From Caen to Ouistreham, from William the Conqueror’s castle to the Palais des Sports, passing by the beautiful villas of the Belle Époque. Discover the key dates in a thousand years of history.
1st – 3rd century
Where it all began
🟠 Existence of a Gallo-Roman town in Caen under the influence of Aregenua, capital of the Viducasses, located about fifteen kilometers south of Caen. Village now known as Vieux-la-Romaine.
11th – 12th century
Caen, city of the Dukes
🟠 1025 : First mention of “Cadamus”
🟠 Birth of Caen Castle
🟠 1066: William the Conqueror is crowned King of England
🟠 Construction of Saint-Samson Church in Ouistreham
16th century,
The Renaissance
🟠 Caen and its architecture embrace the Renaissance style
🟠 Emergence of mansions for the bourgeoisie and aristocracy, such as the Escoville, Than, and Mondrainville mansions
🟠 Construction of the Château de Lion-sur-Mer
19th – Early 20th century,
The “Belle Epoque”
🟠 Birth of the seaside resort of Ouistreham
🟠 Opening of a railway line between Caen and the sea
🟠 Appearance of the Nice Caennais, the Bagatelle district, and Art Deco villas, including Hector Guimard’s Bluette in Hermanville-sur-Mer
🟠 1857: Inauguration of the Caen Canal to the sea
🟠 1905: Construction of the current Ouistreham lighthouse
Mid to late 20th century,
World War II and Reconstruction
🟠 June 6, 1944: D-Day, when Allied troops landed in Normandy
🟠 Following the bombings, reconstruction of the destroyed neighborhoods began
🟠 The University of Caen, the theater, and other iconic sites were built in the Reconstruction style
21th century,
Caen today
🟠 June 6, 2014 : International ceremony in Ouistreham for the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings
🟠 The Caen la Mer metropolitan area has a population of 274,630, including 108,000 in Caen alone
🟠 New sports arena & Presqu’Île district: A resolutely modern city
2025
Millenium of Caen
In 2025, Caen celebrated its thousandth anniversary. To mark the occasion, the city organized a whole host of events… enough to last at least another thousand years!
