Sightseeing in Caen - what to see. Complete travel guide

Start your journey in north-east France with the biggest city in Lower Normandy that is also the capital city in the region. Caen is the name of this city. It is situated not far from Paris, the distance is roughly 240 kilometers. This is a region with its own rich history that is ready to welcome guests from different countries of the world. Caen unleashes its secrets and shows its unique cultural heritage to travelers.

Normans built a fortress on an island situated in the delta of two rivers, the Orne and Odon. They called this fortress Caen. Without a doubt, first settlers appeared in this region long before the construction of the fortress. If we take a closer look at the ruins, we can easily see that a big castle was once standing here. According to the historic data, Wilhelm the Conqueror was born in this castle. Later, he played an important role in the history of Caen and its transformation into a town.

Under the patronage of Dukes of Normandy, Caen became the capital of the region. The city was growing fast at that time, and new abbeys appeared in it. Later, it was discovered that there are large deposits of limestone not far from Caen. Also known as Caen stone, the limestone mined in this region is homogenous and has a unique cream color. This material is used in many buildings in Caen-Normandy. The period during World War II was one of the most complicated for the city. When Caen was finally released from the German troops, the city was in a devastating condition. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

What attractions in Caen should tourists see first? Start your acquaintance with the city with a visit to the Abbey of Sainte-Trinité or the Holy Trinity Abbey. This landmark is connected with Wilhelm the Conqueror. He fell in love with a girl with a beautiful name, Matilda. However, they couldn’t marry because they were relatives. When the duke didn’t get permission to marry, he promised to build two big abbeys for Caen-Normandy. Only after this, the two young people were allowed to get married.

This is how the Holy Trinity Abbey was built. The duke’s wife, Matilda, spent her last days here. Don’t forget to explore the interior of the building. The elegance and beauty of décor will please even true connoisseurs of perfection. Incredible arched entrances, giant columns, a balustrade, and mosaic floor – all these elements add a touch of unforgettable charm to the sacred place. Stone gargoyles attached to the walls look like they are closely watching all visitors. The oldest Botanical Garden in Caen is located five kilometers from the central part of the city. In 1689, Callard, a medicine professor at the University of Caen, decided to make a garden in an abandoned stone quarry. The size of the garden was expanded by three and a half hectares in 1803. After this, the botanical garden got the status of a city park. Guests of Caen enjoy visiting this place – this attraction is always present in the list of must-visit destinations in the city. Nowadays, guests of the botanical garden can admire different kinds of plants here – more than 8,000 different species grow in the garden.

You can see how bananas grow and how to get coffee beans. Do you like orchids? There is a greenhouse with orchids of different types and sizes. Besides them, visitors admire graceful lilies of various shades. Styphnolobium japonicum or the Japanese pagoda tree is one of the most famous trees in the garden. Planted in 1750, the tree is now ten meters tall.

The Hill of Birds Park is one more beautiful place in Caen. This is a landscaped park that occupies a territory of 17 hectares. The opening of the park took place in 1994, at the anniversary of Caen’s liberation from the Nazis. The purpose of making this spectacular park was to show that it is possible to grow plants without any pesticides. Naturally, harmful pests soon appeared in the park. In order to protect the area from them, it was decided to start cultivating ladybugs. These cute insects ate aphides, thus helping to save plants in the park.

The Hill of Birds Park is famous for its roses – there are more than 15,000 roses for more than 500 different species. Walk in the green labyrinth to see miraculous miniatures in the park and get to the charming country house at the end. This is a great place to learn more about the typical flora and fauna of the region.

In order to get to Caen, you need to arrive at Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. This is a railway station in the capital of France. The train from Paris will take you to this wondrous French city in one and a half hours. If you are late for one train, there is no need to worry because there are usually several trains a day departing in the direction that you need. There is one more way to get to Caen – by train from Rouen. The journey time is two hours in this case. Trains from Rouen depart every hour.