Rue du Gros-Horloge

Coordinates: 49°26′31.322″N 1°05′4.061″E / 49.44203389°N 1.08446139°E / 49.44203389; 1.08446139
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Rue du Gros-Horloge
View of the street
Rue du Gros-Horloge is located in France
Rue du Gros-Horloge
Shown within France
Coordinates49°26′31.322″N 1°05′4.061″E / 49.44203389°N 1.08446139°E / 49.44203389; 1.08446139
FromPlace de la Cathédrale
ToPlace du Vieux-Marché

The Rue du Gros-Horloge is the main public pedestrian thoroughfare in the French city of Rouen.[1]

Origin of the name[edit]

It takes its name from the Gros Horloge, one of the emblematic monuments of the city.

Historical[edit]

It is possible that the street is located on the axis corresponding to the decumanus of the Gallo-Roman city of Rotomagus, the former name of Rouen.

In 1527, the street was spanned by a stone arch, which then led to the old town hall.

It bore the names of "Grande-Rue", "rue Courvoiserie", "rue Courvoyserie", "rue Massacre", "rue Vanterie", "rue Wanterie" before reverting to the name "Grande-Rue" during the Revolution before taking its current name.[2]

In 1932, the first Monoprix store in France opened there, under the name Noma, a contraction of “nouveau magasin” (new store).

In 1971, the street became the first pedestrian street in France.[3]

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Eustache de la Quérière, Description historique des maisons de Rouen, Paris, Firmin Didot, 1821
  • Arnaud Perinelle and Véronique de Haas, Rouen : Le Gros-Horloge, Condé-sur-Noireau, Charles Corlet, 1982, 32 p. (ISBN 2-85480-033-8, OCLC 461979910)