Farnborough to Cannes

Rouen's Gothic Cathedral is a world famous landmark, magnificent and ornate - it has been the subject of many famous paintings including one by Monet.

This map of the Seine drainage basin shows how the river becomes wider, deeper and more meandering at Rouen - the limit of navigation for sea-going vessels.

Vessels moor on the bank of the Seine, right in the heart of Rouen, with the juxtaposition of ancient buildings and traditions with new technology and development.

Diagrams of dredging vessels and techniques from the early 1900s - these were crucial to maintaining the clear and deep channels that Rouen required for sea-going vessels.

A depiction of Roman ships from the 3rd century - the Romans saw Rouen, or Rotomagus as they knew it, as an important port for trade and access to the sea.

A Roman "dodecaeder" found in Rouen - the mysterious object is thought to be used to measure distances on land for surveys but its actual use is unknown.

A modern day replica of a Viking ship such as those that Rollo and his people would have used to explore the French coast and attack and seize Rotomagus.

A memorial to Rollo, the Viking king and first Duke of Normandy, in Rouen Cathedral.

A Roman-Gallic statue of Apollo dating from the 2nd century, found near Rouen, would have been part of a theatre and a sign of wealth and prosperity.

An engraving from 1657 showing the city of Rouen: the Seine has played a major role in the development of the city throughout its history.

A statue of King William I, "William the Conqueror", great-great-grandson of the Viking king Rollo and leader of the Norman conquest of England.

A broad meander in the Seine at Le Mesnil-sous-Jumièges, just west of Rouen, continually eroding the banks and widening the flood plain.

The interior of the Gothic Cathedral in Rouen - a magnificent and famous site, replacing the original Romanesque Cathedral which burnt down in 1200.

An early morning view of the beautiful ornate Gothic architecture of Rouen's cathedral towers.

A statue depiciting Joan of Arc, one of the patron saints of France, who was burned at the stake in Rouen during the Hundred Years' War.

A painting from 1550 depicting the celebrations, a "Brazillian Ball", held for Henry V on his arrival at Rouen for the surrender of the city.

A depiction of the Battle of Agincourt, one of the defining battles of the Hundred Years' War, from 1415.

The French flag with the Cross of Lorraine - a symbolic reference to Joan of Arc - was later used as a symbol of the Free French Forces during World War II.

An 1843 oil painting depicting Joan of Arc's Death at the stake - she was burned to death in the Vieux-Marché in Rouen.

Le tour Jeanne d'Arc in Rouen, where Joan was held and threatened with torture after being sold to the English.

The stained glass windows within the modern Church of Jeanne d'Arc, standing in the square where she was burnt at the stake, depict her life and achievements and devotion to God.

A late 16th or early 17th century portrait of Henry V, the leader of the English forces who won the Battle of Agincourt and took Rouen as the seat of English power in France.

Claude Monet's "Ships Riding on the Seine at Rouen" gives a feel of the atmopshere of trading ships in the late 19th century.

Port facilities along the banks of the Seine in Rouen, France's largest port for grain, sugar and flour exports.

Bridges on the Seine at night: from bottom to top - Pont Corneille, Pont Boieldieu, Pont Jeanne-d’Arc, Pont Guillaume-le-Conquérant, Pont Gustave-Flaubert.

The Seine River, running straight through the heart of the city, has played an important role in shaping and building Rouen's history.

The view from the top of the lifting tower of the Pont Gustave-Flaubert, watching a barge arrive in the port.

A panoramic view of the Seine from St. Catherine's Hill as it runs through Rouen.

The Gros Horloge (large clock) in Rouen dates from the 15th and 16th century and is an example of the wealth and prominence of the port at that time.

The Mexican tall ship Cuauatemoc takes part in the Armada Rouen, one of the largest gatherings of tall ships in the world.

These half-timbered houses were built in the early 15th century by wealthy traders and merchants, and can be found in excellent condition throughout Rouen.

Commerical tugs play an important part in managing larger ships and the loading and unloading of cargo on the Seine in Rouen.

1903 - The docks and transporter bridge across the river Seine within Rouen.

This map of Rouen highlights that the Seine is at the heart of the city, scything it in two with the docks dominating the western part of Rouen.

The Pont Gustave-Flaubert over the Seine in Rouen. At 86m, it is the highest vertical lift bridge in the world.