Caen Attractions
Caen, situated on the river Orne 14km/9mi above its outflow into the Channel, is the chief town of Lower Normandy and the département of Calvados and the seat of a university. Although three-quarters of the town was destroyed during the Allied landings in June-July 1944, it is still, after large-scale reconstruction and with its magnificent churches which were almost entirely unscathed by the war, second only to Rouen as one of the main tourist centers of Normandy. The port to the east of the town is one of the most important in France. Caen also has iron and steel, engineering and electrical industries.
There was originally a Gallo-Roman settlement on the site. Later the town developed into the administrative center of Normandy, ranking alongside Rouen. It first became French in 1204, and was finally incorporated in France in 1450.
There was originally a Gallo-Roman settlement on the site. Later the town developed into the administrative center of Normandy, ranking alongside Rouen. It first became French in 1204, and was finally incorporated in France in 1450.
Jardin de Plantes
In Caen, to the west of the castle is the Jardin des Plantes, a beautifully laid out botanical garden.
The garden began in 1689 by John Callard of Ducquerie, with a few plants in his private garden. Two greenhouses were built in 1860 and the Botanical Institute was built in 1891. Jardin des Plantes did not weather the bombings in 1944 so restoration began and new greenhouses were added in 1988.
The garden began in 1689 by John Callard of Ducquerie, with a few plants in his private garden. Two greenhouses were built in 1860 and the Botanical Institute was built in 1891. Jardin des Plantes did not weather the bombings in 1944 so restoration began and new greenhouses were added in 1988.
Hours
February 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
April 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 | 19:30 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
September 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
November 1 to January 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
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La Trinité
La Trinité is a Romanesque church built by the wife of William the Conqueror in the 11th C. Her tomb is contained in the church.
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Museums
Some of Caen's main tourist attractions are the museums. Among the highlights are the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Musée de Normandie.
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Place St Pierre
On Place St Pierre stands the old St-Pierre church and a monument to Joan of Arc.
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St Étienne
The Norman style St Etienne church, built by William the Conqueror in 1066, has a lovely facade and contains his tomb.
Caen Castle
In Caen, occupying an extensive area on the hill which rises immediately to the north of Place St-Pierre, is a castle built by William the Conqueror (1060; enlarged in 13th-15th C), now laid out in gardens, which is entered through the 14th C Porte des Champs on the east side. From the terrace and from the castle walls there are fine views of the town.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | Closed | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Caen Cedex - Aspects of Contemporary Music
This annual week-long festival takes place in mid-March and highlights contemporary musicians. In this spirit, numerous living composers are invited to the festival. Five chamber concerts are usually organized every year in the Grand Auditorium. In addition, there are theatrical presentations, art exhibitions and lectures running throughout the festival week.
Château de Canon
A classical temple stands at one end of the woods in the Château de Canon garden while a charming scarlet chinoiserie kiosk hangs over stream at the other end.
Hours
June 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Memorial de la Bataille de Normandie
Incorporating a variety of modern audio-visual displays, along with a to-scale Typhoon fighter-bomber, the Caen Mémorial museum demonstrates the history of the major 20th C. conflicts. Three films, D-Day, the Liberation of Europe and the Quest for Peace are all on show, each being about an hour in length.
Caen Mémorial pour la Paix
Espace Dwight Eisenhower
BP 6261
F-14066 Caen
France
Espace Dwight Eisenhower
BP 6261
F-14066 Caen
France
Hours
January 30 to February 11
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
February 12 to November 4
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
November 5 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Mémorial
The Mémorial, to the northwest of the town center, is a modern Peace Museum, built of light-colored sandstone in the form of a square block (architect Jacques Millet). Its themes are the two world wars and the means of ensuring and preserving peace.
Caen Mémorial pour la Paix
Espace Dwight Eisenhower
BP 6261
F-14066 Caen
France
Espace Dwight Eisenhower
BP 6261
F-14066 Caen
France
Hours
February 8 to July 11
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
July 12 to August 24
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
August 25 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Bastille Day - France (July 14)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Bastille Day - France (July 14)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
University (St Julien)
North of the castle are the imposing new buildings of the University. A short distance west is the church of St-Julien, on an elliptical plan, built in 1958 on the site of a church destroyed in 1944.
