Caen really took
off as a major town under Duke William the Conqueror, who is responsible for
building many of the historical sites there. It was an objection of the D Day
Invasion but was not taken for several weeks, after which much of the town was
in ruins, making it necessary to rebuild it after the war. The Abbaye aux Dames or Ladies Abbey was
founded by Mathilda, the wife of William the Conquerer. It is flanked by
Romanesque towers whose spires were destroyed in the Hundred Years War. The
tomb of Queen Mathilda is located here in the 12th century choir. Abbaye aux
Hommes or Men’s Abbey was founded by William the Conqueror and his wife
Mathilda. The abbey was begun in Romanesque style in
1066 and added to in the 18th century. Its elegant buildings are now part of
City Hall and some rooms are brightened by the town's fine collection of
paintings. Twin Romanesque towers standing 84 meters in height dominate
the church. The tomb of William is commemorated here by a marble slab inside
the high altar. The tomb was destroyed during an uprising in 1562, with only a
hipbone being recovered. During the French Revolution, what was left of his
ashes were scattered into the wind.
A museum is located at the Caen Memorial. Commemorated here
are events from 1918 to the present, with the unfolding and meaning of World
War II being the main focus. The Caen
Peace Museum
depicts the beginning of World War II, the conquest and Nazification of Europe,
and the liberation of Europe by the allies. The Musée de Normandie is dedicated to regional arts and
objects found in local archeological finds.