Saint-Maclou

church, Rouen, France

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July 13, 2026

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The church of Saint-Maclou in Rouen, France, is a prime example of the Flamboyant style of late Gothic architecture, dating from around 1500. This style, prevalent in 15th-century France and Spain, evolved from the earlier Rayonnant style and is characterized by an increased emphasis on decoration.12

A key feature of the Flamboyant style, evident in Saint-Maclou, is the extensive use of elaborate stone tracery in windows, often in flame-like S-shaped curves. This decorative element reduced the visible wall surface, creating an almost continuous expanse of glass and obscuring the building's structural logic. Rouen itself is a historic port city in northwestern France, known for its many historical buildings and architectural variety.13

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Western architecture
Late Gothic
…are in northern France—for example, Saint-Maclou in Rouen (c. 1500–14) and Notre-Dame in Alençon (c. 1500). France also produced a number of striking 16th-century towers (Rouen and Chartres cathedrals).
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…are in northern France—for example, Saint-Maclou in Rouen (c. 1500–14) and Notre-Dame in Alençon (c. 1500). France also produced a number of striking 16th-century towers (Rouen and Chartres cathedrals).
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Rouen
Contemporary city
…the mainly 15th-century church of Saint-Maclou, a rich example of Flamboyant Gothic. The church of Saint-Ouen (mainly 12th–15th centuries) has a striking interior and 14th-century windows. Famous secular buildings include the late Gothic Palais de Justice and the 16th-century Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde. The Gros-Horloge, a Renaissance gateway (1527) with an…
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…the mainly 15th-century church of Saint-Maclou, a rich example of Flamboyant Gothic. The church of Saint-Ouen (mainly 12th–15th centuries) has a striking interior and 14th-century windows. Famous secular buildings include the late Gothic Palais de Justice and the 16th-century Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde. The Gros-Horloge, a Renaissance gateway (1527) with an…
Read More