Caen, the capital of the Basse-Normandie region, was already settled during the days of the Celts. Caen is the old Celtic name for battlefield.
Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, Caen was hard-fought over and over again. Wilhelm the Conqueror, the later English king Wilhelm I. shaped the face of the city substantially. He built the castle and two abbeys.
Eglise Sainte-Trinité, formerly Abbaye aux Dames, was the abbey for the women and Eglise St.-Etienne, formerly Abbey aux Hommes, the abbey for the men, where he was buried later.
During the Hundred Years’ War, Caen changed hands several times between England and France until it finally fell to France in 1450.
Late Middle Ages and French revolution
After two plague epidemics the city was taken by the Huguenots, but could quickly bow to the king again. Under Louis XIV, the Royalism helped the city to get a strong economic upswing.
The Jacobin prevailed in Caen during the French Revolution. A rebellion failed. Charlotte Corday, the murderer of Jean Paul Marat, lived here and left from here for the assassination.
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More Information20th century
In the 20th century, Caen had a central importance for the landing of the Allies, due of its strategic position in the Normandy. Caen was almost completely destroyed.
We arrive at Caen at variable weather and primarily wanted visit the Citadel. Within the massive fortification is the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) with a sculpture park.
The museum houses a collection of stings and the most important collection of European painting of the 16th and 17th century.
The former harbor of Caen is now silted and pushed forward 15 km. As a new rain threatens, we stay only briefly in the city and drive towards the coast.
Please read on > Ouistreham – Normandy
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