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The Caen Memorial
After discovering the D-Day Beaches, we recommend a visit to the Caen Memorial. On the 6th of June 1944 allied troops disembarked on Norman beaches to liberate the occupied Europe. The thousands of crosses that stand in the region's cemeteries tell of the violence of the war. The Caen Memorial was inaugurated in 1988 to commemorate the Battle of Normandy. This museum is first and foremost an international cultural centre dedicated to the 20th century history and to peace. The exhibitions are beautifully presented thanks to modern productions. The one dedicated to D-Day is exciting because it allows, on a giant screen, to follow the Landing simultaneously. The image is divided in two, from the allied point of view and from the German point of view. The Nobel Peace Prize Gallery has been celebrating all recipients of this award since its formation.
The Vaugueux District
The picturesque district where Edith Piaf’s family lived. A multitude of restaurants offering typical and traditional cuisine awaits you in a friendly atmosphere.
The Hotel of Escoville
Headquarters of the Tourist Office, this private mansion is one of the most typical of the first renaissance in Caen.
The Saint-Pierre Church
This parish church impresses with the luxury of its ornamentation. Raised in the 12th century, it was completed in the 16th century in the Renaissance style.
Le Jardin des Plantes
In the heart of the city, the garden owes its originality to Gallard de la Ducquerie, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine of Caen, who in 1689 bought the garden and filled it with rare plants. Today a space for games and relaxation, it allows to discover more than 2,000 different species.
L'Abbaye aux Hommes
To reconcile himself with the Vatican, that blamed William the Conqueror for having married the princess of Flanders, his distant cousin, the king undertook in 1066 the construction of the Abbaye aux Hommes. Begun in the Romanesque style, it was completed in the 13th century in the Gothic style. It shelters the tomb of the Duke-King. This remarkable masterpiece of architecture estonishes with the elegance of its lines combining the Romanesque aesthetics, the Gothic impetus and the classical majesty.
L'Abbaye aux Dames
Built between 1060 and 1080 by Queen Mathilde, this Abbey is the counterpart of the Abbaye aux Hommes. The Church of the Trinity, built in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 12th century, is a fine example of Romanesque art. One of the highlights is the beautiful crypt, whose Romanesque arches stand on 16 columns. Queen Mathilde rests in the heart of the church.
The Castle
It was built by William the Conqueror. It was damaged by the bombing of 1944 and restored after the war. It now houses the Caen Fine Arts Museum, the Museum of Normandy and the Saint-Georges Church.
