Amiens & Rouen, Normandy, France

An easy day-trip by train north of Paris will bring you to the cathedral towns of Amiens and Rouen, the gem of Normandy. Amiens has an attractive pedestrian zone running through the modern downtown, and an interesting, if small, Old Town, but it is the cathedral we have come to see the largest gothic cathedral in France, the land that invented this enduring form. Not only large, but perfect in form with all the standard gothic design you could hope for.
From here we continue by train to nearby Rouen, which has the largest collection of half-timbered medieval buildings in France. Easy to explore on foot, start out from the train station and keep on going through one historic lane after another. Here too you will find a famous cathedral but in this case the town itself is the main attraction, its narrow streets lined with thriving shops and historic monument, including the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. Photographed during the Christmas season when tykes are skating in the main square and colorful lights line the shop fronts, this is a special time and place to enjoy.

[markoshea]

very good: half-timbered coloured houses- and laneways are great

[denniscallan]

@rbalse Hi, thanks for the nice comment. I do try to hold it steady, and this show was shot with a very small camera making for more of a challenge. In recent years I'm using a monopod nearly all the time and find it the perfect solution -- keeps things steady yet doesn't slow me down. I like the Manfroto version with the fluid barrel and tiny legs on the bottom for panning. And I've learned that short, slow smooth moves are the way to go -- otherwise hold it still and let action happen.

[chevyman]

very nice work! So well done; part of my heart is still in France :)

[VillageGypsies]

Good job! Nice presentation, excellent information. Very much appreciated!

[CoryTheRaven]

Very nice little glimpse of Amiens... my girlfriend and I are visiting it in just under a month, primarily to visit the sites connected with Jules Verne. Thank you for helping us know what to expect!

[sarahsmyth-jones]

Very Nice Video. Great Footage and Commentary!

[victoriag]

excellent information.  much appreciated

[antoinelemo]

I live in Rouen and even if this video was made 11 years ago Rouen almost still the same, that surprising !

[asbjornkarlssonasbjorn]

Hola
Gracias por el video, Mi Hermano trabaj en Rouen, verdaderamente bello como en las fotos. Españoles en Francia !! Merci

[haddock]

Very well made and informative. I am saving this as my fav as I will be going there next month.

[yabae]

OMG you are so lucky I want go there to see my friend so badd😭💔

[vincentlignereux]

Amiens n'est pas en Normandie mais en Picardie!

[stirnarai]

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!
Lithuania-tai nuostabu, puiku!!!

[hywel]

Would you consider returning to Normandy to create some more quality content like this, Dennis?

[saintsaens]

Really great footage and commentary! But you should mention Amiens is in Picardy in the title.

[bovellois]

5:36 pedestrian crossings are for pedestrians to use... once cars have gone by ;-)

[L.M]

Is there a plaque for where Arc was burned? If there is I probably won’t visit. I dreamt of visiting but i somehow never envisaged a plaque, although, there is ‘the clock’ that wasn’t mentioned. It holds within its boundary an astronomical clock, it is one of the oldest in France, the movement was made in 1389 and is.... one of the first ever designed on earth, wow, remember and pack your toothbrush for that one.

[AJos]

Amiens isnt in Normandy but in Picardy

[fleebus]

whats that grunting demon sound at 1:33?

[bradchin]

oh. you didn't go to that school that was built on top of a cemetery in rouen. that place was creepy.