ARMADA OF ROUEN. The world’s first gathering of tall ships begins this Thursday, June 8, 2023. What entertainment and activities are on the program? Which ships to visit?
[Updated June 6, 2023 at 12:37 p.m.] From this Thursday, June 8, 2023, the Armada is preparing to gather nearly 6 million people in front of some fifty exceptional ships, in a festive atmosphere completely free of charge. The Association of the Armada of Rouen will also take advantage of the opportunity of this opening day to propose an ambitious world day of the oceans with the participation of a dozen eminent researchers from the Institute of the ocean of the Sorbonne University Alliance, the first marine university in Europe, which will speak to the general public about the ocean depths, marine mammals and the maritime history of Rouen and the Seine.
On the entertainment program until Sunday, June 18, the end date of the Rouen Armada: a parade in town, the race of sailors of 30 different nationalities, religious ceremony for sailors, fireworks every evening at 11:30 p.m. artistic events, free concerts… not forgetting the long-awaited Grand Parade on the banks of Rouen in Le Havre, on Sunday June 18. Discover below the detailed program as well as the fifty boats that can be visited for free during the event.
The 2023 edition of the Rouen Armada is placed under the sponsorship of the writer Michel Bussi. It is intended to be “a new invitation to discover ships steeped in history in a spirit of maritime celebration”. Here are the program highlights:
In total, around fifty ships are present at the 2023 edition of the Rouen Armada, along the 7 kilometers of quays, offering a unique reception area in the world. They can all be visited free of charge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day:
“Among these signed ships, several are particularly committed to young people in protecting the oceans, thus joining the commitments and philosophy of L’Armada Rouen 2023”, announced the president of the Armada Jean-Paul Rivière. In addition, around twenty boat trips facilitate discovery from the river. While waiting to see the sailboats of the Armada de Rouen 2023, here are the photos of the previous edition:
Discover below the poster of the Armada de Rouen, an internal creation of the Association Armada de la liberté and the hundreds of volunteers who carry the event:
The Rouen Armada has the advantage of being a completely free event for all visitors. Only the food and goodies found on site are chargeable. Be sure to visit the event’s website to discover or rediscover the boats that have already come during the 7 previous editions and join the Rouen Armada on social networks (Facebook and Twitter).
The 8th edition of the Armada de Rouen takes place from Thursday 8 to Sunday 18 June 2023. 6 million visitors are expected on the quays of the port of Rouen for this 8th edition, in order to welcome the most beautiful and largest boats that will have gone up the Seine, from Le Havre to Paris, over 120 kilometres.
The Armada de Rouen is the most important event in the world of the sea which takes place every four to six years in Rouen. The idea for this event on the quays of Rouen was born in 1983. Two years later, the association “Les voiles de la liberté” was born by creating, in 1986, the famous “Course de la Liberté Rouen-New York”. In 1994, the first Armada was created (“Armada of freedom”) and will be followed 5 years later by “The armada of the century”. Finally, the first “Armada de Rouen” was born in 1989. It welcomed that year, for its first edition, 9 million people. Coming from the distant ports of the Baltic Sea, the Polar Seas or the Caribbean, the sailboats of the Armada are among the most beautiful in the world.
