Train Caen → Rouen

Coasting by on its solemn history If the land could speak, the area around Caen would rumble with the sounds of conflict and freedom. No one will forget the soldiers who fought on the nearby beaches on June 6, 1944 and the solemn days after. Today, the Battle of Normandy remains in the hearts of residents, and is on display at the award-winning Caen Memorial Museum. It is regarded as the best World War II museum in France and only 15 minutes away from the D-Day beaches. Thanks to this proximity, the museum runs guided tours. Also on display are exhibits of other failures and triumphs of peace, such as the Berlin Wall and was the first museum outside of the United States to display artifacts from 9/11. Getting to the area is quick and easy by train. SNCF France operates near-hourly service along the Paris-Caen-Bayeux-Cherbourg corridor, taking just under two hours from Paris St Lazare station to Caen. It is also connected to the south of England by the Caen Ouistreham-Portsmouth ferry route. Learn more about Caen

A city that makes an impression With a half a million people, the capital of Normandy is a vibrant, bustling landscape that's been captured by both history and artistry. William the Conqueror died here in 1087, and Joan of Arc was burned at the stake on the place du Vieux-Marché. Today, that same street houses shops and cafes in half-timbered buildings. So things have changed a bit. Paris is a mere hour away, and just as the Seine splits that city into a Left and Right Bank, it does the same for Rouen. You'll find the "Vieux" (Old) city on the Right Bank. Here you'll find beautiful sets of wood-framed houses from the 15th -18th century. Walk along the Rue St.-Romain, which leads to the church of St. Maclou, an extravagant example of gothic architectures, full of statues and ornaments. The church was carefully restored after being bombed during World War II. Further up, visit the macabre Dance of Death at the Aître St-Maclou, one of the last examples of a medieval plague cemetery. Learn more about Rouen