Visiting Caen

I didn't go on vacation to France with the intention to visit a lot. My priority was to rest, quiet time, nothing. My batteries needed reloading. But we were in France where there is always so much to see and the sky was grey, loaded with threatening clouds and the wind blew us off the beach some days. 

So we headed to Caen, just a little inland from Ouistreham. The city of William the Conquerer, so we could give the children some different history than just D-day war stories. 

 

The fortress of William the Conquerer: 

The centre of Caen is dominated by the fortress of William the Conquerer.  Its massive walls rise up in the city and you can access via a bridge. Access to the vast surface inside the domain is free, so you can walk on the ramparts etc without access control.   Inside the domain there are 2 museums : the Museum of Normandy in one of the historic buildings and a modern building that houses the Museum of Modern Art. There is a chapel, there are several areas with ongoing excavations, there is even still a parking lot inside etc etc...

It's very big, but sometimes feels very bare as well.  

We started off by just wandering around and exploring the ramparts a bit. 

The Museum of Normandy: 

In the Governer's palace (within the castle), is the Musée de Normandy.  It covers the entire history of the region, starting with prehistoric founds and traces, the celts, the vikings arrival and life in the region etc, the typical construction style of the region, pottery, agrigulture and more modern life. 

The children each got a little booklet with assignments for their age.   It's not one size fits all: where Beertje could color,  put stickers to complete the image of a painting or building etc,  Kabouter had already more quizzes and content questions.  It worked to keep them occupied although they needed a bit of help. 

Musée de beaux-arts

we didn't visit the museum but checked out some of the art at the entrance.  Especially the big face outside that seems twodimensional or threedimensional depending from your viewing angle was a fun picture opportunity. 

After the visit of the castle, we got a self-guided walking tour in the tourism office across the street that would guide is in a few kms along the city's highlights. 

Abbaye des Hommes

Another city's landmark ordered by William the Conquerer. He ordered this massive abbey which is now also the city hall.  William the Conquerer is buried inside the church. 

Some city images

Abbaye des Dames

On the opposite side of the city is the smaller Abbaye des Dames, order by Guillaime's wife, Mathilde of Flanders.