Discover Caen by Hire Car
Caen is the capital and seat of the prefecture of the Basse Normandie region.
With almost 120,000 inhabitants, Caen is the largest city in the region. It is the economic centre of the region, with numerous business establishments.
Sights in Caen
Caen is a university town whose university hospital enjoys a very good reputation in France. History was made here as far back as the Middle Ages, when one of the city’s most famous sons went out to conquer England at the Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror left many monuments to the town including the Norman abbeys “Abbaye-aux-hommes” and “Abbaye-aux-dames” and the castle.
The area’s inhabitants must have inherited the conquering gene from the Vikings, whose raids are documented in the Bayeux Tapestry, which can be visited not far from Caen. Caen also played an important role in the Second World War. In 1944, the war was decided on the beaches of Normandy. Even today you can see remains of the huge artificial pontoon harbour off the coast. Museums, monuments and mile markers in the shape of shells commemorate the recapture by Allied forces.
Exploring the Caen area
Nowadays, the beaches are once again firmly in the hands of tourists. From Deauville, the famous fashionable seaside resort, to Cabour, the most beautiful sandy beaches stretch out. Here, you can work up an appetite for a Norman meal in the sea air, where the region’s cheeses, camembert or livarot, are not to be missed.
Experimenting contemporaries will try the “tripes à la mode de Caen”, a speciality made of tripe and calves’ feet flavoured with cider. For better digestion, there's then a calvados – preferably a 12-year-old.
hire car price comparison Caen
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