Carrières souterraines de la Maladrerie

The Maladrerie quarries were exploited from the 17th to the 19th century, and were reopened in the 1980s to build the Memorial.

From June 6, 1944, the city of Caen came under heavy bombardment. Residents of certain neighborhoods took refuge in quarries and underground structures in the Caen area. In the Maladrerie district, over five hundred people took shelter in the quarries until Caen was liberated. Access to the quarries was via shafts equipped with ladders.

No longer in use, the quarries have recently been refurbished to enable visitors to enjoy the site in complete safety (booking required). Following a well-lit, signposted path, you'll discover the large chambers used to extract this world-renowned stone.