Palais de Justice de Rouen (Rouen Courthouse), Rouen

The Rouen Courthouse, originally known as the Exchequer of Normandy, is one of the most iconic monuments of the Norman capital. Its construction primarily took place between 1499 and 1507 to accommodate the Parloir aux Bourgeois and the former Exchequer of Normandy. In 1515, during the reign of Francis I, it became the Parliament of Normandy, and from the French Revolution onwards, it served as a courthouse. The building was later expanded in the 19th century towards Jeanne-d'Arc Street and Socrate Street.

The courthouse reflects the renewed prosperity of Rouen in the late 15th century, revitalizing a previously neglected municipal heritage. It is a prime example of Louis XII style civil architecture from the early 16th century and was first classified as a historic monument in the 1840 list. Its design closely resembles that of the Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde and the Finance Office from the same period.

On April 19, 1944, the building suffered severe damage during a major bombing of Rouen, with the most significant destruction occurring in August, just before the city’s liberation, nearly obliterating the central structure in the Louis XII style. Following these events, the courthouse underwent extensive partial reconstruction, with the meticulous restoration reaching near completion by 1977, confirming its classification as a historic monument, and earning its final registration in 1979.

The courthouse is one of the few remaining examples of late Middle Ages civil Gothic architecture in France. Its grand façade, inspired by the architectural vocabulary of religious buildings, reflects the post-Hundred Years' War ambition to showcase the city's revived urban power.