Overview
Caen is a modern city rebuilt after WWII destruction, yet it retains remarkable medieval heritage including two Romanesque abbeys founded by William the Conqueror. With about one-third of its 108,000 residents being students, the city has a lively, youthful atmosphere.
Architecture · Culture · Day Trips · Festivals · History
Before you go
Culture
Caen Student Carnival in March/April is Europe's largest student festival with 35,000 participants. The city has a young population with one-third students at University of Caen.
Food
Try tripes à la mode de Caen, the local tripe stew cooked in cider. The Vaugueux district has the best concentration of traditional restaurants.
History
Caen was heavily bombed in 1944; four-fifths of the city was destroyed. The Memorial for Peace documents WWII and Cold War history. The city serves as the best base for visiting D-Day landing sites.
Shopping
Les Rives de l'Orne shopping center is next to the train station. Sunday morning market near Port de Plaisance is the fifth largest in France.
Transport
The Twisto tram and bus network covers Caen and suburbs. Bus verts serves wider Normandy. Caen Airport (CFR) at Carpiquet has flights to Lyon, Nice, and Paris.