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Prefecture and commune in Normandy, France
Photo: Ken Bell, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Caen is the capital and largest city of the Calvados department in Normandy. Situated a few miles from the coast, the landing beaches, the bustling resorts of Deauville and Cabourg, as well as Norman Switzerland and the Pays d'Auge, Caen is often considered the archetype of Normandy. Of its population of 108,000 (2022), about one third are students at the University of Caen, the school of fine arts, or the business school.
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Mémorial de Caen
A modern museum focusing on Second World War and the Cold War.
L'abbaye aux Hommes - Men's abbey
A wonderful example of Romanesque architecture. Houses the tomb of William the Conqueror
l'abbaye aux Dames - women's abbey
A wonderful example of Romanesque architecture.
Fine arts museum.
Musée de Normandie
Château ducal de Caen
William the Conqueror's castle, one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.
Église Saint-Pierre
Église Saint-Nicolas de Caen
Brasserie
Down home cooking
Brasserie
Italian
French cuisine.
Vegan
Haute French restaurant
The market in Caen on a Sunday morning, around the Port de Plaisance is the 5th largest in France and is a great place to wander and buy some fantastic local produce.
By train
Trains leave about every 2 hr from Paris Saint-Lazare station to Caen and Cherbourg.30. If you book early, you can get tickets as cheap as €15.40 for people under 25.
By ferry
Ferries cross the Channel from Portsmouth (UK) to Ouistreham, 15 km north of Caen with buses from the ferry terminal to Caen train station.
By plane
The bus verts will get you around Normandy easily. Within Caen and its close suburbs, use the bus and tramway network, called twisto. The tram system consist of 3 lines, two of which pass the SNCF railway station.
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Caen · Regional · CFR
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