Castle of Caen

The castle of Caen is in the middle of the town of Caen. It was created with the Moyen-âge by William the Conqueror about 1060, then it knew many installations. With 5,5 hectares, it is one of the largest castles of Europe. Its enclosure contains today:

  • the home of the governor (current museum of Normandy)
  • the museum of the Art schools of Caen
  • the church Saint-Georges

  • the Chess-board of Normandy, which acts as room of temporary exhibition

  • a garden of crop plants to the Middle Ages
Top of the rampart S, the panoramic sight on the town of Caen is splendid. The enclosure is reinforced by two Barbacane S.

History

The castle was built towards 1060, under the reign of William the Conqueror. His/her son Henri Ier Beauclerc made build the church Saint-Georges, a Donjon and a big room for the ducal court, the Chess-board. The king of France Philippe II known as Philippe Auguste reinforces the fortifications. The Castle was formerly connected to the walls enclosing of the remainder of the city For the revolutionary period, the Donjon is destroyed. Sheltering barracks, the Château is bombarded by the Allies in 1944. In 1946, Michel de Boüard, Caen-native archeologist decides to undertake excavations in the enclosure of the castle of Caen to make reappear the traces medieval are. In 1967 is installed the museum of the Art schools which will open its doors in 1971.

Recent work

As from March 2004, the municipality of Caen, helped by the subsidies of FEDER, undertook the restoration of the ramparts. (consolidation, release of the loopholes closed at the 19th century). 6.000 fill m3 are in the course of evacuation, in order to better see the north-western enclosing wall, of XIIe century. This operation put at the day the cellar of a private house of XVe century having preserved a beautiful chimney, an explosives magazine and two walls of a forging mill of the 14th century. It was also discovered there drawings of meort (to attach the horses), proof of the existence of stables to the castle at a certain time.

It was noted an continuous increase of the volume of blown in stones side street of Jail. Stone replacement and consolidation are undertaken and will be concluded in 2008. Cost: 1,15 million Euros.

External bonds

  • the Castle of Caen (official site)
  • teaching File of the Museum of Normandy

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