History of Caen

Caen or affectionately the "City of a hundred steeples" shaped the rich past of Normandy. Erected in City of Art and History, the Norman capital is one of the safes that holds the heritage and cultural treasure of France. 1000 years of history, punctuated by crisis and suffering Before the advent of the Duchy of Normandy, Caen was a small town whose main activity was the craft and agriculture. The rise of the city begins in the tenth century. In the Middle Ages, a city is not really one if it does not have its castle and / or fortress. It was in 1060 that William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and future King of England, began the construction of the castle of Caen, the Abbey to Men, the Abbey of the Ladies, then the fortification of the city. During the conquest of Normandy by the King of France Philippe Auguste (reigning for almost 43 years, from September 1180 to July 1223), the city of Caen undergoes several revisions including the redevelopment of the castle and the modernization of the fortress. It was henceforth the governor, lieutenant of the king, who administered the city. During the Hundred Years War, Caen was occupied twice by the English from 1346 before being definitively taken over by the French in 1450. During the sixteenth century, Caen suffered again through a dark period. The city falls into the hands of Protestants who destroy Catholic symbols; then in 1584, the plague ravaged the city, making 10,000 victims.

The splendor found

In the margins of all the popular and military agitations experienced by the city, Caen continues to develop during the Renaissance. Its development is such that it was nicknamed "the Norman Athens". This period of grace and prosperity continues until the Enlightenment. Caen was one of the cities that relied on industrialization during the nineteenth century. It is particularly favored by the opening of the railroad linking it to Paris and the construction of the Caen canal, which strengthens port activity. Its economic boom was indisputable. During the Second World War, Caen again became the scene of a bloody war. But this time, the battle in the city was decisive for the fate of the world during the landing of June 1944. Rebuilt after the war, Caen has regained its splendor and is honored as a City for Peace. Book a car service in Paris in advance if you want to trace the history of this mythical city with friends or family.