Rouen Courthouse
Building located in Rouen. / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rouen Courthouse, formerly known as the Échiquier de Normandie (Exchequer of Normandy), is a building located in Rouen, in the French department of Seine-Maritime, in the Normandy region. It stands as a prominent landmark in the Norman city.[1]
49°26′33″N 1°5′32″E | |
Location | Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France |
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Type | Courthouse |
Heritage: Monument historique (1840, 1977, 1979) |
Constructed primarily between 1499 and 1507[2] to accommodate the Parloir aux Bourgeois[3] and the former Exchequer of Normandy, it was designated as the Parliament of Normandy during the reign of François I in 1515. Subsequently, it functioned as a courthouse from the French Revolution onwards. In the 19th century, the building underwent expansion towards the Jeanne-d'Arc and Socrate streets.[3]
Due to its grandeur and intricate design,[3] the monument reflects the revived prosperity of Rouen in the late 15th century, renewing a neglected municipal heritage.[4]
As an example of civil architecture in the Louis XII style[5] from the early decades of the 16th century, the monument has been classified as a historical monument since 1840.[2][4] Its architectural style is reminiscent of the contemporary Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde and the French Finance Office.
The courthouse in Rouen suffered significant damage during a bombing on August 26, 1944, before the city's liberation, resulting in the near destruction of the central Louis XII-style main building.[3] Extensive restoration work was carried out to rebuild the damaged sections, leading to the building's classification as a historical monument in 1977 and its definitive inscription in 1979.
The site is located near the underground tram station Courthouse – Gisèle Halimi.