City Break in Caen la mer

làThe place for a city breakOld stonesUnmissable Posted on 01.08.2023

Discover Caen la mer for a weekend with friends or as a couple. From its thousand-year-old history to the discovery of local products and an excursion to the sea, take a break in Caen in Normandy.

Caen in one day

1000 YEARS OF HISTORY

To get an overview of the city, its expanse and its hundred bell towers, start your weekend by climbing the ramparts of Caen Castle. From the top of this fortress, the panorama already gives the first impressions. To learn more about the history of the city and have fun at the same time, visit the Tourist Office and pick up an enigma trail around the Château.

Our tip: take advantage of your visit in our office to pick up a City Pass. It includes entry to a number of tourist sites, transport and discounts for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Perfect for a weekend away!

After deciphering the enigma of the Château, it’s time to head down into the historic centre to admire Caen’s ancient cobbled streets and secret courtyards. Here, a timber-framed house, there, stone sculptures on a stair tower or rich decorations on a mullioned window. Guided by our route through Caen, we look up to discover the little architectural curiosities…

GOURMET CHEESE

Time for a break. We enter the Fromagerie Conquérant where the sales assistant introduced us to various cheeses from the region and passionately explained all the subtleties of the many varieties on sale. Conquered, we left with a cheese platter to fill up on Norman specialities to enjoy on the go or to take home before continuing our tour of Caen.

THE HERITAGE OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR

We are just a few steps from the imposing Abbaye aux Hommes. Now the town hall, this former Benedictine abbey became a secondary school and then a sanitary block during the war. It can be visited every day. The magnificent church of Saint-Etienne adjoining the monastery houses the tomb of the town’s founder, William the Conqueror.

SHOPPING IN THE STREETS OF CAEN

The walk then took us into the town centre, where we wandered around and pushed open the doors of two beautiful hat-making boutiques on rue Arcisse de Caumont. A cap from Elle n’en fée qu’à sa tête or a top hat from Mr Chapeau? The shopkeepers here are passionate about what they do !

A quick diversions later to Place de la République, with its temporary summer garden and Caen stone facades, and we’re back at Caen’s marina.

ENJOY AN APERITIF BY THE WATER

Terraces are set up on the quayside from spring onwards, where you can sip a cocktail by the water after a day full of discovery.

For the evening, we decided to stop off in the typical Vaugueux district to find a restaurant with a view of the pretty timber-framed houses and cobbled streets.

FIND A HOTEL IN CAEN

Going to Ouistreham

Fancy a breath of fresh sea air to start the day? Then head for the sea! If you don’t have a car, you can get to the beach by bus on line 12 of the Twisto network (included in your city pass + transport if you’ve taken one) or hire an electric bike for as little as €1.50.

BETWEEN RELAXATION AND EMOTION

A few minutes later, we arrive at the seaside resort of Ouistreham Riva-Bella. We have several options for this morning :

• Relax at the Thalasso in Ouistreham
• Immerse ourselves in the fascinating history of the Normandy Landings by visiting the Grand Bunker at Ouistreham and the N°4 Commando Museum
• Take a moving break in a sound bubble with the Délicate walk, guided by local residents’ testimonies on the theme of the Occupation and the Second World War.

SMALL DISHES IN LARGE

In any case, it’s time to recharge our batteries after this emotionally-charged morning! We stayed on the seafront to savour some delicious dishes at the Voile Blanche restaurant. A real treat for the taste buds!

If you’re in a hurry, we recommend stopping off at L’Echoppe by Chef Poudras, also in Ouistreham, to enjoy home-cooked dishes by a top chef. And don’t forget to pick up a few sweet treats for dessert or for the road – they’re to die for!

THE NOT-TO-BE-MISSED CAEN MEMORIAL

Last but not least on our long weekend is a visit to the Caen Memorial. This moving museum for peace retraces the history of twentieth-century conflicts from the Second World War onwards. It’s a gripping plunge into history that deserves a whole afternoon or more.

One thing’s for sure, you’ll have to come back to continue your discovery of this beautiful city full of surprises.

We like

• The secret alleyways and courtyards of Caen’s historic centre
• Exciting encounters with shopkeepers, restaurateurs and locals
• The City Pass to make your stay easier