Part 10 (1/2)

MINERAL WATERS.

Rouen has also its mineral waters, which, even in the neighbouring towns, have a sort of reputation, I will point out three of the princ.i.p.al sources, after _Lepecq de la Cloture_: The first, to the east, is known under the name of _la Marequerie_, to which we arrive by the rue Martainville; the second, to the south east, named _de Saint-Paul_; the third is situated at _Deville_, in the neighbourhood of Rouen. The learned doctor, on whose authority I speak, a.s.sures us that sick people to whom he ordered the water of the last named spring, were cured by the use of it. He also adds, that this spring might become very valuable to the inhabitants of the western quarter of the town. Nevertheless, it has never been much known, and even at the present day very few people are acquainted with its existence.

SQUARES AND MARKET PLACES.

OLD MARKET AND PLACE DE LA PUCELLE.

The name of the first of these two places points out to us that it is the most ancient in Rouen; it is also the most considerable. It existed in the XIth century, and was at that period, situated in the suburb.

Formerly, it covered a much larger s.p.a.ce of ground than at present; since, in the XVIth century, it occupied the whole of the ground contained between the _rue du Vieux-Palais_, the church of Saint-Eloi and Saint-Michael; the last mentioned church has disappeared within the last few-years, and is replaced by a handsome building, which is named the _Hotel Saint-Michel_. About the commencement of the XVIth century, the houses in the neighbourhood of the church of Saint-Eloi and the _rue du Vieux-Palais_, were erected; one of them still remains, it is the Hotel da Bourgtheroulde, which I have already described. The old market was thus divided, into two unequal parts. The spot where the innocent _Joan of Arc_ was burnt in 1431, retains the name of _place de la Pucelle_. It is also called _place du Marche-aux-Veaux_, on account of its former destination. It is then on the old market place, that the French heroine was sacrificed to the superst.i.tion of that age.

NEW MARKET.

Fruit, eggs, cream cheeses, or small Neufchatel cheeses: such are the supplies to be found in this market. About fifty years ago, a gilt leaden statue, representing Louis XVth in his youth, and covered with the royal mantle, was to be seen. This monument has been replaced by the present obelisk, which furnishes an abundant supply of water to the inhabitants of this quarter.

PLACE NOTRE-DAME.

Before 1429, this place served as a poultry and gra.s.s market. In 1537, it was paved and enclosed with a low wall. In 1641, two stone Crosses, still visible in some ancient engravings, were placed at the two corners. In the time of _Pommeraye_, the _parvis_ Notre-Dame, was the place on which bonfires were lighted. At present it is the flower and seed market, regularly held on the sundays and fridays.

PLACE DE LA CALENDE.

It was formerly called _Port-Morant_, _port des navires_, or _port de Notre-Dame_, because, before the first dukes enclosed the Seine within certain limits, the vessels discharged their cargoes at this place. The house which is exactly opposite the porch of the church and on which we distinguish a dial, is the remains of the old _Hotel-Dieu_.

THE ROUGEMARE.

In the year 949, Otho, emperor of Germany, Louis IVth, king of France, and Arnold, count of Flanders, laid siege to the town of Rouen. The duke Richard Ist, surnamed _Sans-Peur_, made a _sortie_ by the _porte Beauvoisine_, and fell on the enemies of which he made a great slaughter. This action took place partly on the site of the present _Rouge-Mare_ (red-pool), from the blood with which it was covered.

In 1450, the _Rouge-Mare_ became the horse market, which has, since the end of the last century, been transferred to the _Boulingrin_. The _Rouge-Mare_ is now the b.u.t.ter market.

THE BOULINGRIN.

The English have returned to the French that which they had borrowed of them. Formerly, people did not go to walk on the _boulevard_, but on the _boule-verd_, from which the english have made _bowling-green_, a literal translation. From this word, the french derive their _Boulingrin_.

This place is situated at the junction of the rampes Beauvoisine and Saint-Hilaire; it is a vast square surrounded by a magnificent double row of horse chestnut trees. Since the horse market has been transferred to it, people commonly call it the _new Rouge-Mare_.

PUBLIC LIBRARY,

PICTURE GALLERY AND MUSEUMS.

PUBLIC LIBRARY,

_At the Town Hall._