Situated on the historic Place du Vieux-Marché, Saint Joan of Arc church is Rouen‘s 20th-century response to the medieval Gothic churches that made the city’s reputation.
Its sweeping curves refer to the flame that consumed Joan of Arc on the same square in 1431.
Saint Joan of Arc church: a bit of history
Saint Joan of Arc church was built by architect Louis Arretche.
Although audacious, the project was also controversial in a city that houses many beautiful medieval Gothic churches.
The church was inaugurated on the 27th of May 1979, by French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.
It was listed as a historic monument in 2002.
Exterior of St. Joan of Arc church
Built in 1979, the wacky and spiky-looking memorial church contrasts with the surrounding picturesque Norman half-timbered houses.
Some people see in the church’s shape an overturned longship or the pyre on which the Saint was burnt.
The church is surmounted by a trapezoidal slate roof, which is elongated to form a walkway across the square.
The scaly tiling of the roof matches the fish-shaped windows.
Interior of Saint Joan of Arc church
Inside, 13 stained-glass windows from 1520-1530 form a 500-square-metre glass wall, bathing the interior in exceptional light.
These fine windows were initially set in the choir of the Saint-Vincent church, which was destroyed during the Second World War (its ruins are still visible today on the rue Jeanne d’Arc).
However, precautions were taken, and the windows were kept safe until they were incorporated into their new home 40 years later.
The 13 panels illustrate Christ’s childhood, Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection, as well as the life events of Saint Peter, Saint Anne, and Saint Anthony of Padua.
List of the 13 window panels:
- St. Peter’s life, 1520-1530, gift of the Boyvins, lords of Bonnetot;
- St. Anne, 1520-1530, by Jean Le Vieil and offered by the Compostela Brotherhood;
- The Virgin’s Triumph, ordered in 1515 and completed circa 1522, work of Jean and Engrand Le Prince;
- St. Anne’s Tree, 1520-1530;
- Life of St. John the Baptist, completed in 1526, work of Engrand Le Prince;
- Œuvres de Miséricorde, completed in 1520-1530, work of Engrand and maybe of Jean Le Prince;
- St. Anthony of Padoua, 1520-1530;
- The Saints, 1520-1530;
- Childhood and public life of Christ, 1520-1530, gift of the Le Roux de Bourgtheroulde;
- Passion, 1520-1530;
- Crucifixion, 1520-1530;
- Glorious life of Christ, 1520-1530;
- Martyrdom of St. Vincent, 1520-1530, gift of the Le Roux, lords of Esprevier.
Place du Vieux-Marché
Place du Vieux Marché is arguably Rouen’s main square.
With its half-timbered houses and restaurants, it is dominated by the modern church of Saint Joan of Arc.
The square was the site of a church (église Saint-Sauveur), which was dismantled in 1793 during the French Revolution.
Its foundations were cleared during the recent renovation of the square.
A small commemorative plaque and a 20-metre-high cross mark the spot on which Joan of Arc was burnt alive for heresy on the 30th of May, 1431.
Next to the church stands a small market hall, evoking the ancient tradition of trade occurring in the square as long ago as Joan of Arc’s time.
That’s the most ridiculously ugly church (?) I’ve ever laid eyes on!
It’s dishonors Joan of Arc’s memory!
It’s true the modern architecture is striking, especially when surrounded by medieval-looking houses. But the real beauty of the church are the stained-glass windows!
The stained glass windows inside are beautiful, but the first thing you see when you look at any church is the outside! Just think of Notre Dame in Paris, St. Patrick’s in New York, and numerous others. They are all in the shape of a cross looking from above and they all have beautiful spires, towers, a dome or maybe flying buttresses.. This church looks like it was done by an alien from outer space or maybe he was on drugs at the time. I don’t like modern architecture anyway, but this rendition of a church is downright hideous.
Stained glasses windows are always nice and appropriate in any church, but the outside of the church is equally important, and the Joan of Arc So-called “church” in Rouen looks like a ship that’s been turned upside down. I hate modern architecture.
I found the Church to be beautiful both inside and outside. The Sculpture of her inside the church is so beautifully placed with the golden light shining down upon the modern bronze of her. It brought tears to my eyes. I like to think of the inside of the church is like a Viking boat with all the ribs of such a boat. The stained glass stands out so well because the building is limited to the amount of glass, thus making each panel more important.
I love the uplifting elements in the outside of the church! An old square with a detached modern church so beautifully combines the two elements. It enriches the whole area.
Thank you Ann… in fact at first the exterior of the church made a weird impression on me. But once inside I was blown away by the stained-glass windows!
I totally disagree. I hate modern architecture and this is a typical example. Any church should look like a church. This thing looks like it was designed by an alien from outer space or the Architect was on something when he did it. Church’s are supposed to have a steeple or a dome or maybe a rectangular tower or two. This building looks like it’s right out of someone’s nightmare! I don’t think Joan of Arc would have liked it at all.
A Christian church should look like a church. It should have a spire or a dome or maybe a rectangular tower or two in the front. This church looks like it was designed by an alien from outer space or maybe by an architect who was on something illegal. I don’t deny I’m not a fan of modern architecture, I much prefer classical, gothic or even romanesque architecture, but this building is really over the top! I don’t think Joan of Arc would have liked it. The stained glass windows are beautiful, they always are, and appropriate for the interior of this church, but the outside to me makes no sense at all.
I foundit interesting that the church like Joan stood out and perhaps did not fit in with the traditional and acceptable but was still unique and strong in it’s own right.
Yes, it’s a stunning church indeed!
I had a nice lunch there 2 weeks ago, facing the church. Two words Ug – Ly. And in France, of all places. Like it was left over from a low budget sci fi film. If you like it, come see the MLK monument in Boston!😱 Eye sore for sure!! STEVEN B
It’s true that the exterior architecture of the church stands out from the rest of Rouen’s old town. That said, one must enter the church to admire the medieval stained glass windows that were saved from the WW2 bombardments.
People are cruel. We need to stop having children and give the planet back to the animals