4 Cultural Visits Rouen,

4 Cultural Visits Rouen, Normandy In the old part of Rouen there are cobbled streets, there are more than 2000 halftimbered houses and a Cathedral loved by Claude Monet the artist. Don’t miss a wander down the rue du Gros Horloge to see the 16th century clock. Foodies might want to follow in Julia Child’s footsteps – the American cook had her first French Sole Meuniere in La Couronne which is also the oldest restaurant in France. Joan of Arc was executed in Rouen and there are several tributes to her including a very modern church. There are several great museums including the Fine Arts Museum with an impressive collection of impressionst paintings, lots of great shops and restaurants. From an hour and 22 minutes by train from Paris, Rouen is a top city visit.

Auvers, Picardy 30km north of Paris, the Auberge Ravoux is the last house that Vincent Van Gogh lived in before he shot himself in the chest in the garden and passed away in the room that he rented there. Suffering from mental health issues, he finished several paintings during his 70 day stay. He and his brother Theo are buried at tin the town cemetery close to the Romanesque Church which Van Gogh immortalised in his paintings. Follow the “Vincent” plaques in the pavement to see the landscapes he captured on canvas. The train takes around an hour from Gare du Nord or Gare Saint-Lazare to Auvers (you may need to change at Pontoise). View from Van Gogh's room at his lodgings in Auvers