Tourism in Calvados
Would you like to take advantage of your camping holiday in Calvados to do some sightseeing? Here’s our selection of 10 must-see places to visit in Calvados!
The Caen Memorial
An essential site in Calvados for understanding the stages of the Second World War, and in particular how Normandy was affected by the conflict at the time of the Allied landings.
The interactive museum in Caen is also a place of meditation and a conservatory for peace. The Caen Memorial is an ideal place to visit before discovering the beaches where the first Allied landings took place.
Falaise Castle
A major site in Calvados, Falaise Castle was the birthplace of William the Conqueror. It is thus considered the cradle of the powerful Anglo-Norman dynasty.
Using touch-screen tablets, visitors can animate the castle’s rooms to recreate period settings. It offers a truly immersive journey into the past.
The Men’s Abbey
William the Conqueror, then Duke of Normandy, had this abbey founded in 1063. Known as the Abbey of Saint-Etienne de Caen or the Abbey of Men, it now houses his tomb, which contains only his femur.
The history of the Abbey aux Hommes is closely linked to the destiny of William the Conqueror, since it was partly to make amends for marrying his relative Matilda of Flanders without papal approval that he donated the building to the Church.
The basilica of Lisieux
On a hill above Lisieux, the Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse is France’s second-largest pilgrimage site after Lourdes. The eclectic style of the building is surprising.
Built in the 20th century, the Lisieux basilica is often compared to the Sacré-Coeur. Its interiors are also richly decorated, in a style blending Art Deco and neo-Byzantine. A bluish atmosphere emanates from the stained-glass windows.
Colleville-sur-Mer American Cemetery
A site of memory, remembrance and emotion, the American cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach, the scene of the Allied landings in 1944. The site contains the graves of over 9,000 American soldiers who fell in the Battle of Normandy.
The moving inertia of the white stelae aligned as far as the eye can see on the green Normandy lawn is broken daily by the ceremony of the colors.
The fishing port of Port-en-Bessin
The largest fishing port in Calvados, Port-en-Bessin-Huppain is an ideal place to stroll and watch the ballet of colorful boats returning to port to unload fish and scallops. A visit to the fish market is a special moment. The entire harbor can be admired from the Vauban tower, revealing its ideal natural position, sheltered between two cliffs.
The Bayeux Tapestry
The world-famous Bayeux tapestry is also known as the Queen Matilda tapestry. This 11th-century embroidery depicts the stages in the Norman conquest of England. With a total length of over 68 meters, it is a unique testimony to the history of William the Conqueror. You can admire it in Bayeux, in the museum dedicated to it, during a three-stage tour which reveals the secrets of its manufacture.
Honfleur harbour
One of France’s prettiest ports is in Calvados: Honfleur was already attracting painters, writers and artists of all disciplines in the 19th century. Hugo evokes it in his most famous poems. Still authentic, it continues to seduce with its tall, colorful houses lining the quays where fishing boats anchor. From the harbor, the narrow streets of the town center climb up to the church, whose remarkable ceiling is made from an upturned ship’s hull.
The boards of Deauville
City of stars and star of Calvados towns, Deauville is a chic, upmarket seaside resort boasting palaces, villas and a casino. Its long beach is flanked by a boardwalk named after cinema personalities. Every year, the city hosts the American Film Festival, the little brother of the Cannes Film Festival.
Cabourg’s beaches
Made famous by Proust for some, by the film La Boum for others, Cabourg’s beach is recognizable by its wooden cabins and the elegant buildings that line it: luxury hotels, tea rooms and Belle Époque villas give it a slightly timeless charm.
If you’d like to take your visit a step further or take a gourmet break, here are a few ideas you might enjoy:
