Old Market Square

The Place du Vieux-Marché, in Rouen

The Place du Vieux-Marché is one of the most famous and history-laden squares of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned. The Rouen audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this place of memory and life, in the heart of the Norman town.

The square of the martyrdom of Joan of Arc

The Place du Vieux-Marché is the historic heart and one of the most emblematic places of Rouen. As its name indicates, it was long the great market square of the town, a lively place of trade and life. But it is above all known for having been the theatre of a tragic and major event of the history of France: it is here that Joan of Arc, condemned for heresy, was burned alive at the stake on 30 May 1431, at the age of nineteen. Today, the square combines memory and liveliness: there you find the modern church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, raised on the site of the martyrdom, the covered market, the restaurants and the half-timbered houses that line its sides. A place of contemplation as much as of conviviality, laden with an intense history, the Place du Vieux-Marché is a must-see stop of the discovery of Rouen, to be explored with respect.

What to see

Here you discover, with respect, the historic heart of Rouen, the former great market square and the place where Joan of Arc was burned alive on 30 May 1431, today dominated by the modern church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc raised on the site of the martyrdom, and lined with the covered market, restaurants and half-timbered houses. The Place du Vieux-Marché is a place of memory of Rouen. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot with respect.

Practical information

The Place du Vieux-Marché lies in the heart of the historic centre of Rouen, reachable on foot. It is a freely accessible public space; the church, the market and the restaurants have their own hours. You observe the contemplation due to the place of memory of Joan of Arc.

What happened on the Place du Vieux-Marché of Rouen?

It is here that Joan of Arc, condemned for heresy, was burned alive at the stake on 30 May 1431, at nineteen; the former great market square, it is today a place of memory dominated by the modern church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc.

Where is the Place du Vieux-Marché of Rouen?

In the heart of the historic centre of Rouen, in France.