Saint-Romain Street (Rue Saint-Romain)

The stunning half-timbered facades you see today were hidden under plaster for nearly 200 years. In the 18th century, King Louis XVI issued an edict requiring homeowners to cover their timber-framed houses with plaster to reduce fire risk. The beautiful medieval woodwork was only rediscovered and painstakingly restored starting in the 1960s, revealing architectural treasures that had been concealed for generations.

Rue Saint-Romain was a favorite subject for Impressionist painters who flocked to Rouen to capture its ever-changing light and medieval charm. Camille Pissarro painted scenes here, while Eugène Boudin created his famous 'La Rue Saint Romain' in 1895. The pioneering photographer Eugène Atget also documented the iconic building at number 74 between 1903-1905, helping to preserve this architectural gem for posterity.

The street has borne many names throughout its tumultuous history. Originally called 'Rue des Féronniers' (Ironworkers' Street) after the blacksmiths who once worked here, it was also known as 'Rue de l'Archevêché' (Archbishop's Street). During the French Revolution, religious names were forbidden, so it was temporarily renamed 'Rue du Citoyen' (Citizen's Street) before finally receiving its current name honoring Saint Romain, the 7th-century Archbishop of Rouen.

The building at 74 Rue Saint-Romain is one of Rouen's most remarkable medieval structures, featuring rare Gothic-style continuous fenestration dating from 1466. The house showcases the 'encorbellement' technique where upper floors overhang the lower ones - a design that gained extra living space and protected walls from rain. This building technique was banned after 1526 for hygiene reasons, making surviving examples like this one exceptionally precious historical artifacts.