The commune of Maromme, in the Rouen metropolis, singled out in the Ugly France Awards 2024. A satirical award, awarded each year by the Paysages de France association, which fight against visual pollutionand in particular abusive advertising displays. In Maromme it is a 3×4 meter advertising panel, on the banks of the river, which is in question.
A sign largely ignored by passers-by
The area is quite pretty: a river, trees, a few half-timbered houses, but in front of a more modern facade, this big red advertising panel. Pedestrians, however, don't pay too much attention to it. : “I never spotted it“, “we are so flooded with advertisements that we don't even notice it anymore“, note two neighboring employees. Two local residents add: “It's part of the urban landscape unfortunately.” “It shouldn't become too imposing, but frankly it's okay“.
Moreover, the mayor of Maromme, David Lamiray, is a little surprised to see this sign pointed out: “I don't know how this place and this photo were chosen, because I could have found much uglier ones, with rusty signs, both in the city and elsewhere. So far, it's not the ugliest place.“.
Signs like this will soon disappear in Rouen
Especially since the days of this sign are numberedlike all those of this format in the Rouen metropolitan area: “The Metropolis implemented new advertising regulations at the start of 2024. This means that 3×4 meter panels like this no longer have any reason to be in the Metropolis. The crossing of Maromme will therefore see all of these signs disappear within a few months“.
And precisely, this is what the Paysages de France association, chaired by Jean-Marie Delalande, wanted to emphasize here: “There is an effort that has been made at the surface level of the advertising panels, and that's a good examplesince this panel will disappear completely“. Contrary to usual, we should therefore see, according to him, an encouragement in the prize awarded to Maromme.
In 2023, it is the entrance to the town of Honfleur, saturated with advertising panels, which received an ugly France prize, a very critical one.
