Caen

Did you know? Caen, the town that the Romans called Cadomus, came into its own in the 11th century when William the Conqueror had his castle built there, the better to keep watch over the nearby coast. The Duke of Normandy and future King of England turned Caen into a lively city and built churches and abbeys there. Merchants came from all over the region, boosting the prosperity of the Norman city and fanning the flames of envy. The English invaded on several occasions during the Hundred Years' War, Louis XIV embellished the town, the Girondins settled here after the French Revolution, before the Americans, English, Canadians and Germans all invaded the town.

Although it was sometimes rebuilt in haste, the town has preserved some happy vestiges of its past, in the pedestrian heart of the town, where a few medieval streets (rue Froide, rue de Vaugueux, etc.) have survived, and along the quays of the Bassin Saint-Pierre, a veritable urban port linked to the sea by a canal.

The surrounding area is also a feast for the eyes. The red, black and white cows and the white cherry blossoms are all part of this colourful Normandy that once inspired the greatest Impressionist painters. The town's strategic position, just a stone's throw from the English Channel, is a key factor in its charm. If you're staying in Caen, take the opportunity to drive twenty minutes or so to discover the beaches of the Côte Fleurie and their romantic seaside resorts, from Cabourg to Trouville. Mont Saint-Michel is also a must-see.

Want to discover Caen? Book your direct flight from Montpellier.

*Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation

Sites & monuments

• The château: the castle was built by William the Conqueror, and the thick walls surrounding a botanical garden and two museums still remain. There’s also a beautiful view from the walkway. 
• Men's Abbey: built by William to obtain a papal pardon after his marriage to his cousin. Curving around the Anglo-Norman Abbey of Saint-Etienne, which houses the tomb of the Conqueror, the 18th century conventual buildings now house the Town Hall.
• Ladies' Abbey: the counterpart to the Men's Abbey, this time built by William the Conqueror's wife, Matilda. Around its Romanesque Trinity Church, which hosts a lovely crypt, you will find attractive buildings with sober lines, and a French garden in the cloister courtyard. 
• Hôtel d'Escoville: built in the 16th century, this is one of the most beautiful vestiges of the Renaissance style, right in the heart of the town. It was largely rebuilt after the 1944 bombings.
• Place Saint-Sauveur: formerly Place du Pilori, this elegant square lined with private mansions is dominated by Saint Sauveur church, which was completely rebuilt after the war. It hosts temporary exhibitions. 
• The streets in the centre: rue Froide, rue du Vaugueux, rue aux Fromages or rue Ecuyère... their names and the rows of beautiful stone houses bear witness to Caen's rich past.

Museums

• Caen Memorial Museum: inaugurated in 1988, this is a must-see. From the rise of Nazism to the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s, via the Battle of Normandy in 1944, it has a wealth of objects and testimonies that are often poignant. The scenography is subtle, never boring.
• Musée de Normandie: in a 17th century building within the castle walls, the museum’s collections bear witness to the historical and cultural heritage of the region, particularly in the rooms displaying costumes and customs.
• Musée des Beaux-Arts: also in the castle grounds, but in a contemporary building, this fine arts museum is dedicated to paintings from the 15th to the 20th centuries, featuring the artists who captured Normandy on their canvases, notably those of the Barbizon school. 

Parks and gardens 

• Jardin des Plantes: this botanical garden laid out in the 18th century is an ideal spot to chill out or revise your botany, with more than 5000 species, notably in the exotic greenhouse or in the orange grove. 
• La Prairie: this green space at the gates of the racecourse, is a natural, protected area for walking, especially along the Orne.
• Chemin de halage: this towpath is now a hiking trail (GR 36) running along the Orne canal that links Caen to the sea (at Ouistreham), a 15 km walk or bike ride. 

Dishes

• Flatfish: sole, flounder and turbot are the best known fish in the Channel. 
• Scallops: this is one of the shellfish stars of the Normandy coast. 25,000 tonnes are caught each year, i.e. 2/3 of French production.
• Tripe: Caen style of course! Made from the four parts of the cow's stomach (the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum), and accompanied by carrots, onions and leeks.
• Andouille: this sausage is the speciality of the small town of Vire, in the very south of the Calvados department. It is smoked over beech wood. Veal escalope à la Normande - a cutlet prepared with mushrooms, mustard and fresh cream. 

Desserts

• Cheeses: Pont l'Evêque, Neufchâtel, Camembert and Livarot are the AOP (controlled designation of origin) cheeses of Normandy. In the village of Livarot, you can visit the E.Graindorge cheese factory.
• Apples: Melrose or Reine de Reinette, for cider or cooking, tart or bitter, the star fruit of the Normandy meadows.
  La tarte normande - an apple pie with a filling of flour, eggs, cream, sugar and a little calvados.
• Teurgoule: a sweet rice pudding, usually flavoured with cinnamon (sometimes vanilla), and baked in a very low oven. 

Drinks*

• Cider: the star drink! The Cider Route, which explores the Pays d'Auge (east of Caen), leads from villages to manor houses, on a discovery of the producers (18) and the local area.  
• Calvados: the famous Norman brandy (37.5° minimum), first introduced in the 16th century, is obtained by distilling cider or perry. Ideal for a "trou Normand", or a "café-calva" (a quick nip of spirits during or after the meal)! 
• Benedictine: made up of 27 ingredients, this was a health potion before it became a liqueur, and was developed by a Benedictine monk in 1510.

*alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation