Rouen Cathedral is a Catholic church in Rouen, Normandy.
It is famous for its three towers, each in a different style.
With the cathedral and the Church of Saint-Maclou, Saint-Ouen abbey is one of the principal French Gothic monuments of the city.
The church contains a large four-manual pipe organ built in 1890 by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. This instrument is considered to be one of the most important organs in France, and is notable for its powerful 32′ Contre-bombarde. The organ stands unaltered and thus is one of the few of his works to speak with its original voice.
The current church building was originally built as the abbey church of Saint-Ouen for the Benedictine Order, beginning in 1318 and interrupted by the Hundred Years’ War.
It was completed in the 15th century.
The church is 137 m in length under 33 m high vaults.
The tower was completed in the Flamboyant style.
The well-preserved stained glass of the nave dates to the 15th and 16th centuries, and features jewel tones among panels of clear and frosted white glass.
These materials allow more light to filter into the nave, creating a brighter interior than is typical of Gothic churches.
The west façade was never completed during the Middle Ages.
The present structure was constructed between 1846 and 1851.
