• Explore L'Abbaye-aux-Hommes in nearby Caen. This beautiful Norman abbey was constructed by William the Conqueror in 1063—just three years before his historical invasion of England. It stands today as one of the most important Romanesque buildings in the entire region.

• Take a day to travel to Le Château de Caen. Constructed by Duke William of Normandy (who would later become William the Conqueror) this imposing castle is one of Caen’s most distinguished historical landmarks. Le Château de Caen has been a “monument historique” since 1886.

• Visit Musée et site de la Batterie de Merville nearby. Now a museum, this extraordinary historic site was once a German coastal battery that guarded several routes from the English Channel into Caen. It was one of the first places to be attacked by Allied forces during the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944.