From Wikitravel

Falaise is a town (population 9,000) on the Ante River in the French region of Basse-Normandie, famous as the birthplace of William the Conquerer and as the scene of the fierce fighting of August 1944 associated with the Allied "breakout" from the "Falaise pocket" that built up after the D-Day landings, to drive towards Paris during the Western campaign against Nazi occupation.

[edit] Understand

In August 1944 two German armies were encircled and destroyed by the British 2nd Army in their attempt to breakout of the "Falaise pocket" (also known as the "Falaise gap"). Some 10,000 German troops were killed and 50,000 taken prisoner. Two-thirds of Falaise was destroyed by Allied bombing before the town was eventually taken by Canadian and Polish troops. Falaise was largely restored after the war.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By road

From Paris, Falaise is a 262 km (2 hr 40 mins) drive west of the French capital (A13 motorway, then south from Caen.

Located in the southern reaches of Normandy, a visit to Falaise represents a half-day excursion from the other major towns of Normandy:

• from Caen: 40 km (30 mins)
• from Bayeux: 69 km (60 mins)
• from Cherbourg: 159 km (1 hr 50 mins)
• from Rouen: 156 km (1 hr 40 mins)

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• the Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant de Falaise [1], Place Guillaume le Conquérant, tel 02 31 41 61 44, fax 02 31 41 66 87, open Feb—Dec 10am-6pm (closes 7 pm Jul and Aug), NB: closed 8 Jan—9 Feb inclusive and Christmas Day, admission adults €6.50, concessions and students €5, children 6-16 €3 - William the Conquerer's birthplace and an important stronghold of the Dukes of Normandy and English kings until the French king Phillipe Augustus wrested the castle from the hands of King John in 1204. The castle remains an impressive example of Norman fortification. Excellent audio-visual displays. English guided tours available (phone ahead). Castle shop.

• the Mémorial de Coudehard-Montormel [2] - a memorial and museum devoted the battle of Falaise

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

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[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Get out

Having visited Falaise, excursions to other centres important in the life of William the Conquerer might be appropriate.... Caen and Bayeux lie less than an hour's drive to the north of the city.

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