Caen castle : a ten centuries old fortress within the town

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A ten Centuries Old Fortress within the Town

Founded by William the Conqueror, the castle of Caen was rediscovered'after World War II, yielding ever more historical information thanks to archaeologists and historians working on the project, starting with Michel de Boüard. Although evidence of the first Duke's palace is today quite scant, the Hall of the Exchequer has retained some of that magnificence that it must have exuded in the XII^th century, despite transformations through time. As for the castle keep, razed during the French Revolution, its foundations continue to fascinate many a visitor calling to mind the Anglo-Norman origins of the edifice, whereas the Fields Gate (Porte des Champs) built in the XIII^th century harks back to the days of the return of Normandy to French possession, and finally the St. Peter barbican recalls the Hundred Years'War.

We should nevertheless remember what the castle enceinte with its towers and drawbridge used to be in the Middle Ages - a town within the town - with its parish church dedicated to St. George. Today, restored to its pride of place, the castle lies in the heart of the town and has become an essential cultural venue, housing none other than the Museum of Normandy, with its recently opened Rampart Rooms and the Fine Arts'Museum attracting art and history lovers from across the world.