Caen between fortress, art and remembrance
Accommodation in Caen
Caen offers several clear starting points for a cultural and historical stay: a medieval château, two abbeys, the Mémorial de Caen and museums covering different periods. When looking for hotels in Caen, you can start planning your trip by deciding whether you would prefer to explore fortress history, art, remembrance or the history of Normandy in greater depth.
Fortress, art and monastic history
The Château de Caen was built around 1060 by William the Conqueror and is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. It is located in the heart of the city. The grounds of the Château de Caen are freely accessible daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; check opening hours before your arrival. A tour of the Château includes privileged access to the keep and the Queen Mathilde Tower; the tour programme may change.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts is located within the Château. In the field of 16th- and 17th-century European painting, it is one of the most important museums in France. The offerings include temporary exhibitions and family workshops; the programme may change. This brings together the history of a medieval fortress and the art of two later centuries at the Château. If you are planning to visit a particular exhibition or attend a workshop, check the current dates.
The Abbaye-aux-Hommes offers another connection to the history of William the Conqueror: his tomb remains in the church choir. The historic areas of the complex are open to visitors and include the cloister and exhibitions on the history of the abbey. The Abbaye-aux-Dames is the former Benedictine abbey of the Trinité de Caen. William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders founded it around 1059–1060. The two abbeys offer different points of interest: at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, the tomb and historic areas take centre stage, while at the Abbaye-aux-Dames, the focus is on its founding by the ruling couple.
Remembrance and the history of Normandy
The Mémorial de Caen presents the history of the Second World War through an immersive experience and exceptional archival documents. The Mémorial’s Jardins du Souvenir commemorate resistance fighters and Allied soldiers who fell in Normandy. Annual commemorations of the Allied landings take place there around 6 June. If these commemorations are important to your trip, check the specific event dates.
The Musée de Normandie focuses on the history of the people of Normandy as a whole. Drawing on significant archaeological and ethnographic collections, its coverage ranges from prehistory to the great migrations of the early Middle Ages. Compared with the Mémorial’s focus on the Second World War and the medieval connections at the Château and abbeys, the museum offers a long sweep of regional history. The Musée de Normandie is a 10-minute tram ride from the SNCF railway station; the stop is called Château-Quatrans. Check the route and stop before travelling.
Guided tours at the Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes offers guided tours for groups and people with disabilities on request. As booking arrangements may change, please enquire in advance if you would like a tour.
Discover more destinations: Bernières-le-Patry, Saint-Ouen-Du-Mesnil-Oger, Tracy-Sur-Mer, Le Torquesne, Pont-Farcy, Saint-Pierre-Sur-Dives, Colleville-Montgomery, Le Pré-D'auge
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