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.

Allemagne is the former name of Fleury-sur-Orne before 1917. Below, the Orne river flows lazily at the foot of the hillsides, where numerous limestone quarries have been dug over the centuries.

A walk from Ifs to Mondeville and the Vallée Verte or Vallée Sèche lake. This valley, which follows the course of an old river, has been developed as a greenway (for pedestrians and cyclists).

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 hike passes through villages with attractive architecture, but also crosses rural areas along the Ruisseau le Vey and Rivière la Mue streams.

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.

Come and discover the often overlooked village of Rots, which stretches along the Mue valley. Its architectural heritage is very diverse, consisting of both noble residences and farmhouses typical of the Caen plain.

Starting from Ranville, enjoy the surrounding countryside and walk to Amfreville. Then descend to the Marais de Cagny and follow the towpath along the Orne to return to the starting point.

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.

This walk will allow you to appreciate both the tranquillity of the marshes and the countryside, as well as the seaside atmosphere of the famous seaside towns. Along the way, you will discover the architectural and, above all, historical heritage of the towns of Colleville-Montgomery, Hermanville-sur-Mer and Ouistreham Riva-Bella, key locations in the June 1944 D-Day landings (Sword Beach).

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.