Jaap van 't Veen's photos

The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives (Épinay was the original name of the town) was founded in the 11th century; the earliest records of the monastery date back to 1011, when Countess Lesceline - great-aunt of William the Conqueror - had her château transformed into a monastery to house a community of nuns. The nuns were soon replaced by Benedictine monks from Jumieges. Consecrated in 1067, the church was destroyed in a fire almost fourty years later. The construction of a new church would begin two years later and took more than a hundred years to complete. The monument retains very few elements from its earliest days, since it was entirely rebuilt during the Gothic period, between the 13th and 15th centuries. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the abbey church was restored and rebuilt. At the end of the French Revolution, the monastery was sold as national property and the abbey church was transformed into a parish church of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives. Remarkably, the town and the abbey were spared by the bombings at the end of World War II. The tall towers of the abbey church still dominate the town.

Église Saint-Georges (Saint-Georges church) - located within the complex of Caen Castle - is first mentioned in a text from 1082. Elements from this period have been preserved in the church. There are traces of windows from the Romanesque period and the triumphal arch was rebuilt in the 1100s. The Gothic windows date from the 14th and 15th centuries, and the choir and door were rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century. Inside, the nave is covered with a wooden roof structure that was built during the Hundred Years' War. Archaeologists have dated this to the years of the English occupation, around 1435. The wooden bell tower disappeared in the 19th century when the church was converted into a service building for the army. The church was severely damaged by bombing at the end of the World War II and was restored from 1948 onwards. The new stained-glass windows were installed after 1970. Today, Église Saint-Georges is an information centre for the history of the castle and a reception area for the two museums of Caen Castle.

Église Saint-Pierre (Saint-Pierre Church) was built between the 13th and 16th centuries to replace a 12th-century Romanesque church. The church features a mix of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. The nearly 80-metre-high tower dates from the 14th century; the nave was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tower, which was destroyed during the fighting at the end of the World War II, was rebuilt in 1957. Inside the church, the columns, vaults and statues showcase the craftsmanship of the Middle Ages. The stained-glass windows add a splash of colour.

Château de Caen (Caen Castle) is located in the centre of the city. William the Conqueror (PiP4) started construction of the citadel in 1060. Over the following centuries, the impressive fortress was reinforced and expanded, and is now considered one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. After many wars throughout the centuries and the bombings at the end of the World War II (June/July 1944), all that remains now are the contours of the former castle, the moat and the defence towers. La Salle de l'Échiquier, formerly the courtroom of the Duchy of Normandy, still stands proudly. The Romanesque Église Saint-Georges, now an information centre on the progress of the restoration work, was the parish church of the castle's inhabitants. Within the immense grounds, there are two museums, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (Museum of Fine Arts of Caen) and the Musée de Normandie (Museum of Normandy).

Caen has a history stretching back 1,000 years. The city originated from an island fortified by the Normans at the confluence of the Orne and Odon rivers. The city suffered severely during the World War II and was largely destroyed. A large part of the historic buildings had been destroyed, which is why the city centre now consists mainly of new buildings, with a few exceptions. The Maisons a Pans de Bois are two historic half-timbered houses that remained intact despite the violence of war. These half-timbered houses date from the early 16th century. Nowadays the houses have been restored as a three storied townhouse. Due to their renovation, it was possible to date the oak used in their construction to the year of 1513. The Maisons a Pans de Bois were listed as historic monuments in 1947.

The oldest remains of Château Ganne (Ganne Castle) - the most important estate of the Pommeraie family - which were uncovered during excavations, date back to the 10th century. The fortress was mainly built in the 11th and 12th centuries, after which it was abandoned and fell into disrepair. The ruins - including the impressive gate tower, a chapel, bakery and residential building - are located in the middle of the woods near the village of La Pommeraye.

The Orne is a 158-kilometre-long river in Normandy, which flows through the departments of Orne and Calvados, passing through the villages of Pont d'Ouilly and Clécy, among others. The river's source is at Aunou-sur-Orne; its mouth is at Ouistreham in the English Channel. The most important city along the Orne is Caen. The main image is taken from the bridge in Pont d’Ouilly.

Suisse Normande (Norman Switzerland) is a vast area west of Falaise with winding river valleys, rock walls and sweeping views. The Roche d'Oëtre is considered the most mountainous part of the region and is regarded as one of the most beautiful places. No one knows for sure where this unusual name comes from. It probably dates back to ancient times and is related to the special geological features of this rock, which is part of a nature reserve belonging to one of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe. The Roche d'Oëtre is a free-standing rock point on the edge of a steep cliff that towers 118 metres above the Rouvre valley. The panorama from this point over the wooded slopes is phenomenal. This rock platform is one of the most impressive in western France. Main image: Roche d'Oëtre PiPs are taken along the Sentier des meandres

Vieux Lavoir (Old Wash House) is located at the foot of Falaise Castle, in the historic Val d'Ante district, one of the oldest parts of the city. The wash house uses water from the Ante River. This washing house of the former tanneries, built in the 17th century, was used by washerwomen until the 1970s. After that, the building fell into disrepair, prompting the municipality to prohibit access in 2010. After a three-year restoration, the Vieux Lavoir was reopened to the public at the end of May 2025.

The oldest part of the church of Saint-Philbert de la Plisse date back to the 11th century, when William the Conqueror donated the church to the monks of the Abbaye-aux-Hommes in Caen. The church was rebuilt and enlarged in the following centuries, but remained under the patronage of the monks of Saint-Etienne. It was not until the mid-18th century that the abbey came into the possession of the municipalities of Saint-Philbert-sur-Orne and Les Îles Bardel. The monastery church became a parish church in 1906. In 1943, the entire complex, consisting of the church, the cemetery and the surrounding area, was listed as a historic monument.

The Église Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais -commonly called Église Saint-Gervais (Saint-Gervais church) was built in the 11th century under William the Conqueror and completed under his son. The church was consecrated in 1124. The Romanesque parts of the current building date from that period. The church was under the authority of the Abbaye-aux-Dames abbey in Caen, which is reflected in its architecture. Saint-Gervais suffered considerable damage during the siege of 1204 and was rebuilt in Gothic style. Further alterations were made in the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries. The wooden vaulted ceiling is a highlight inside the church. Saint-Gervais was again severely damaged by bombing at the end of the Second World War during the “Battle of the Falaise Pocket” and was thoroughly restored in the following decades.

Together with five other city gates the Porte des Cordeliers marked the control of entry to and exit from the fortified town of Falaise as from the Middle Ages. Designed as a gatehouse ( chatelet ) this access point was protected by a flanking tower to the north and was equipped with a portcullis. The present day edifice dates essentially from the 13th century. The Porte des Cordeliers is also referred as the Porte Ogise or Porte Ogier . It owes its name from les Cordeliers : Franciscan monks from a nearby monastery. In France known as the brothers of the “Order of the Cordeliers”, because of the rope belt (French = corde) they wore around their waists. The Porte des Cordeliers is the best-preserved city gate in Falaise; the others have been severely damaged or even completely destroyed.

After an earlier smaller church - dating from 840 - was destroyed during a siege by king Philippe II of France, the current Église Sainte-Trinité was rebuilt in Gothic style in 1240. Following severe damage during the Hundred Years' War, the nave (15th century) and the choir, chapels and portal (16th century) were rebuilt. An extension to the church was built in such a way that carts could pass through the church unhindered via an arch (PiP3). Such an arch is rare in France and unique in Normandy. The Sainte-Trinité church has a richly decorated choir and a chestnut wood vault (PiP6). The church - located right at the foot of Falaise Castle - has been classified as a historic monument since 1889.

Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant (Castle of William the Conqueror or Falaise Castle) is located on a rocky outcrop above the town. The first stone castle on this site was built between 962 and 1020, most likely by Richard II of Normandy. Around 1027, Richard II's grandson, William the Conqueror, was born in this castle. He would become the first Norman king of England. The current castle was built in 1123 by Henry I of England on the remains of its predecessor. The main castle consists of three keeps. The oldest is the large quadrangular keep, built by Henry I. The other two were added in the 12th and 13th centuries. During the Hundred Years' War, between 1337 and 1453, Falaise Castle changed hands several times. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was severely damaged after a siege. The castle was abandoned in the 17th century and subsequently fell into disrepair. In August 1944, the castle complex was largely destroyed after fierce fighting between Allied and German troops during the “Battle of the Falaise Pocket”. In 1840 it was declared a monument historique . Between 1987 and 1997, Falaise Castle was completely restored, using a lot of concrete and steel. Today, the castle is still the landmark of Falaise.

Falaise is best known as the birthplace of William the Conqueror (Guillaume le Conquérant). The town is located on the edge of a rocky massif. It was not until the end of prehistory and the beginning of the Christian era that the area, and Falaise in particular, became permanently inhabited. In 911 AD, the town became part of the Duchy of Normandy. William the Conqueror (born 1027) was the first Norman king of England. At the end of the 12th century, Philippe II of France took control of Normandy and Falaise. During the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), the town remained under English control until 1450, when the French conquered Falaise. From the Middle Ages onwards, Falaise expanded around the castle. In 1590, the castle was besieged by the troops of Henri IV of France. The damage caused by cannons during this last siege marked the end of Falaise as an important military strategic point. Falaise was an important centre for trade and craft products, which is why it became a prosperous town early on. At the height of its power, the town was protected by impressive fortifications: a 2-kilometre-long city wall with 50 towers and 6 defensive gates. Today, more than two-thirds of the wall have been preserved. In 1851, a statue of William the Conqueror was unveiled in the square in front of the castle (PiP4). In August 1944, Falaise was the town where the last major battle for the liberation of Normandy was fought in what became known as the “Batlle of the Falaise Pocket”.

The name Houlgate comes directly from the Normans, who settled in the area in the 9th century. From the 11th century onwards, the village - then called Beuzeval - was inhabited by fishermen and farmers. In the mid-19th century, beach holidays became popular and the village was renamed Beuzeval-les-Bains. In 1905, the name was changed to the current Houlgate. Houlgate has been called “the pearl of La Côte Fleurie” (Flower Coast) for over 100 years, which is not surprising given that it has retained its Belle Epoque charm with 300 beautiful architectural villas, built in the mid to late 19th century. The town is richly decorated with flowers around the town hall and the local tourist office. Nearby is a small rose garden.

The Église Saint-Martin (Saint-Martin church) was built between 1640 and 1643. The original church stood within the walls of Harcourt Castle, but was moved to a site north of the village that belonged to Bec-Hellouin Abbey. Around 1920, the original bell tower, which was in poor condition, was replaced by a brick tower in neo-Gothic style. The church therefore stands out for its red brick tower and white exterior. The furnishings and interior were thoroughly renovated at the end of the 19th century and in the 20th century. The stained-glass windows and organ were installed in 1924. However, several old elements have been preserved. The most striking is the 18th-century high altar.

The origins of Beuvron-en-Auge probably date back to Gallo-Roman times. The name ‘Beuvron’ appears in other forms in documents as early as the 11th century. It refers to a small river that flows through the village: Beuvron = beaver river. In the 12th century, a small rural community emerged. For centuries, until the end of the 18th century, the lands of Beuvron belonged to the powerful d'Harcourt family, who made a major contribution to the economic development of the village. The development of the village accelerated in the 15th century and reached its peak in the 17th and 18th centuries, when tanning and weaving ensured the prosperity of the village. In the 19th century, Beuvron was in danger of becoming a ghost village. In the 1970s, the remaining inhabitants decided to breathe new life into the village. The half-timbered houses were restored and the market hall, which had been demolished in 1958, was rebuilt. Slowly, Beuvron regained its former charm. Beuvron-en-Auge nowadays has about 40 half-timbered houses, mainly located around the market hall on Place Michel Vermughen. The village is officially recognised as one of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) because of its well-preserved Norman architecture.