Passage De La Petite Horloge, Rouen Travel Guide

The Passage de la Petite Horloge, or Passage of the Small Clock, is a unique and somewhat secretive spot in Rouen. Unlike the famous Gros-Horloge, this petite version is hidden within a passageway connecting Rue des Faulx and Rue Eau-de-Robec. The passage itself is easy to miss, as there are no signs indicating its presence.As you walk through the passage, light gradually appears, revealing a private courtyard. In a corner of this courtyard, a slightly dusty clock face catches the eye. The story goes that the father of the current owner opened this small courtyard for personal use and for the other residents in 1978. Around 1982, being a clockmaker by trade, he installed one of his creations there.More of a charming curiosity than a historical landmark, the passage and its little clock never cease to intrigue those who find it. Sheltered from the public eye, time seems to stand still here, a sentiment reinforced by the static hands of the small clock.