Once upon a time there was a stream, the Robec, which flowed at the foot of the facades of the houses on a street in Rouen. But, around 1930, he was no longer appreciated at all... And, poor thing, we buried it! Yes, but he was regretted... so we made another one, artificial, above the one underneath. Does it follow? This unusual little story is, in fact, only one of the many equally unusual aspects of this Rue Eau de Robec, really too pretty!
A coloured water...
Before it was buried, the Robec changed colour according to the colour of the products covering the hands of the dyers and clothmakers who washed them! Today, of course, its changing colours have disappeared, but they can still be found, bright and varied, on the facades of half-timbered houses.
The "spreading attics".
All this string of medieval half-timbered houses is worth the walk, as they offer a wide variety of colours, shapes and improbable constructions!
Raise your eyes, and you will spot "attics"... the word has of course just "extended", and these are overhangs, located under the roof covering, which allowed the craftsmen to dry the coloured fabrics they had just worked on, which was to give the street a beautiful look of permanent festivity.
Restaurants...
As in many typical pedestrian streets, restaurants of all kinds have flourished here, and cheerful terraces add to the atmosphere of the street. Ah, summer evenings...
Petanque?
Yet we are not in the south of France, where petanque is elevated to the rank of a playful activity, and as serious as pastis, but the Rue Eau de Robec nevertheless has a superb petanque ground, with shady trees and a friendly bar!
This ground, where the shock of the boules does not interrupt the incessant murmur of the Robec that flowed next door, contributes to the very special atmosphere of this very unusual, very atypical street, which really deserves a very serious stroll!
A stroll during which you will spot, here and there, the exit of small lanes and secret passages in which it is strongly advised to venture!
Rouen Tourisme
25, Place de la Cathédrale
76000 Rouen
Tél. : 02 32 08 32 40
accueil@rouentourisme.com
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