sainte-Catherine - Panorama de Rouen

This is the best-known panorama of the Normandy capital. It offers a complete view of Rouen, with its two riverbanks, six bridges, the Lacroix island, emblematic monuments such as the cathedral, the Saint-Maclou church and the Saint-Ouen abbey church, which can be seen in the historic center, as well as the archives tower and the quays on the left bank. In the distance, you can see the silos of Rouen?s industrial port, Europe?s leading grain-exporting port, and on the hilltops, the Forêt Verte and the Forêt de Roumare, both classified as Forêt d?Exception, a reminder that Rouen is France?s leading forest-covered urban area.

Fascinated by the view, the famous Impressionist Claude Monet came here in 1892 to paint his picture Vue générale de Rouen. Here, he created a colorful work of uncertain form, in which only Notre-Dame Cathedral and Saint-Maclou Church stand out. The painting can be admired at the Musée des Beaux-arts de Rouen, which acquired it in 1995 and owns the largest Impressionist collection in France after Paris. It's no exaggeration to say that this panorama is iconic!

It can be reached from the town center via a 525-step footpath, or from the N14 in the direction of Bonsecours.