Rouen Courthouse

The Rouen Courthouse, formerly known as the Échiquier de Normandie (Exchequer of Normandy), is a building located in Rouen, in the French department of Seine-Maritime, in the Normandy region. It stands as a prominent landmark in the Norman city. Constructed primarily between 1499 and 1507 to accommodate the Parloir aux Bourgeois and the former Exchequer of Normandy, it was designated as the Parliament of Normandy during the reign of François I in 1515. Subsequently, it functioned as a courthouse from the French Revolution onwards. In the 19th century, the building underwent expansion towards the Jeanne-d'Arc and Socrate streets. Due to its grandeur and intricate design, the monument reflects the revived prosperity of Rouen in the late 15th century, renewing a neglected municipal heritage. As an example of civil architecture in the Louis XII style from the early decades of the 16th century, the monument has been classified as a historical monument since 1840. Its architectural style is reminiscent of the contemporary Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde and the French Finance Office. The courthouse in Rouen suffered significant damage during a bombing on August 26, 1944, before the city's liberation, resulting in the near destruction of the central Louis XII-style main building. Extensive restoration work was carried out to rebuild the damaged sections, leading to the building's classification as a historical monument in 1977 and its definitive inscription in 1979. The site is located near the underground tram station Courthouse – Gisèle Halimi.