« It was on leaving the train station* that I used to discover Rouen.

It was a real pleasure each morning. The river stretched out between the town and us, creating a perfect picture postcard image. A row of identical grey houses lined the banks.

Behind this noble façade, the town, which was all huddled up and hemmed in by the river and hillside, seemed to be launching an attack on the hills. From the green peaks of Bonsecours to the slopes of Canteleu, the sky was dotted with roofs and bell towers. The cathedral's triple crown formed a centrepiece and summit. In this composition there was a combination of orderliness and fantasy that filled our young hearts with silent, strong enthusiasm. »

André Maurois, Rouen , 1928.