A visit to the Tour Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc Tower) is a journey through centuries of Rouen and Normandy history. Learn about the trials and imprisonment of French heroine Joan of Arc, and the tower’s involvement in World War II. The Tour Jeanne d’Arc is the former keep and the last remaining part of Rouen Castle, built in 1204 by King Philippe Auguste of France.
Today’s tower is a 19th-century restoration of the original, which fell into despair after the demolition of Rouen Castle in 1590. Step inside to find a scale model of the former castle and see artifacts that retell the life, trial and death of Joan of Arc. As part of her trial, officials brought her to the tower in December 1430 and threatened her with torture.
Climb the spiral staircase to the tower’s second floor and peer out of the narrow windows across Rouen’s rooftops. Study the model of Rouen, which gives an impression of how the city looked during the English raids of 1418 to 1419.
Stand outside the tower and imagine a time when it was part of a 13th-century stronghold. Today’s surrounding Parisian-style buildings present an interesting contrast to the historical events witnessed by the tower. It was a lookout during the Hundred Years War and a German-occupied bunker during World Ware II.
The tower sits to the north of Rouen’s historic city centre. Public buses and trams stop nearby while Rouen’s central train station is just a 5-minute walk away. Combine your visit to the tower with a visit to two museums in the area. Spot art from the 1400s to the present day at the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts). Discover the craft of blacksmithing at the Musée le Secq des Tournelles.
The Tour Jeanne d’Arc is open from Wednesday to Monday, except for selected public holidays. It also closes at lunchtime, so time your visit accordingly. There is an admission fee with free admission offered to visitors under age 18. Guided tours of the tower are available, for a fee. Find more details on the tower’s official website.
