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Caen Attractions. Caen is the capital and largest city of Basse Normandie, and lies between the Rivers Orne and Odon. Although badly damaged during its liberation in 1944, Caen has been delightfully reconstructed. Nowadays, it has something to offer everyone, from history and heritage, to busy shopping and pedestrian precincts with big Parisian stores and smaller specialised outlets, to the many restaurants and café’s that suite all tastes and pockets. The main market is on Friday and there's also a Sunday market. A bustling University City, Caen has a lots to do and see, day and night. To ‘discover’ Caen, it's best to stroll through the streets and city squares where you will find secret back courtyards that hide treasures of the city's past. Visit the Church of Saint-Étienne at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes with its two, 295 foot towers topped by 13th century octagonal spires and the lantern-tower, considered a masterpiece. Also the Church of La Trinité at the Abbaye-aux-Dames. Unscathed by the war, both are beautiful Norman Romanesque style structures. The former Exchequer dating from the 11th century, that was the scene of a banquet thrown by Richard the Lionheart en route to the Crusades. Visit a garden replanted with herbs and medicinal plants that were cultivated here during the Middle Ages. Two museums worth visiting are: Musée des Beaux-Arts that gives a potted history of European art and Musée de Normandie, an overview of Norman history from the region's megalithic period to the impact of the Industrial Revolution. Caen has many war museums: the Museum of Peace is one you should not miss.

Ouistreham and Caen & History. The area was invaded by Norsemen during the 9th and 10th centuries. In the 10th century, Caen first became important under the dukes of Normandy. It was William the Conqueror’s favourite city and where he and Matilda of Flanders were married. However, because they were distant cousins, the pope excommunicated them. In 1059 they ‘atoned’ for their sin by each founding an abbey - the Church of Saint-Étienne at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes was founded by William and is where his tomb is located. The Church of La Trinité, at the Abbaye-aux-Dames was founded by Matilda where her tomb is located. Both churches where undamaged during WWII. Ouistreham flourished as a port throughout the Anglo-Norman period and through centuries depended on fishing and farming. In 1346, under Edward III and during the Hundred Years’ War, Caen was captured by the English. The English, led by Henry VI, again ruled the city from 1417 to 1450 and during this time a university was established. In 1685, the Protestant city’s prosperity plummeted as its population emigrated following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. During the French Revolution [1789 to 1799], Caen was the focal point for the anti-Revolutionary Girondist movement. In the 19th century, the 15km long ship canal was constructed. Ouistreham was the most eastern of the D-Day landings and during the Battle of Normandy, June 6 to August 22 1944, Caen became the centre of German resistance to the British-Canadian advance.

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Découverte de Ouistreham
Le hameau de Ouistreham s’est formé autour de ses deux fleurons de son patrimoine médiéval : l’église Saint-Samson, superbe édifice roman érigé au XIIème siècle, classée monument historique et la Grange aux Dîmes du XIIIème siècle qui, restaurée, est devenue un lieu de réceptions, d’expositions et de vie communale.
Tout naturellement, l’homme s’est tourné vers la mer et le bourg s’est développé. Il subsiste de très jolies maisons typiques de pêcheurs qui font l’admiration des nombreux touristes.
       
A l’aube du XXème siècle, la station balnéaire s’est développée autour de villas et de nombreuses infrastructures de loisirs, toujours bien présentes sur notre commune : secteur piétonnier, thalassothérapie aux Thermes marins, Casino de Ouistreham, Musée du «4ème Commando» franco-britannique qui délivra Ouistreham dans la matinée du 6 juin 1944, Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique, et toutes les activités proposées par Station Voile.
       

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Die Normandie liegt am Ärmelkanal im nordwestlichen Teil von Frankreich und ist ca. 30.000 qm groß. Die Region bietet u. a. spannende Hafenstädte, stimmungsvolle Bade-Resorts, Burgen und Gebäude aus dem Mittelalter, schöne Schlösser und Klöster, interessante Museen, pittoreske Hafenanlagen und eine abwechslungsreiche Natur mit herrlichen Küsten, die von Sandstränden und Steilhängen geprägt sind. Die bekannte Militäroperation D-Day fand in der Normandie im 2. Weltkrieg statt, und überall finden Sie Museen, die sich mit dem Krieg und dem D-Day beschäftigen. Auch der große Soldatenfriedhof Omaha Beach mit weißen Kreuzen in sich schlängelnden Reihen zeugt von den Tragödien des Krieges. Die Normandie ist ein ideales Reiseziel, wenn Sie Kultur, Geschichte, Architektur und Natur im Einklang erleben möchten.

Freizeittipps & Ausflugsvorschläge (kleine Auswahl)
Mt. St. Michel: Wahrzeichen der Normandie, eines der außergewöhnlichsten Kulturdenkmäler der Welt.
Die Landungsstrände der Aliierten und die Schlacht um die Normandie: Auf den Spuren der Geschichte; Point du Hoc und der künstliche Hafen von Arromanches
Caen; Herrenabtei, Festungsanlage hoch über der Stadt. Sehr sehenswert ist die Rue Froide, die älteste Straße der Stadt
Memorial Friedensmuseum nahe Caen
Die endlosen Strände der Perlmuttküste
Honfleur: Stadt der Impressionisten
Rouen: Residenzstadt der normannischen Herzöge
Zahlreiche Aquarien z. B. in Trouville oder Courseulles
Bayeux: Kathedrale, Museum zur Erinnerung an die Schlacht in der Normandie
Ouistreham. Bekannt für seinen Fährhafen nach Portsmouth, Leuchturm

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