In 2025, the City of Caen celebrates its 1000th anniversary! A thousand years of history that will be celebrated through a rich cultural program!
The Vigils
Every morning and every evening, 365 days a week, a person is brought to watch over Caen and its surroundings for an hour, from a shelter object overlooking the city. Link by link, a human chain of 730 watchmen will form throughout the year.
The Millennium program has actually already begun! From March 21, 2024 to March 20, 2025, a participatory work created by choreographer Joanne Leighton is being offered by the GIP Millénaire Caen 2025. It invites anyone from Caen, of one of the communes of Caen la mer or simply passing through the region to live an experience that is both intimate and collective and to take the time to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for an hour.
What next?
The program of festivities was unveiled at the beginning of September 2024. Here is a preview of what awaits you in 2025!
The Inauguration of the Millennium
Caen will begin celebrating the city’s 1,000-year history from March 20 to 23, 2025.
The Castle, an emblematic place, chosen for its historical importance, will appeal to both the collective memory and the hope for the future of the people of Caen. The Caen Castle, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, will reopen its doors after two years of work, in its best light, in the heart of the city.
History Days
From March 21 to 28, 2025, extending the inauguration of the Millennium, the History Days offer a major popular event around the highlights of the history of Caen and its territory, from the Middle Ages to today.
Within three historic sites of the city: the Castle, the Abbaye aux Dames and the University, the week’s program combines scientific rigor and interactive and fun events through numerous events.
The Operatic Parade
May 9, 2025, 5 stations, 5 kilometers for 5 hours.
This parade will consist of a caravan, a series of 5 monumental works and will mark 5 stations. Each monumental work will symbolize a period of history or a tangle of significant events in the construction of the city and the lives of its inhabitants.
The Maritime Weekend
From June 27 to 29, 2025, there will be 3 days of activities, races and demonstrations, 3 places to celebrate water: the Presqu’Île de Caen, the Bassin Saint-Pierre and the Canal from Caen to the sea.
For one weekend, the sea will be in the spotlight in Caen: 48 rigs representing the 48 communes of Caen la mer will be present and the Caen-Ouistreham canal will be promoted through large-scale, free events.
The Aquanauts show
From September 19 to 21, 2025, the aquatic show at the Bassin Saint Pierre.
In September, the port of Caen will host a show that is the first of its kind in France, the Aquanauts. Circus artists and synchronized swimmers will join forces to offer an aquatic show based on fire, water and air. Only two cities have offered this show, bringing together more than 120,000 spectators: Prague and Stockholm.
But Also…
In the summer of 2025, as part of the Caen Millennium, works of art created by international, national and local artists will be housed in the heart of the heritage of Caen and Caen la mer. The outdoor art circuit will be unveiled in 2025. A digital art circuit in the city will also close the Millennium.
Find here soon the complete details of the program, including the labeled events organized by local associations. In the meantime, we invite you to learn more about the program of the Caen Millennium on millenairecaen2025.fr
Photo credits: Caen la mer Tourisme / Les Conteurs / Millénaire de Caen / le7emeStudio.fr / Michel Dehaye / Jonas Lindqvist / Le Ballon Vert / Tempora
