What to do · Rouen
The Gros-Horloge, the 1389 clock and its belfry
Information
- From
- €7 adult
- Duration
- 40 min
- Season
- All year, except Mondays
- Who it's for
- Families and teenagers; stairs
The clock that spans Rouen's busiest street is one of the oldest dials in France: the mechanism dates from 1389. The ensemble combines a Gothic belfry, an arch with a Renaissance pavilion and an 18th-century fountain. The single hand carries a lamb, the city's symbol, and every day at midday a figure of the god of the day of the week turns: Diana on Monday, Mars on Tuesday, and so on until Apollo on Sunday.
The visit
Inside there is a museum with the dial room, the rooms of the former clock governor, the two 13th-century bells (the Rouvel, which rang the alarm, and the Cache-Ribaud, which announced the curfew) and the mechanism. It ends on the roof, with the cathedral in front of you. About 40 minutes.
Opening hours and price
From 1 April to 30 September, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 19:00; from 1 October to 31 March, Tuesday to Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00. Closed on Mondays. Adult €7.85; ages 6 to 18 and students, €4; free for under-6s. Animals are not allowed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to go up the Gros-Horloge?
€7.85 for adults and €4 for ages 6 to 18; free for under-6s.
Which day is it closed?
Mondays.
Can you go up on the roof?
Yes, the visit ends at the top, with views of the cathedral.
As a familyWith teenagers
