Gros Horloge, Renaissance clock tower in Rouen, France
The Gros Horloge is a Renaissance clock tower in Rouen with two large copper-faced clock mechanisms and smaller dials beneath them. The wrought-iron mechanism operates a pendulum that controls the striking of the hour bell.
The clock mechanism was built in 1389 by Jourdain del Leche and ranks among Europe's oldest still-operating timekeeping devices. It was later upgraded with a pendulum system that improved its accuracy.
The clock faces display symbols that reflect how people understood the sky and time in the medieval period. It has served as a gathering point for the city, marking the rhythm of daily life for generations of Rouennais.
The clock tower can be visited through guided tours that show the internal mechanisms and the former clockmaker's workshop space. Plan for about 40 minutes to explore the interior and understand how the system operates.
The wrought-iron work is more than twice the size of the Wells Cathedral clock mechanism. This places it among the largest operating timekeeping devices from its era.
Location: Rouen
Architectural style: Renaissance architecture
Address: Rue du Gros Horloge, 76000 Rouen, France
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 14:00-18:00
Phone: +33232080190
Website: http://rouen.fr/gros-horloge
GPS coordinates: 49.44154,1.09124
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
Rouen offers a rich architectural heritage with buildings spanning medieval, Renaissance, and modern periods. The Notre-Dame Cathedral, a Gothic structure from the 13th century, rises above the historic center. The old town is filled with narrow streets lined by timber houses with carved beams and colored facades. The Gros Horloge, a 14th-century astronomical clock tower, spans a busy shopping street and connects medieval architecture to the daily life of the city. The Place du Vieux-Marché marks the site where Joan of Arc was executed. Today, a modern church with curved forms and colorful stained glass stands there. The Rue du Gros-Horloge and Rue Saint-Romain lead through the old quarter with its shops and cafés. The Church of Saint-Maclou displays Gothic detailing, while the Aître Saint-Maclou, a former plague cemetery, is now a quiet courtyard with wooden galleries. The Jardin des Plantes offers wide green spaces and greenhouses on the edge of the city. From the Côte Sainte-Catherine on the other side of the Seine, there are wide views over the rooftops and church spires of the city.
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