'''Caen''' is the capital of the Basse-Normandie region and Calvados ''departement'' of northern France. Population 115,000.
Understand
Caen is a college city, very active. In summer, tourists (mainly British and German) gather in Normandy for WWII remains and the Memorial for peace. Caen is a modern city, 80% leveled in 1944 and rebuilt in the 50s and 60s. However, some old buildings remain, especially churches.
Get in
By car
from Paris, by A13 motorway (2 hours) (toll).
from Cherbourg by N13.
from Rouen, by A13 or N175 (toll).
from Rennes by A84.
from Tours and Le Mans, by N138, via N158 at Sees.
By train
trains leave about every 2 hours from Paris Saint-Lazare station to Caen and Cherbourg. It lasts about 2 hours long, costs 29,10 ? (full price). If you book early, you can get tickets as cheap as 15 ?. Out of rush hours, tickets cost 22,40 ? for people under 25 years-old.
Note that the train posting in Paris St-Lazare can be confusing to the first time traveler. The train line number ("la voie") is not posted unil 15-20 minutes before the departure, so do not panic if you arrive earlier than that (notice that the train will be at a line number near to the office "Grandes Lignes"). Look for the train heading to Cherbourg. Caen will not be the listed destination, as it is a stop along the way. Do not forget to punch ("composter") your ticket in one of the yellow machines before boarding. This will validate your ticket.
By ferry
Ferries cross the Channel from Portsmouth (UK) to Ouistreham, 15 km north of Caen.
Get around
''bus verts'' will get you around Normandy pretty easily. Within Caen and its close suburbs, use the bus and tramway network, called ''twisto''.
''L'abbaye d'Ardenne''
''Les plages du Debarquement''
''Les villes balneaires de la cote Fleurie'' : Cabourg, Houlgate, Deauville, Trouville...''
''Les petites stations balneaires de la cote de Nacre''
''Le pays d'Auge''
''La Suisse normande''
''Le Bessin''
''Le Bocage virois''
''Le Mont Saint Michel''
See
Memorial for peace: a modern museum focusing on second world war and the Cold War: http://www.memorial.fr
'''L'abbaye aux Hommes''' (Men's abbey) and '''l'abbaye aux Dames''' (women's abbey), wonderful example of romanic architecture
Fine arts museum
Museum of Normandy, within the Castle (free entrance)
'''Caen Castle''' / '''Chateau ducal de Caen''' - William the Conqueror's castle, one of the largest medieval castles in Europe
Saint-Pierre church
Saint-Nicolas church and cemetery
Escoville mansion
Saint-Jean church
Vaugueux district
''La rue Froide'' and Saint-Sauveur church
Caen is 15 km away from the D-Day beaches
Do
LinkParis.com. 66-996-9727. ttp://www.linkparis.com/normandy-day-tour.htm. [http://www.linkparis.com/normandy-day-tour.htm Take a one day trip from Paris to see the Caen Memorial and the D-Day Landing beaches. Experience an amazing part of history. Normandy D-Day Tours and more!]
Buy
Eat
The ''Vaugueux'' is full of restaurants.
Drink
The ''Rue Ecuyere'', near to the ''Rue Saint Pierre'' is famous for its bars. If you are looking for a pub, you will find some at the harbour located ''Quai Vendeuve''.
Get out
The little 17-th century harbor of Honfleur (179 km north-east)