Caen walks

Following in the footsteps of William the Conqueror and Queen Matilda, this urban route takes in the city's two superb Romanesque abbeys (for men and women) and the ducal castle. Several other churches, narrow streets and alleys, and a few public gardens complete the picture.

This walk connects the six dormant cemeteries of Caen, islands of greenery in the city, and takes you through the neighbourhoods surrounding the city centre.

An urban hike that allows you to discover neighbourhoods and architectural heritage that are too often overlooked.

Discover the banks of the Orne River in Louvigny, the surrounding marshes and the charm of their rural landscapes.

This beautiful walk near Caen takes us through the countryside to Verson and back along the Odons. The meadows, copses and small paths transport us back to the Middle Ages with the Barony estate, the mills and their ruins. We will also go to the source of the Petit Odon, which is not actually a source! Apart from the section that runs alongside the ring road, this is a peaceful walk in the countryside close to the Caen conurbation.

An amazing setting in the middle of nature and on the outskirts of Caen. Passing over and under the ring road reminds us of the proximity of the big city, which you forget as you cross the Odon six times via footbridges, old railway bridges and a ford. The path is popular with joggers. The "Course entre deux O" race follows part of this route in November.

This walk passes through villages with remarkable architecture and also crosses rural areas along the Vey and Mue rivers.

This hike will take you along the Voie Verte de la Suisse Normande (Greenway of Norman Switzerland) and the banks of the Orne river in the municipalities of Feuguerolles-Bully and Bully.

During this route, enjoy not only the pleasure of a country walk in the bocage countryside, but also the bucolic charm of the Guigne valley. You can also appreciate an architectural heritage that is just waiting to be discovered.

From May-sur-Orne, cross the fields, stroll through wooded areas, follow the Laize and Orne valleys and return via Saint-André-sur-Orne.

The legend of coal: for centuries, a stone in the commune of Feuguerolles intrigued many quarry workers. Black in colour, it became incandescent when burned. Thinking they had discovered precious "earth coal", wells were dug in the hope of finding a coal deposit. Unfortunately, the searches proved fruitless and were abandoned at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, the coal of Feuguerolles is nothing more than a legend.

This circular route connects four small Norman villages: Thaon, Basly, Colomby-sur-Thaon and Anisy. The main attraction of this circular route is the opportunity to see Serge Saint's sculptures installed in these locations. Some parts of the route across the plain may seem long.

From Bréville-les-Monts, set off to explore the surrounding countryside and discover a superb panorama of Sallenelles Bay; descend along the Orne and admire its estuary. Head back up towards Amfréville through the countryside and go around it to complete this walk in a circular fashion, symbolising infinity.

Starting from Hermanville-sur-Mer, enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside and marshes, but also soak up the seaside atmosphere of renowned seaside resorts. Along the way, you will discover the architectural and, above all, historical heritage of the towns of Hermanville-sur-Mer and Colleville-Montgomery, key sites of the June 1944 landings (Sword Beach).

This pleasant semi-urban walk starts in Douvres-la-Délivrande and takes you to Plumetot and Cresserons. In addition to the peace and charm of the surrounding countryside, you will discover a rich and varied architectural heritage, including the British military cemetery and the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Délivrande.

Route around Fontaine-Henry Castle. Halfway between the city of Caen and the D-Day beaches, Fontaine-Henry Castle overlooks the green valley of the Mue. Its vertiginously high roofs tower above the centuries-old trees in the park and crown a richly sculpted façade combining 15th- and 16th-century styles.

Starting from Fresne-Camilly, walk along the edge and then along the Thue valley, from Cainet to Bout de Haut near Amblie, then return, enjoying the unobstructed view of the countryside in this part of the Caen plain.

Hike around the Bellengreville-Chicheboville marsh, a remarkable wetland area, and along the way, discover some interesting architectural heritage.

A birdwatching site of great beauty, the bay of the Orne estuary is now protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral. The Maison de la Nature, several observatories and a network of footpaths showcase this unmissable natural area. Moderator's note See the review dated 21/02/2022: work in progress on this hike

A short, easy and enjoyable walk in a place of remembrance, through marshland and woods. Start and finish near the sea. A lovely short circular walk.

This walk, starting from the town hall in Fresney-le-Puceux, offers a lovely overview of the industrial and architectural heritage. After walking along the peaceful Laize, you will climb the sometimes steep slopes of the hillsides and discover the industrial past, mills and tanneries of this pretty valley.

A charming walk combining forests, wooded paths, streams, mills, hamlets, beautiful stone buildings, fields and meadows, with a few small climbs. Very pleasant to do from spring, when the vegetation comes to life, until autumn, when it bursts into shades of yellow, ochre and red. Apart from the section from Le Pissot to the hamlet of Touchet (1 km), there are virtually no roads to walk on, although it is sometimes difficult to avoid them.

This hike mainly follows the Coupe-Gorge stream, which runs through the Grimbosq forest. It is a very pleasant walk in autumn as it follows a small path that is rarely used by walkers.

Take a lovely coastal path and watch the local and migratory birds, pass by the Redoute de Merville, built in 1760 under Louis XVI based on plans by Vauban, walk along the beach, climb up to the Atlantic Wall coastal battery, cross the horse parks with foals depending on the season, stroll through the countryside... this is what you will discover on this hike. Don't forget your binoculars. The hike should be done when the tidal coefficient is below 80.

Discover the bird sanctuary, the bay and the banks of the Orne. Return through gently rolling countryside, then via Franceville beach.

Leaving Gonneville-en-Auge, in the countryside, follow the Bay of Sallenelles and the River Orne. You will then pass the Merville Batteries.

Enjoy a pleasant walk along the Seulles Valley and through the surrounding countryside.

This heritage trail immerses you in medieval society alongside knights, monks and peasants. In the 11th century, in the Cinglais region, Boulon was part of the powerful seigneury of RaoulI Taisson, who built the Château de Thuit there, the seat of seigneurial power. Between forest and heritage, the Boulon discovery trail reveals traces of this medieval past. This trail is marked in blue with signs reading "Heritage Trail - Boulon in the Middle Ages".

A beautiful walk awaits you. It will introduce you to a forest world far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Located on the edge of the dry plains and the watered bocage, the Cinglais Forest, covering 1,475 hectares, is an example of a ZNIEFF-classified forest.

Starting from Merville-Franceville-Plage, enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside and the marshes, but also soak up the seaside atmosphere of this renowned seaside resort. Along the way, you will discover the architectural and, above all, historical heritage, notably the Merville Battery, a key site of the June 1944 landings (9th Battalion of the6th Airborne).

If you're passing by on the Greenway, it's well worth a detour.