On the 6th of June 1944, Caen was plunged into the heart of a brand new page in world history, shaped by the D-Day Landings in Normandy.

Since, the town of Caen has overtly asserted its values and its commitment to peace, solidarity and the preservation of Human Rights, via the creation of the Mémorial – City of History for Peace.

The message conveyed here earned the town an Honourable Mention during the Unesco Cities for Peace prize in 1999.

Caen is also a harmonious example of post-war reconstruction to which its vast and spacious avenues with their buildings in Caen stone bear fine witness. Curious visitors can learn all the town’s secrets over a guided tour.

The Musée des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Museum) and the Musée de Normandie (Normandy Museum) offer a varied and regularly renewed programme of exhibitions. All year round, Caen is enlivened by a number of cultural and popular events.

Set off from the marina in the centre of Caen and sail up the Orne canal or enjoy a cycle along its banks on your way to Ouistreham, on the coast.
Enjoy a drink on one of the Vaugueux quarter patios or alongside the marina; don’t forget a day out shopping in the lively pedestrian streets, or a breath of fresh air at the Colline aux Oiseaux park or the Botanical Gardens… In Caen, a multitude of simple pleasures await you.
Caen, the ideal base in the heart of Calvados, for a discovery tour of Normandy’s many treasures.