The Tilting House

The leaning house, in Rouen

The leaning house is one of the most surprising half-timbered houses of Rouen, famous for its spectacular inclination. The Rouen audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this curious witness of medieval architecture, become an attraction of the town.

The half-timbered house that defies balance

Among the some two thousand half-timbered houses that Rouen counts, you are ready to bet that none resembles this one: here is the famous leaning house. The least you can say is that this medieval timber-framed dwelling displays a spectacular inclination, which gives it an air of defying the laws of balance. This leaning has nothing surprising: over the centuries, the wood of the structures has worked, the floors have settled, and many old houses of the town have thus leaned or deformed, testifying to their great age. But this one is particularly marked, to the point of having become a famous curiosity and a must photography subject for the visitors. With its corbelled storeys and its characteristic leaning, it embodies with humour the charm and the authenticity of old medieval Rouen. A picturesque witness of half-timbered architecture, the leaning house is an amusing stop of the discovery of Rouen.

What to see

You admire the famous medieval timber-framed house, with a spectacular inclination that seems to defy balance, the consequence of the working of the wood and the settling of the floors over the centuries, become a famous curiosity and a must photography subject, among the some two thousand half-timbered houses of Rouen. The leaning house embodies the charm of old Rouen. It is an amusing stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The leaning house lies in the heart of old Rouen, reachable on foot. It is a house that you admire from the street; you discover it during a walk in the historic centre and its half-timbered alleys.

Why is the leaning house of Rouen inclined?

Over the centuries, the wood of its structure has worked and the floors have settled, as for many old half-timbered houses; but its inclination is particularly marked, to the point of making it a famous curiosity and a must photography subject.

Where is the leaning house of Rouen?

In the heart of old Rouen, in France.