| The sectors |
| Choose a sector to show the stores and shops surrounding you: |
| The center |
 It is surrounded by ancient walls, where our actual boulevards are nowadays. It is the historical center of the city. Many street names remind us of the traditional commercial activities that used to be in these days. Despite the destruction of the city during WWII, the center kept its place and role. The exemplarery reconstruction that took place in the fifties and sixties kept the preservation of the trading activities that were there before. The creation of the pedestrain area during the seventies helped saving small shops. Nevertheless, changes have occurred in this kind of business. Convenience stores and food stores have often disappeared for the benefit of luxury stores. The area around the “place du Vieux Marché” – translation : Old Market Place – kept its historical activity of food stores. It’s still the “Rouen's Belly” that keeps its charm, allying permanent trade under the small covered market and street stalls.
One of the most important markets in the city was moved from the “place de la Haute-Vieille-Tour” after WWII. It has been relocated on the “clos Saint-Marc”. It still is today the week-end rendezvous point for many inhabitants of Rouen and its neighbourhood. |
| The south : |
 This suburb is more a residential place but however is not lacking of commercial activity. Around the “place des Emmurées” and the “Boulevard d’Orléans”, a lot of convenience stores are still busy. The great mall of Saint-Sever, first of his kind in this area, is the center of commercial activity for that district. Under the same roof you will find a supermarket along with various stores. |
| The West : |
 The great ships went further down the river. The docks were deserted, but nowadays their area is on the way to become a new dynamic district. On the right bank, the “avenue du Mont Riboudet” is keeping its traditional function of car-selling center of Rouen. The old warehouses of the Docks have been renovated into various commercial firms: restaurants, sports facilities (fitness, squash, etc.). Especially the former "Docks et Entrepôts building" was transformed into a large mall called the Docks76. |
| The north : |
 Again, these are more residential districts with a some convenience stores. The commercial activity is more important around the railway station where you can find hotels and traditional stores sharing the space. The Jouvenet neighborhood and the “place du Boulingrin” take advantage of the “Métro-Bus” new terminus. |
| The East : |
 If the Robec Valley and the Robec river have mainly an industrial function, the road leading to Darnétal – eastern suburb – also kept is proximity stores. On the top of the hill, recently built districts also have commercial centers. “Les Sapins”, “la Lombardie” and “la Grand-Mare” are favouring the gathering of stores. Middle-sized supermarkets complete the commercial offer. |
| Jacques TANGUY www.rouen-histoire.com |
