During your stay at our campsite in Normandy, discover Caen, the City of William the Conqueror, accessible in 30 minutes by car from our 3-star campsite in Calvados Reine Mathilde.
The Caen Memorial
Housed in a former German command bunker, the Caen Memorial retraces the history of the Second World War, the D-Day Landings on 6 June 1944, the Battle of Normandy and the Cold War. A very comprehensive and interesting museum, well worth a visit before setting foot on the D-Day beaches.
Saint-Pierre church in Caen
Right in the centre of town, Caen's Saint-Pierre church is one of the jewels of Normandy's heritage. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, it combines a Radiant Gothic style with Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance ornamentation.
The Men's Abbey
Founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror, Saint-Etienne's Abbey in Caen is one of the most important abbeys in Normandy, both architecturally and historically. The abbey church houses the tomb of William the Conqueror.
The Abbaye aux Dames
Built around 1060 by William the Conqueror, the Romanesque abbey church houses the tomb of Matilda of Flanders, Duchess of Normandy, Queen of England and wife of William the Conqueror. From the medieval crypt to the 18th-century convent and the cloister room, over 950 years of history are revealed.
The Bird Hill
Nestling behind the Caen Memorial, in the Folie district, this pretty 17-hectare floral park is home to beautiful green spaces with several different atmospheres: a rose garden, a plant maze, a small animal park, a miniature golf course and a children's playground. A calm and relaxing place to take a break between two visits.
Caen Castle
The favourite residence of the Dukes of Normandy, Kings of England, built around 1060 by William the Conqueror, Caen Castle is now home to the Musée de Normandie and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. There is also the Salle de l'Echiquier, the governors' residence and the church of Saint-Georges. The ramparts offer an unbeatable view of the Norman capital.
The Vaugueux medieval quarter
Just a stone's throw from the castle and port, the Vaugueux district is famous for its cobbled streets, medieval Caen stone houses and restaurants. A pedestrianised and authentic district, typically Norman, miraculously spared by the Allied bombardments in the summer of 1944.
The Jardin des Plantes
Created in 1736 on former stone quarries, Caen's Jardin des Plantes is one of the oldest botanical gardens in France. A haven of greenery in the heart of the city, it houses rich botanical collections: regional flora, a garden of useful plants, tropical greenhouses, exotic and medicinal plants.
Photo credit: Photo 911 / Calvados Attractivité