Caen

Caen is a city and a commune of northwestern France. It is the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Calvados département, and the capital of the administrative Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy) région. Population 115,000, total urban sprawl around 200,000.

History

During the Battle of Normandy in World War II, Caen saw intense and bitter combat between Allied and Axis forces. British and Canadian forces finally captured the city on July 9, 1944. In the preceding month-long battle, many of the town's inhabitants had sought refuge in the Abbaye aux Hommes, built on the orders of William the Conqueror some 800 years before. Post-WWII rebuilding took 14 years (1948-1962) and led to the current urbanization of Caen.

Related Topics:
Battle of Normandy - World War II - British - Canadian - July 9 - 1944 - William the Conqueror - 1948 - 1962

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