Aître Saint-Maclou

The Aître's stone columns feature one of Europe's only surviving carved Danse Macabre (Dance of Death), with skeletons depicted alongside figures from every social class - from popes and emperors to peasants. This powerful medieval art form reminded viewers that death comes for everyone equally, regardless of wealth or status.

Near the entrance, visitors can spot a mummified cat displayed in a glass case. According to legend, black cats were walled up alive in medieval buildings to ward off evil spirits and protect against the plague. Whether this particular cat was a genuine medieval superstition or a later addition by art students who occupied the building remains a delightful mystery.

The Aître served as home to Rouen's École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts) for over 70 years, from 1940 to 2014, after their original building was destroyed in World War II. Generations of art students studied and created within these medieval walls, surrounded by centuries-old reminders of mortality.

The 2018-2020 restoration cost €14 million and was overseen by chief architect Richard Duplat. Workers meticulously restored over 600 years of history, revealing original medieval carvings that had been hidden or damaged over centuries, and transforming the space into a vibrant cultural center while preserving its haunting atmosphere.