Rouen

Rouen

2736x3648

Rouen is one of our favorite places in France, primarily because of Eglise Ste-Jeanne d'Arc, a stunningly beautiful modern church dedicated to France's warrior maiden.  We often comment on its knock-your-socks-off stained glass that was rescued from another church in 1944, just days before that church was completely destroyed.

   

I refer, of course, to St-Vincent sur la Rive, St. Vincent on the Riverbank.  This is all that remains of St. Vincent.  ('Elle fut presque entièrement détruite le 31 mai 1944.')

   

Rouen cathedral is the burial site of Richard the Lion-hearted's heart, and it's also the place where Rollo was buried.  Here's Rollo's tomb.  The inscription (in Latin) is

IN SINU TEMPLI ROLLO QUIESCIT A SE VASTATE CONDITAE NORMANNIAE PATER AC PRIMUS DUX LABORE QUI FRACTUS OCCUBUIT OCTOGENARIO MAIOR AN CM XXXIII.

In case your Latin is a little rusty, the translation is

In this alcove rests ROLLO, himself a Viking, founder of Normandy, father and first Duke, which work occupied him into his 80s. [d.]933,

which gives you the background on why someone you probably never heard of gets such a place of honor.