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One of the two most important towns of Normandy, Caen is known to be William the Conqueror's hometown and is where he and his wife Matilda of Flanders had two great Abbeys built. Even though most of the town was destroyed during the 2nd World War, some of the great monuments have survived and the historic center was well restored making the town an attractive destination.
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Caen is a perfect location if you want to discover the major highlights that the Normandy region has to offer. Within the city there are a number of monuments to visit such as Abbaye aux Dames and Abbaye aux Hommes, the Vaugueux neighbourhood, the Marina and the WWII Memorial museum with its fascinating D-Day exhibit;
A bit of history
There is not much known about Caen before the early 11th century. It is with William the Conqueror that the city really begins to be mentionned. He will have a fortress built as well as the famous Saint Stephen and Trinity Abbeys. The town became the possession of the King of France Philippe-Auguste in 1204 but the town fell back into English hand during the 100 years War. The town will remain English until 1450.
After a series of plague pandemics, the town was shaked by the war of Religions between Catholics and Protestants. The latter took the town and devastated the Abbeys and Churches. After the Edict of Amboise of 1563 the fighting eventually stopped.
The next most important event in the history of Caen takes place on June 6th 1944. After the Normandy landings, Caen is one of the main objectives of the Allied Forces. According to the original plans, the city was to be liberated on the first day but that did not happen. The town will not be liberated until August of 1944 and in just a month of intense bombing that town has lost nearly 70% of its buildings.
Our Private day trips from Caen
We organise private half day and full day trips departing from Caen. We will come and pick you up directly at the train station, your hotel, accommodation or Airbnb in Caen and have you discover the most important landmarks of the region. From a guided walking tour of Caen with a licensed tour guide, to a full day trip to the Normandy landing beaches including Omaha, Utah, Sword or Juno beach, let our local guides, experts of Normandy show you around.
We also operate tours that include some of the most beautiful towns and villages of the Region. Visit Honfleur a major destination for Impressionist painters in the 19th century. We will also take you to Beuvron village in the Pays d'Auge, one of the most charming villages of the region and located in the heart of the Calvados Brandy producing region. Another highlight of the region is Mont Saint Michel. Let our professional certified guide lead you to the Abbey and enjoy a private guided tour.
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