WHAT TO SEE & DO
Overview Table
| Name | Appeal | Type | Visit | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caen Memorial | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Museum - WWII & Cold War | Self | Paid € |
| 2 | Men's Abbey | ✦✦✦✦✧ | Abbey | Either | Paid € |
| 3 | Women's Abbey | ✦✦✦✧✧ | Abbey | Self | Free |
| 4 | St. Pierre Church | ✦✦✦✧✧ | Church | Self | Free |
| 5 | City Center | ✦✦✧✧✧ | City Center | Self | Free |
| 6 | Colline aux Oiseaux | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Park & Garden | Self | Free |
| 7 | Caen Castle | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Castle Enclosure | Self | Free |
| 8 | St. Pierre's Gate | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Panorama | Self | Free |
| 9 | Fine Arts Museum | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Museum - Art | Self | Paid € |
| 10 | Normandy Museum | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Museum - History | Self | Paid € |
| 11 | St. Jean Church | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Church | Self | Free |
| 12 | Food Markets | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Food Markets | Self | Free |
| 13 | Marina | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Marina | Self | Free |
| 14 | Self-drive River Boat | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Self-drive River Boat | Rental | Paid € |
| 15 | Botanical Garden | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Garden | Self | Free |
| 16 | Tourist Train | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Tourist Train | Tour | Paid € |
1. Caen Memorial
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Type WWII & Cold War Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid
French Name
Mémorial de Caen
A highly acclaimed museum focusing on World War II and the Cold War. It offers extensive exhibits, multimedia displays, and emotional narratives.
It also has 2 small memorial gardens outside.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
2. Men's Abbey
Appeal ✦✦✦✦✧
Type Abbey
Visit Self-guided or Guided
Cost Paid
French Names
Abbaye aux Hommes
Abbaye Saint-Étienne
An impressive historical abbey founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Notable for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
There are guided visits in English during the summer.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
3. Women's Abbey
Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Type Abbey
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Names
Abbaye aux Dames
Abbaye de la Sainte-Trinité
The Women’s Abbey is a historic Benedictine convent founded in the 11th century by Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
4. St. Pierre Church
Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Église Saint-Pierre
St. Pierre Church is a Gothic church in the heart of Caen,built from the 13th to the 16th century, it reflects the transition between Rayonnant and Flamboyant Gothic styles, followed by Renaissance.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
5. City Center
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type City Center
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Centre Historique
The city center of Caen is a mix of historic buildings and modern amenities.
It has been the heart of Caen since its founding in the 11th century. It suffered extensive damage during World War II bombings and was rebuilt in the post-war era.
6. Colline aux Oiseaux
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Park & Garden
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Colline aux Oiseaux
Colline aux Oiseaux is an expansive park that includes a beautiful garden and a small farm.
7. Caen Castle
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Castle Enclosure
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Château de Caen
Caen Castle is a historic site founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
It retains its fortifications. It houses small museums and offers open spaces for exploration.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
8. St. Pierre's Gate
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Panorama
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Porte Saint-Pierre
St. Pierre’s Gate is part of Caen Castle’s enclosure.
It offers a panorama of the castle’s surroundings and St. Pierre Church across the street.
9. Fine Arts Museum
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Art Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid
French Name
Musée des Beaux-Arts
The Fine Arts Museum in Caen features a rich collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.
It’s located within Caen Castle’s enclosure.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
10. Normandy Museum
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type History Museum
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid
French Name
Musée de Normandie
The Normandy Museum provides historical exhibits focused on the regional history of Normandy, from prehistoric times to the modern era.
It’s located within Caen Castle’s enclosure.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
11. St. Jean Church
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Église Saint-Jean
St. Jean Church, with its Gothic architecture, is a historic site that is less frequented by tourists. It usually offers a quiet visit compared to the more popular St. Pierre Church.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Interior
12. Food Markets
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Food Markets
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
Caen has three main outdoor food markets that take place in 2 different locations each Friday and Sunday mornings.
13. Marina
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Marina
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Port de Plaisance
The English Channel connects to the city of Caen via a canal. Near the city center, there is a basin where pleasure boats are moored.
14. Self-drive River Boat
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Self-drive River Boat
Visit Rental
Cost Paid
Explore Caen’s waterways at your own pace with an electric boat, pedal boat, kayak or paddle.
Provider
Au fil de l’Orne
15. Botanical Garden
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Garden
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Names
Jardin des Plantes
Jardin Botanique
The Botanical Garden in Caen showcases a variety of local flora, tropical greenhouses and a medicinal section.
16. Tourist Train
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Tourist Train
Visit Tour
Cost Paid
French Name
Petit Train Touristique
The Caen Tourist Train offers a convenient and audioguided tour of the city’s main attractions and historical sites.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN NORMANDY
Things to Do in (Les) Andelys Town
Things to Do in Barfleur Village
Things to Do in (Le) Bec-Hellouin Village
Things to Do in Beuvron-en-Auge Village
Things to Do in Deauville Town
Things to Do in Giverny Village
Things to Do in (Le) Havre City
Things to Do in Lyons-la-Forêt Village
Things to Do in Mont Saint-Michel Bay & Village
Things to Do in Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei Village
Things to Do in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue Village
Things to Do on Tatihou Island
