Caen

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• Alexandria
• Nashville
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• Thiès
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• Reșița
• Portsmouth

History

Caen was known in Roman times as 'Catumagos', from the Gaulish roots magos meaning 'field' and catu meaning 'combat'. It remained a minor settlement throughout the Roman period. In 912 Caen became the western capital of the Duchy of Normandy and due to the patronage of the Dukes of Normandy saw a major development of commence throughout the 10th century. Around 1060, William the Conqueror began construction of the Château de Caen, which became the centre of the ducal court. Duchess Matilda of Flanders also founded the Benedictine Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, Caen around the same time, eventually being buried in the abbey. Caen succeeded Bayeux as the capital of Lower Normandy, complementing the second ducal capital of Rouen. Caen fell to Philip II of France on 21 May 1204, and was incorporated along with the remainder of Normandy into the Kingdom of France. In 1346, King Edward III of England led his army against the city, hoping to loot it. It was expected that a siege of perhaps several weeks would be required, but the army took the city in less than a day, on 26 July 1346, storming and sacking it, killing 3,000 of its citizens, and burning much of the merchants' quarter on the Île St-Jean. Only the castle of Caen held out, despite attempts to besiege it. A few days later, the English left, marching to the east and on to their victory at the Battle of Crécy. It was later captured following a siege by Henry V in 1417 and treated harshly for being the first town to put up any resistance to his invasion. In 1450 towards the end of the war, French forces recaptured Caen. During World War II, Caen was captured by German forces during the Battle of France in 1940 and placed under military occupation. In 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, invading…

Geography

Caen is in an area of high humidity. The river Orne flows through the city, as well as small rivers known as les Odons, most of which have been buried under the city to improve urban hygiene. Caen has a large flood zone, named "La prairie", located around the hippodrome, not far from the river Orne, which is regularly submerged. Caen is from the Channel. A canal (Canal de Caen à la Mer) parallel to the Orne was built during the reign of Napoleon III to link the city to the sea at all times. The canal reaches the English Channel at Ouistreham. A lock keeps the tide out of the canal and lets large ships navigate up the canal to Caen's freshwater harbours. Caen has an oceanic climate that is somewhat ameliorated due to its slightly inland position. In spite of this, summers are still cool by French standards and the climate is typically maritime in terms of high precipitation, relatively modest sunshine hours and mild winters.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,611
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,521
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,333
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,318
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,291
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,252
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,167
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  993

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2007-11-06
  7 km SSW of Chanu, France
• M 3.5 — 2007-08-01
  2 km SSE of Blonville-sur-Mer, France
• M 2.6 — 2007-07-24
  15 km W of Étretat, France
• M 3.3 — 2006-11-10
  20 km N of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, France
• M 3.2 — 2006-08-12
  0 km SW of Merville-Franceville-Plage, France
• M 2.7 — 2006-05-11
  6 km SSE of Fougerolles-du-Plessis, France