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Caen is the capital of the Basse-Normandie region and Calvados département of northern France. Population 115,000.

[edit] Understand

Caen is a college city, very active. In summer, tourists (mainly British and German) gather in Normandy for WWII remains and the Memorial for peace. Caen is a modern city, 80% leveled in 1944 and rebuilt in the 50s and 60s. However, some old buildings remain, especially churches.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

• from Paris, by A13 motorway (2 hours) (toll).
• from Cherbourg by N13.
• from Rouen, by A13 or N175 (toll).
• from Rennes by A84.
• from Tours and Le Mans, by N138, via N158 at Sées.

[edit] By train

• trains leave about every 2 hours from Paris Saint-Lazare station to Caen and Cherbourg. It lasts about 2 hours long, costs 29,10 € (full price). If you book early, you can get tickets as cheap as 15 €. Out of rush hours, tickets cost 22,40 € for people under 25 years-old.
• Note that the train posting in Paris St-Lazare can be confusing to the first time traveler. The train line number ("la voie") is not posted unil 15-20 minutes before the departure, so do not panic if you arrive earlier than that (notice that the train will be at a line number near to the office "Grandes Lignes"). Look for the train heading to Cherbourg. Caen will not be the listed destination, as it is a stop along the way. Do not forget to punch ("composter") your ticket in one of the yellow machines before boarding. This will validate your ticket.

[edit] By ferry

Ferries cross the Channel from Portsmouth (UK) to Ouistreham, 15 km north of Caen.

[edit] Get around

bus verts will get you around Normandy pretty easily. Within Caen and its close suburbs, use the bus and tramway network, called twisto.

• L'abbaye d'Ardenne
• Les plages du Débarquement
• Les villes balnéaires de la côte Fleurie : Cabourg, Houlgate, Deauville, Trouville...
• Les petites stations balnéaires de la côte de Nacre
• Le pays d'Auge
• La Suisse normande
• Le Bessin
• Le Bocage virois
• Le Mont Saint Michel

[edit][add listing] See

• Memorial for peace: a modern museum focusing on second world war and the Cold War: http://www.memorial.fr
• L'abbaye aux Hommes (Men's abbey) and l'abbaye aux Dames (women's abbey), wonderful example of romanic architecture
• Fine arts museum
• Museum of Normandy, within the Castle (free entrance)
• Caen Castle / Château ducal de Caen - William the Conqueror's castle, one of the largest medieval castles in Europe
• Saint-Pierre church
• Saint-Nicolas church and cemetery
• Escoville mansion
• Saint-Jean church
• Vaugueux district
• La rue Froide and Saint-Sauveur church
• Caen is 15 km away from the D-Day beaches

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

The Vaugueux is full of restaurants.

[edit][add listing] Drink

The Rue Ecuyère, near to the Rue Saint Pierre is famous for its bars. If you are looking for a pub, you will find some at the harbour located Quai Vendeuve.

[edit] Get out

• The little 17-th century harbor of Honfleur (179 km north-east)