Ferries to Caen
Caen The capital of Basse-Normandie, Caen is a lively, cultured university town with a compact historic centre. Although devastated in 1944, it was carefully restored, and today successfully blends modern with old, dominated still by William the Conqueror’s Château Ducal and his two great abbeys. The presence of a colourful marina in the heart of the town is a reminder that Caen is also an important seaport. Equidistant from Cherbourg, Mont-St-Michel and Rouen, it makes an excellent base for exploring Normandy. History Founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, Caen was subsequently torched in 1346 by invading English armies, who killed 3000 of its residents. The English again took the town in 1417 and held it until 1450. During the religious wars of the 16th century it fell to the Protestants. During the French Revolution, the town was a centre for the Girondins, a group of moderate republican politicians, many of whom were subsequently executed during the Reign of Terror. The 19th century construction of a canal opened up Caen, and it became an important port, importing coke and exporting steel. Caen’s Old Town was levelled during WWII. In the 20th century Caen developed into a major commercial and industrial centre, with a thermal power station and extensive steelworks along the Orne River, and manufacturing industries producing car parts, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and paper. Its university, founded in 1432 by Henry VI of England and central to the city’s identity, was re-sited after the war and reopened in 1957. Caen continues to be a busy University City and commercial centre; tourists increasingly use it as a base for exploring nearby D-Day beaches and Bayeux. What to See & Do in Caen
