La Vélo Francette : Voie verte de Caen à Thury-Harcourt Le Hom

Hire and delivery of holiday bikes, travel bikes, VAE, tricycles, cargo bikes, tandems and adapted bikes for outings with family or friends in Normandy. We offer a wide range of cycling solutions for everyone (senior citizens, people with reduced mobility, etc.) for your excursions or trips to discover Caen and Normandy.

The "Normandy Bike" agency based in Caen, Normandy, is your preferred destination for electric/muscular bike, motorcycle and scooter rentals. Take advantage of our delivery service for a more convenient and personalized rental experience. Our online booking platform simplifies the process, allowing you to plan your two-wheeled adventures. Conveniently located near the greenways and the renowned "Vélo Francette", we offer easy access to touring routes. Whether you want to explore the beauty of the natural region or explore the historical charms of Normandy, Normandy Bike Location offers a wide choice of two-wheelers. Book your two-wheeler easily via our online booking platform or contact us by phone/e-mail for information.

Founded around 1060 by Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror, this abbey for Benedictine nuns enjoyed great renown from the 11th century to the French Revolution. Its abbey church - the Holy Trinity church. Its 18th century convent buildings are now home to the Lower Normandy Regional Council. Guided tours every day at 2.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Visits in both French and English - 1 hour 15 minutes.

The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Étienne in Caen was founded in 1063 by William the Conqueror. The church dates mainly from the 11th and 13th centuries and houses the tomb of the Duke of Normandy and King of England. The former monastery, which was damaged during the Wars of Religion and rebuilt in the 18th century, is now the seat of Caen City Council. Visitors can explore the cloister and several historical exhibitions there.

The Nature Discovery Centre offers an introduction to the flora and fauna of Normandy. Visitors can explore a natural history collection presented in dioramas: mammals of the bocage, birds of towns, ponds and the coast; games and touchscreen tablets are available for an interactive experience. The garden, dedicated to common wild and cultivated plants, is specially designed to accommodate small wildlife (insect hotels, hedgehog shelters, etc.); it is open to the public all year round. The museum holds the ‘Point Info Biodiversité’ accreditation: it informs, raises awareness and encourages people from all walks of life to get involved in supporting local biodiversity. From February to October, groups and visitors can explore temporary exhibitions and take part in themed activities focusing on nature and the environment.

Located on the outskirts of Caen, this sensitive natural area is a vast preserved wetland that can be visited via over 3 miles of marked pathways. Free access from Louvigny (village hall car park) or from Caen (La Cavée viaduct car park).

This genuine plant museum, located in the heart of the town, offers several thousand species, some of them rare. Plant collection, typical Lower Normandy flora, exotic plant greenhouses. Medicinal garden, rockery, horticultural collections and children's play area. Horticultural tips for private gardeners from 8 to 12 a.m. and from 1.30 to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday except public holidays, either on site or over the phone. Closure subject to seasonal variations. Unaccompanied visit lasts 1h30 to 2 hours. Guided group tours of the greenhouses and the garden by appointment.

Built around 1060 by William the Conqueror, the ducal castle became a favourite residence of the Dukes of Normandy, Kings of England (1066–1204), who expanded it into one of the largest fortified complexes in Europe. Over the centuries, this monument was transformed into a royal fortress and then into barracks for conscripts: each period of its history has left its mark, scattered throughout the years. After two years of renovation work, discover the refurbished Château de Caen: a new visitor centre, a large 4-hectare wooded park, access to hidden treasures (the keep and Queen Matilda’s Tower) as part of guided tours, and a programme of tours and discovery activities. Visitor resources available in French, English and German: -Free interpretive trail on site -Free ‘Mathilde and the Castle’ audio and digital tour -Exploration booklet for children aged 7 and over. On sale at the castle’s Visitor Centre (€1.50). Tours and events at the castle: see the calendar in the programme and on the website: chateau.caen.fr Museums: Musée de Normandie, Musée des Beaux-Arts Immersive show in the Salle de l’Échiquier Facilities: play areas, restaurant, souvenir shops, auditorium, toilets

One of France’s finest Fine Arts Museums in the field of 16th to 20th century European painters, boasting an exceptional collection of engravings and organising temporary international exhibitions. In 2017: Marc Desgrandchamps, Dutch and Flemish painting in the 16th and 17th centuries. Opening of a Cubist exhibition room. Land art in the heart of the sculpture park, hosting ‘Ceiling Light’ by Jaakko Pernu, alongside Bourdelle, Rodin, Marta Pan, Huang Yong Ping and Morellet. Activities for visitors of all ages from age 3: family tours, workshops, tasting sessions, conferences, concerts, dance, cinema, etc. Fine arts book store and gift shop, restaurant-café Mancel, library. Unaccompanied tour lasts: 2 hours. Or guided tour in French or English: 1 hour. 2017 exhibition, ‘L'attention au réel. Art flamand et hollandais. Collections du musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Genève et du musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen’. (Attention to realism, Flemish and Dutch art. Collections from the Geneva Museum of Art and History and the Fine Arts Museum in Caen. Ticket sales at the Church of St. George within the castle enclosure.

Just a stone’s throw from the D-Day beaches, the Caen Memorial is one of Europe’s largest contemporary museums. It offers a gripping immersion in 20th-century history, from the Second World War to the end of the Cold War. From May 2027, discover a major semi-permanent exhibition dedicated to the universal values of the D-Day beaches. To mark their designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Caen Memorial offers a fresh perspective on how the memory of the D-Day landings has evolved since 1944 and on its close link with the transformations of the contemporary world. From 1944 to the present day, the significance attributed to 6 June has continually evolved: a celebration of a military victory in the aftermath of the war, an affirmation of freedom during the Cold War, a symbol of European reconciliation after 1989, and subsequently a message of peace and dialogue between nations. Through a chronological and immersive journey, the exhibition reveals how an event that has become a universal symbol of freedom and peace continues to reflect the major changes in our world. An invaluable photographic record: the Patrick Chauvel collection exhibition! This permanent exhibition, which is free to visit, traces the career of the renowned war correspondent who has covered conflicts that have erupted all over the world over the last 50 years. The film ‘Europe, Our History’, screened in 360°. A unique visual and auditory experience to help us understand our shared European history (screening included in the museum admission ticket).

Housed in Caen Castle, a thousand-year-old medieval fortress founded by William the Conqueror, the Musée de Normandie is a museum of history and society. Boasting significant archaeological and ethnographic collections, it offers visitors the chance to discover the lives of the people of Normandy, from prehistory to the present day. Temporary exhibitions are held in the Salles du Rempart, at the heart of the castle’s archaeological remains. Audio and digital guided tours in French, English and German allow visitors to explore the museum at their own pace. A programme of activities takes place at the museum, the castle and throughout the town all year round: events, workshop tours, mystery tours, activity booklets, guided tours, and more. Summer highlight: ‘Week-end Joyeux’! the first weekend in August – Free, continuous entertainment for families. Shop – souvenirs available in the Salles du Rempart and at the castle’s visitor centre. Free highlights in 2026: European Night of Museums (May), European Archaeology Days (June), ‘Joyeux Weekend!’ (August), European Heritage Days (September), ‘New Perspectives on the Reconstruction of Caen’ (September–October). Free tours and activities on the first weekend of every month.

The Grimbosq Forest (covering 475 hectares) is the property of the town of Caen and is located 19km to the south of the town and 7km from Thury Harcourt. Several attractions on site: marked walking routes, picnic area, pond, animal park, arboretums with forest species and special collections, "Olivet" feudal mound (alongside the GR36, archaeological site) and mountain biking route.