Normandy, France · Europe
Caen is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Louvigny, 26km from D-Day Beaches Coastal Road (D514).
Caen is a city located in Normandy, France. With a population of 110,624, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Caen sits in France, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Paris time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Caen to your route.
Caen (UK: ; French: [kɑ̃] ; Norman: Kaem) is a city and commune 15 km (9.3 mi) inland from the northwestern coast of France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (as of 2018), while its functional urban area has 470,000, making Caen the second largest urban areaRead more
in Normandy and the 19th largest in France. It is also the third largest commune in all of Normandy after Le Havre and Rouen.
Caen is located 200 km (120 mi) northwest of Paris, connected to the South of England by the Caen (Ouistreham) to Portsmouth ferry route through the English Channel. Situated a few kilometres from the coast, the landing beaches, the bustling resorts of Deauville and Cabourg, as well as Norman Switzerland and the Pays d'Auge, Caen is often considered the archetype of Normandy.
Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there, and for the Battle for Caen, heavy fighting that took place in and around Caen during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, destroying much of the city. The city has now preserved the memory by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Mémorial de Caen.
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Caen offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Caen is located in Normandy, France, Europe. The coordinates are 49.1859 latitude, -0.3591 longitude.
Caen has a population of approximately 110,624 people, making it a city in France.
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Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for France8 notable places within an hour's drive.
coastal drive
The coast road threading the five 1944 landing beaches from Utah to Sword, past Arromanches' Mulberry harbour remains, gun batteries and memorials: Normandy's essential remembrance drive.
26 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Home to the extraordinary 70-meter-long medieval embroidery depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
27 km · about 30 min drive
cathedral
A soaring Norman-Gothic cathedral in the first town liberated in 1944, home town of the famous tapestry.
27 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
A miniature Alps of green gorges and rocky bluffs along the River Orne, beloved by drivers and climbers.
32 km · about 35 min drive
beach
Glamorous Belle Époque seaside resort with parasol-dotted sands and the famous wooden boardwalk.
37 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Rows of white marble crosses above Omaha Beach honour the fallen of the 1944 Normandy landings.
41 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
The most fiercely contested D-Day landing beach of June 6, 1944, now a solemn memorial site overlooking the English Channel.
42 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
A picturesque Normandy port with tall, narrow slate-fronted houses lining the Vieux Bassin, beloved by Impressionist painters.
50 km · about 60 min drive
April to October
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