Le Week-end maritime | Millénaire de Caen

A Grand Maritime Weekend to Kick Off the Summer

From June 27 to 29, 2025, the summer season of Caen’s Millennium will launch with a festive event celebrating the region through its waters: the Maritime Weekend, from Caen to the sea.

For three days, 48 ships, each representing a municipality in the Caen la mer Urban Community, will dock in the port of Caen and along the Presqu'île’s quays.

Among them, 21 ships will stop and be open for visits: Recouvrance, Phoenix, Milpat, Neire Mâove, Marie-Fernand, Granvillaise, Foudroyant, Belem, Guerveur, Hydrograaf, Pascual Flores, Morgenster, Etoile Molène, Renard, Biche, Flamant, Nébuleuse, Mutin. Click here to learn more about the ships in detail.

A Spectacular Program

On the agenda: a grand weekend of visits, discoveries, and entertainment, both dockside and on the water. Exceptional sailing ships such as Belem, Phoenix, and Granvillaise will join the event.

Throughout the weekend, spectators will enjoy a variety of activities:

• Thursday, June 26: Arrival of the ships from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday, June 27 & Saturday, June 28: Free self-guided visits during the day along with numerous ongoing activities.
• Sunday, June 29: The Maritime Parade > the fleet will sail down the Caen Canal to the sea from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On foot, by bike, rollerblade, or scooter, come cheer on the crews all along the greenway. The ships will then sail along the Côte de Nacre beaches before heading out to sea.

Participatory Constructions with Olivier Grossetête

Artist Olivier Grossetête, renowned for his monumental cardboard constructions, will gather nearly 400 participants per day to build iconic structures representing Caen’s 1,000-year history.

Through these ephemeral buildings, a tribute will be paid to the builders of yesterday and today. Among the recreated structures, the public will discover:

• The Caen Lighthouse
• The Canal Bridge
• The Swedish House
• The Fishing Pavilion

MUSICAL STOPS ALONG THE QUAYS

Music will accompany the maritime festivities with concerts on the quays of the Saint-Pierre Basin and the Presqu'île (Gaston-Lamy and Normandie quays).

• Friday, June 27: A special concert by Caen school students (1 p.m.), followed by a swing Big Band until 10 p.m.
• Saturday, June 28: Acoustic concerts by the Caen Conservatory & Orchestra and Caen la mer’s Musique en Plaine school for “MEP Goes Live”.
• Sunday, June 29: A choral performance aboard La Recouvrance for a harmonious finale.

SPORTING STOPS: DARE TO DIVE IN

The Caen-to-Sea Swim returns for the first time since 1942! Info and registration at encaen.com/la-traversee-de-caen.

Nautical Meetups: Demonstrations of water sports: rowing, paddleboarding, sailing, optimist dinghies.

Guided Walks and Bike Rides to explore the nature trail between “Land and Sea”.

Exhibitions, Outdoor Cinema & Conferences

Between two nautical strolls, dive into culture!

• Exhibitions at the Pavillon and the Alexis de Tocqueville Library
• Outdoor screenings with Cinéma Lux and INA: Oceans and Jaws
• Historical and archaeological talks to better understand Caen’s relationship with the sea

STOPS ALONG THE CANAL

Several towns along the canal will offer activities:

• Sailing Outing: Share your memories on postcards floating on the canal with the association Giber’Voile; 40 randomly selected participants will win a sea outing.
• Naval Modeling Exhibition: Discover models, demos, and animations on miniature navigation, June 27 and 28 on the Gaston-Lamy quay.
• B-eau Show: A poetic and aquatic show mixing dance and performance, in Ouistreham Riva-Bella on Sunday, June 29 at 10:45 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.
• Giant Picnic: Meet in Blainville-sur-Orne around artist Olivier Vadrot’s round table, Sunday, June 29 from noon.
• “Caen Tomorrow Enchants Us” Choir Concert: An original piece telling the story of a Norwegian woman in Caen, performed by the Ouistreham choir and Conservatory choristers, June 27 in Ouistreham (8:30 p.m.) and June 29 in Caen (5:30 p.m.).

An Art-Science Project at the Heart of the Event: Débord(i)ons

The Débord(i)ons project, created for Caen’s Millennium, will be a highlight of the event. Combining art and science, it invites residents to explore their connection to water, a key element of the Caen Peninsula.

Among the standout installations, the interactive works LOOP, suspended above the Canal, will illuminate the landscape near the recently restored cranes.

This Maritime Weekend promises to be a major moment of Caen’s Millennium, blending history, culture, and live performance in an exceptional setting. An event not to be missed — whether with friends or family!

• Free for all