Rouen

 

Rouen

Rouen is also called the hundred bell-towers city. The city is crossed by the Seine river and three of its small affluents, Aubette, Robec and Cailly.
The town of Rouen has about 115 000 inhabitants and the agglomeration about 410 000 (2007).

The city was founded under the name of Rotomagus on the right side of the Seine during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus. It was very developed, a theatre and large thermal baths were built there.
The Vikings made frequent incursions into the valley of the Seine. In 843, Rouen became the capital of the duchy of Normandy after that Rollon, Viking chief received it from the king of France Charles III, to stop Viking incursions.
The capital moved to Caen with William the Conqueror. During the Viking times, the city became a commercial port and a market of slaves.
In 1150, Rouen obtains a communal charter, Rouen is a center of important trading, exporting salt and fish towards Paris and wine towards England. The king of France Philippe Auguste takes the city on April 16, 1203 and attached Normandy Duchy to the kingdom of France the following year. The industry of the textile was developed in Rouen, the merchants buying wool in England.
The January 19th of 1419, during the hundred years war, the king Henri V of England seizes the city and Normandy. Jeanne d' Arc was burned in Rouen on May 30th of 1431.
French took back the city in 1449.