Located in the heart of Normandy, the city of Caen is 2 hours from Paris, and just 15 minutes from the cross-Channel port of Ouistreham. Today, Caen is famous for its proximity to the D-Day landing beaches and the first crucial, successful action of D-Day operations on 6 June 1944 (at what is now Pegasus Bridge). However, Caen’s growth as a great centre of power in Normandy was largely due to William the Conqueror.
Falaise in Normandy was the birthplace and home of William, Duke of Normandy – close to Caen where later, he and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, each commissioned grand and impressive abbey’s that still stand today. Between these lie Caen Castle, one of the largest medieval fortifications in Europe and one of the duchy of Normandy’s most important strongholds, built around 1060 for William on the eve of his conquest of England.
As a result of its position as capital of the Duchy of Normandy and as City of William the Conqueror (William chose to reign from this city and was buried there), Caen has inherited a rich architectural heritage consisting of ancient churches and abbeys and other numerous traces of his visits. Here are 6 sites related to William the Conqueror in captivating Caen and its surrounding areas.
Source: https://www.historyhit.com