Car Rental Caen

Caen is intimate in size, making it a great location to navigate around. If you’re planning to spend a whole day exploring the city, the car park on Boulevard Yves Guillou is a fantastic option if there’s no event on at the racecourse.

Alternatively, park up in one of the many centrally-located underground car parks in the city such as on Rue Paul Doumer, Republic Square or Place Louis Guillouard. You can then explore the stunning medieval architecture on foot.

In France, the speed limit in towns and cities is typically 50 km/h unless indicated otherwise. If you’re heading out of Caen on a day trip, many rural rural roads are 90km/h, expressways are usually 110km/h and major highways are up to 130km/h in fine weather, but these are reduced in wet conditions, with all road limits lowered to 50km/h in fog if visibility is less than 50 metres. Always check signs for the route that you are on.

Just 30 kilometres and around 30 minutes north-west of Caen is the city of Bayeux. Use your time in the area to soak up everything that attracts sightseers, historians and students of World War II from every corner of the earth.

Featuring a stunning cathedral, some of the largest and most poignant war cemeteries in France and the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry, this day trip is not to be missed.

Given your proximity to the coast of Normandy, you can also journey on from Bayeux to visit the five D-Day landing beaches, when you hop in your rental car in Caen.

Famous for its medieval architecture and being the hometown of William the Conqueror, Caen is a fascinating destination to discover.

Explore the city to learn more about World War II, and the region’s rich culture and history.

Commemorate the Battle of Normandy

Inaugurated in 1988, the Mémorial de Caen is a museum and war memorial in the city, commemorating World War II. Also known as a ‘Museum for Peace’, in a wider sense it covers many aspects and events of twentieth-century history.

Don’t be fooled by what you may perceive as a plain exterior, as this holds a special significance. The fissure down the middle of the building marks the destruction of the city and the victory of the Allies over the Nazis. The building was even constructed on the site of the bunker of German general Wilhelm Richter.

Not to be missed is the exhibit room devoted solely to D-Day. By using a split screen, a projection follows the landings concurrently from the Allied and German points of view.

Château de Caen and the Vaugueux quarter

This castle was originally built for William the Conqueror and is a magnificent structure surrounded by huge walls and two main gateways. Damaged in the 1944 bombings, it has since been restored and has enviable views over Caen and beyond.

The building now houses two museums – the Musée de Normandie and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen. Explore the region’s history covering the Gauls, Romans, Vikings and Saxons in the former, and appreciate Renaissance art, 16th-century European paintings, engravings and sculptures in the latter.

Close to the Château de Caen, walk over to the beautiful Vaugueux quarter of the city and open up another door to the past. This is one of the few areas not to have been destroyed – and subsequently reconstructed – after bombing in WWII. Soak up the authentic atmosphere and sample the delights that many restaurants in the district have to offer.

Explore the royal abbeys

The Abbaye-aux-Hommes, or ‘Men’s Abbey’, boasts iconic decorative gothic towers and is a former Benedictine monastery. Founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror, the abbey is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in the whole of Normandy.

Also, visit the remarkable Abbaye-aux-Dames which is a former monastery of women in Caen and is now home to the Regional Council of Lower Normandy. Officially founded by Queen Matilda, the wife of William the Conqueror, in 1062, this complex also includes the Church of Sainte-Trinité which is open to the public.

Guided tours are available, and both William and Matilda are buried in the respective noble abbeys.

Visit a park or botanical garden

If you feel like taking in some greenery, Caen has plenty to offer. Children and adults alike will love the Colline aux Oiseaux. This is a large park, landscaped with a pretty rose garden and picnic areas to enjoy a scenic lunch, while mini-golf, play areas and a small farm are perfect for families.

The Jardin des Plantes de Caen or Caen Botanical Garden meanwhile is the perfect place to relax. Created in 1736, this beautiful space was initially put in place for the university’s schools of medicine and pharmacology for the use of its plants.

Also, at the Mémorial de Caen, you can enjoy the British Garden which was officially opened by Prince Charles in 2004.

With car rental in Caen, all the fantastic attractions locally and in Normandy beyond are at your fingertips. Reserve direct today and start planning your trip.