Rouen, Its History and Monuments Part 9

[Footnote 19: Erected in 1626, it was demolished in september 1836.]

SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

The numerous commercial trading vessels, which come up the Seine, were formerly obliged to wait several days, before they could get along side the quay to discharge. It became essential to enlarge the port, for which reason the stone bridge, at the entrance to the town, was built; but this arrangement rendered another bridge indispensable; and in 1828, the town council consulted on the possibility of removing the bridge of boats farther down; but the bad state it was in, and the enormous sum it cost to keep it in repair, and the length of time it took to open it for the pa.s.sage of vessels, at once caused them to give up all idea of this old machine, formerly looked upon us a wonder; but, which did not now answer the purpose.

On the 8th of june 1834, a royal ordinance was issued, approving the undertaking. At last MM. Seguin brothers, civil engineers, and Pierre Colin, undertaker of public works, were, on the 16th october 1834, declared the approved contractors for the erection of the bridge; at the same time granting to them the receipts of the tolls for a period of 99 years, the bridge to be terminated at the latest, by the 1st of january 1837. And it was entirely completed by the 1st september 1836 (the very day the bridge of boats was suppressed). At the expiration of the 99 years, the bridge will become the property of the government. Its breadth is seven metres thirty centimetres, its length 197 metres, and the whole expense has amounted to 750,000 fr. On the left of the bridge is situated a guard house, and on the right Brune's house, erected by the city as a reward for courage and devotedness on many occasions.

RIVER AND RIVULETS.

THE RIVER SEINE.

The source of the Seine is to be found near the hamlet of Envergeraux, and about two leagues and half from the village of Saint-Seine, in Burgundy. After a course of more than 200 leagues from east to west, it falls into the Ocean, between Havre and Honfleur[20].

The depth of the Seine at Rouen allows this town to be cla.s.sed amongst the princ.i.p.al ports of France. They calculate at from 2000 to 2500 the number of vessels of all sizes, which annually come this port.

[Footnote 20: See: _Voyage from Havre to Rouen_; and _Excursion from Rouen to Paris, by the Seine_. Rouen, 1839, in-18vo, with maps and plates.]

ROBEC.

This rivulet has its source near the village of _Fontaine-sous-Preaux_; about two leagues from Rouen, runs through five _communes_, and enters Rouen by the suburb Saint-Hilaire; pa.s.sing through the town, it falls into the Seine, near the stone bridge.

AUBETTE.

The Aubette has its source at Saint-Aubin, a small village near Rouen.

This rivulet runs through _Saint-Leger-du-bourg-Denis_, _Darnetal_, enters Rouen by the suburb Martainville, and falls into the Seine, at the entrance to the _Cours-Dauphin_, near the porte _Guillaume-Lion_.

These two rivers are specially useful for mills and dying establishments.

RENELLE.

If the etymology of the name _Renelle_ is doubtful, the utility of the stream at least is not so. It supplies numerous tanneries, of which there are still a great many in the street which bears its name. This sort of industry is very ancient in Rouen, and has never been established in any other part of the town. On the 22nd of march 1560, the parliament issued an act, ordering all the tanners to remove their establishments to the _Eau-de-Robec_; but, they said that they required clear water to carry on their trade, and therefore, were allowed, by order of the king, to remain on the Renelle. This rivulet comes from the Gaalor spring, and flows from the fountain of the _Bailliage_, almost in a straight line to the Seine, into which it falls.

FOUNTAINS.

The more churches there were in a town, there should be as many public fountains. Under the ancient law, a tub was placed at the entrance of the temples, in which the priests washed their hands and feet; under the new, and in imitation, fountains were placed near the churches, where the christians, before entering, washed their face and hands. This remark was applicable especially, in Rouen, before the revolution, where the number of churches and fountains was quite equal. There are not now thirty seven parochial churches; but we can still count thirty six public fountains, not including those in many private houses.

Of all these fountains, only seven merit particular attention, from their architectural and historical character. They are the fountains of the _Croix-de-Pierre_, the _Crosse_, the _Grosse-Horloge_, the _Vieux-Marche_, the _Pucelle_, _Saint-Maclou_, and _Lisieux_.

FOUNTAIN OF THE CROIX-DE-PIERRE,

_Carrefour Saint-Vivien._

There formerly existed, not far from the fountain known at present under the name of the _Croix-de-Pierre_ (stone cross), a cross, which had been raised through the piety of the inhabitants; but, we now can find no authentic doc.u.ment of the period of its being erected; all we know is that it had been rebuilt in the year 1628.

This fountain is composed of three part.i.tions in the form of a pyramid, and is ornamented with some statues; its appearance is exceedingly fine.

One may still form an idea of the beauty of its architecture, in spite of its ruinous condition, and even the repairs it has undergone.

FOUNTAIN OF THE CROSSE,

_At the corner of the streets des Carmes, and de l'Hopital._

This is a small monument in the gothic style of the end of the XVth century. The sculptures which decorate it, are remarkable for their fineness and delicacy. It is surmounted by a royal crown. Its name comes from its being situated at the corner of the house, which had for sign the crozier belonging to the monks of Notre-Dame de l'Ile-Dieu.

Some etymologists see in the word _Crosse_, an alteration of the english word _cross_. In the year 1815, this fountain was completely renewed.

FOUNTAIN OF THE GROSSE-HORLOGE,

_At the corner of the streets des Vergetiers, and the Grande-Rue._

FOUNTAIN OF THE VIEUX-MARCHe,

_On the old market place._

A modern square building, of the doric order. It was erected by Mr Bouet, an architect of Rouen.

FOUNTAINS OF SAINT-MACLOU, AND OF THE PUCELLE.

Strangers will be repaid for their trouble in going to see these fountains. The first, is situated at the corner of the church of Saint-Maclou; there remain still two figures of children, an elegant creation of Jean Goujon. We mention the second, the _fountain of the Pucelle_, on the place of the same name, on account of the historical recollections, which are attached to it. It is a heavy composition of Paul Slodtz. Its want of style causes us to regret the beautiful triangular fountain, which was erected after the execution, in this square; of the _heroine of Vaucouleurs_, a monument which instead of destroying, they should have tried to preserve.

FOUNTAIN OF LISIEUX,

_Rue de la Savonnerie._

This fountain is by far the most remarkable of the whole. It is thus named on account of its being erected against a house, which belonged to the bishop of Lisieux, who lodged in it when he came to Rouen. At the top of the pyramid, we may remark Apollo, dressed in a most extraordinary manner, and represented playing on the harp. Under the G.o.d of the poets, we distinguish the horse Pegasus. Immediately beneath, a figure with three heads is represented, of which the ma.n.u.scripts make a _philosophy_[21]. The nine muses are distributed in the rest of the masonry, under the figure with three heads, which might almost be that of a Hecate. Rocks, trees, turf and sheep, form the accompaniements of this _Mount-Parna.s.sus_.

The water ran formerly from two bra.s.s figures of Salamanders, which indicated the date of the time of Francis the first. Mutilated as it is, this monument is still very curious, and merits to be visited. Its erection dates from the year 1518.

[Footnote 21: According to these ma.n.u.scripts, the three heads represent _Logic_, _Philosophy_ and _Metaphysics_. They were surmounted by a crown.]