Follow two iconic characters on an immersive, self-guided audio tour around this former ossuary.
Collect your audio guide from the Rouen Sites et Monuments reception desk.
10:00–18:30*
Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Tuesdays–Sundays during French school holidays (Zone B)
*Last audio guide collection at 12:00 and 18:00
Adult tour
During this immersive, self-guided, audio tour you will hear the story of Aître Saint-Maclou’s colourful past, told by an iconic character who worked in this former cemetery: the Gravedigger, with his endless stories, legends and anecdotes to share!
Join him as you wander around the courtyard, discovering the history of the Aître and the different roles it has played from its morbid past to the present day. But watch out for the Cat! An amusing and witty conversation between the two characters brings this audio experience to life in an original way.
Prices: Adult €5 | Duration: 30–45 mins | Available in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish and French Sign Language
Childs and family tours
In this audio tour, designed especially for children, it’s the Cat who leads the tour! Proud of his nine lives, he gently teases the Gravedigger when their paths cross along the way. Listen to the dialogue and sounds to discover the Aître in an original way.
With games to play at each information point, children will have fun learning about the Aître Saint-Maclou. And with the help of the Cat, young visitors can set off to find the clues hidden in the macabre designs of the courtyard’s façades.
Prices: Child €3 | Duration: 30–45 mins | Ages 7–12 | Only available in French
Aître Saint-Maclou
During the 14th century, war, famine and the Plague decimated the population as never before. In the densely populated parish of Saint-Maclou, a new cemetery was created, called the Grand Aître [Large Churchyard]. By the 16th century, the cemetery had become overcrowded, so galleries were built around its perimeter to store skeletal remains.
The walls of the galleries were decorated with macabre designs, including skulls, coffins and gravediggers’ tools. The stone columns depict a danse macabre that is unique in Europe.