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 space 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 Hôtel 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 Hôtel 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 Marché-aux-Veaux, on account of its former destination. It is then on the old market place, that the French heroine was sacrificed to the superstition of that age.
NEW MARKET.
Fruit, eggs, cream cheeses, or small Neufchâtel 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 This monument has been replaced by the present obelisk, which furnishes an abundant supply of water to the inhabitants of this quarter.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 grass 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 Hôtel-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 butter market.