Château de Caen
A castle built by William the Conqueror around 1060, one of Europe's largest medieval castles, housing a Normandy museum and a fine arts museum.
Château de Caen was built by William the Conqueror around 1060. Its walls enclose about 5.5 hectares, making it one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. You can walk along the ramparts for free, with views over the old town of Caen and the Church of Saint-Pierre. Inside are the Normandy Museum, which covers local history and folk traditions, and the Caen Museum of Fine Arts, which holds works by Rubens, Veronese and others, as well as a 12th-century exchequer building. Entry to the castle grounds is free, while the museums charge separately (about 5 to 10 euros). Caen is about 30 km from Bayeux, roughly 20 minutes by train.
Opening hours
City walls approx. 08:00–22:00; museum approx. 09:30–18:00, closed Tuesdays (except summer)
Nearby sights
- Abbaye aux Hommes (Saint-Étienne)
- Mémorial de Caen
- Pegasus Bridge & Mémorial Pegasus
- Juno Beach Centre
- Merville Gun Battery
- British Normandy Memorial
- Arromanches & Mulberry Harbour
- Bayeux Tapestry Museum