As an introduction to this new theme covering the post-war period, guide Guillaume Gohon dons the costume of famous reconstruction architect Marcel Lods.Video from the web series on Normandy’s heritage orchestrated by Métropole Rouen Normandie.
Rivetant Un Pont Studio Edeline 1953 Rmm Latelier DigitalRivetant Un Pont Studio Edeline 1953 Rmm Latelier Digital
Exhibition
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Active and sensory tours
Take a closer look at the dynamics of urban and heritage renewal. Our tour guides will take you on a tour of the area to stimulate your neurons and your senses!
>Elbeuf, inside-out After exploring the Reconstructing the City exhibition at the Fabrique des Savoirs, take a stroll through the narrow streets of Elbeuf to grasp the renaissance of this Seine-side town and its urban planning challenges after the Second World War.
>Rouen, right bank From 1940 to 1944, Rouen’s historic center suffered fire and bombardment. An urban epic began to give the city a new face, while preserving its architectural treasures. Follow in the footsteps of this historic transition.
>War, Reconstruction and the arts How do you preserve the artistic spirit of a city in the midst of the turmoil of history? Between protective measures against bombing, loss of heritage during the war and creative fervor during Reconstruction, the arts underwent a major upheaval during this period. Find out more in Rouen’s city center.
>Duclair sensoriel/ Elbeuf sensoriel We invite you to use your five senses to discover these two post-war rebuilt towns along the Seine. Games of taste and sound, drawings and experiments help you grasp the character of each and its evolution.
>Sotteville, around the Lods A whole neighborhood was created in Sotteville-Lès-Rouen after the war: The “green zone” was a utopia imagined by architect Marcel Lods, based on four fundamental values: working, living, circulating and recreating. Experience this exciting urban planning concept first-hand.
>Oissel, garden city On the edge of the Rouvray forest, you enter a neighborhood that combines social utopia and workers’ housing. An architect from CAUE (Conseil d’architecture, d’urbanisme et de l’environnement) guides you through the detached and semi-detached houses, collective housing, green spaces and shops that make up this garden city.
>Cycling the two banks Two wheels, two banks, two urban concepts! On either side of the Seine, meet the people who witnessed the reconstruction of Rouen’s right and left banks, with your guide’s insights, by bike.
Rebuilding means dealing with the rubble of the past and building for the future. In fact, it's about giving the present a new shape.
The metropolitan museums of Rouen, Elbeuf and Oissel take us on varied and exciting adventures in reconstruction, withfantastic exhibitions accessible to all. At the Fabrique des savoirs, we follow the metamorphosis of Rouen, Elbeuf and Oissel after the ravages of the Second World War. The exhibition at Corderie Vallois focuses on the industrial reconstruction of the area, which required a large workforce in the 1950s, and plunges us into the daily lives of the people of Rouen, between shortages and projections into the future. Two exhibitions particularly suited to families, where you can see, touch, handle and feel at child’s level.
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Incredible construction site
What an epic story the impressive spire of Rouen Cathedral is! The Musée des Beaux-Arts explores its history and its many twists and turns. After being struck by lightning in 1822, architect Alavoine’s spire endured almost 60 years of titanic work and controversy. The 151-metre spire finally made its mark on the Normandy skyline, becoming the city’s symbol. A project that continues today with the ambitious restoration campaign led by Monuments Historiques.
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View of the Cathedral from the Gros Horloge - RouenView of the Cathedral from the Gros Horloge - Rouen|
Earth broken, repaired, sublimated
It’s also the adventure of restoration that the Musée de la Céramique highlights, with the memory of the “earthenware menders”, the work of heritage restorers and the presentation of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing ceramics with gold, magnifying cracks.the work of heritage restorers and the presentation of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing ceramics with gold, magnifying cracks. As for the literary museums, they recreate the “genius of the place” that allowed Flaubert and Corneille to project their abundant creativity. Exceptional pieces are presented, such as Flaubert’s early manuscript Novembre (1842), giving us a glimpse behind the walls of these great Rouen authors.
Exhibitions
November 30, 2024 to June 1, 2025Reconstruire…l’usine Musée industriel de la Corderie Vallois, Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville Reconstruire…la flèche Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen Terres brisées Musée de la Céramique, Rouen Génie des Lieux Musée Flaubert et d’histoire de la médecine, Rouen Reconstruire…la ville Fabrique des savoirs, Elbeuf-sur-Seine Free admission.
