Caen

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Shortened history of the castle:

The castle was built circa 1060 by William the Conqueror, who successfully conquered England in 1066. His son Henry I then built the Saint Georges church and the keep (1123).

At Christmas 1182 a royal court celebration for Christmas in the aula of Caen Castle brought together Henry II and his son, Richard the Lionheart, receiving more than a thousand knights.

Caen Castle, along with all of Normandy, was handed over to the French Crown in 1204. Philip II reinforced the fortifications. The castle saw several engagements during the Hundred Years' War (1346, 1417, 1450).

The keep was pulled down in 1793 during the French Revolution, by order of the National Convention.

The castle, which was used as a barracks during World War II, was bombed in 1944 and seriously damaged.

Today, the castle serves as a museum that houses
- the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (Museum of Fine Arts of Caen)
- the Musée de Normandie (Museum of Normandy)
- a garden showing plants cultivated in the middle-ages.

Opening times and additionnal information:

July and August: tuesday to sunday, from 9.30am to 6.30pm (guided visits everyday at 2.30pm and 4.30pm)
Rest of the year: from 10am to 5pm

Fees:
Adults : 5 Euros
Students : 3,50 Euros
Children (less than 10 years old) : FREE

The top of the ramparts offers a splendid view of Caen. Some parts of the curtain walls were built during the 12th century, most of them date from the 15th century.