Caen is the birthplace of William the Conqueror and also the jumping off point for tours of the D-Day beaches. A medium-sized city, it has a ring road and and efficent bus/tram system, so travelling around town is easy.
Some major sites in town include the Chateau Ducal castle in the centre of town, and the town's two major abbeys, the Abbaye-aux-Hommes and the Abbaye-aux-Dames. The British and Canadian beaches are only about 20 km away, but you'll need to rent a car/scooter to get to see them, as Caen's buses don't go that far. There are also several tour companies that will take you on tours of the battlefields you want to see, even picking you up in Caen at your hotel.
In the summer, the D-Day beaches come alive with tourists from all over France, looking to swim and sunbathe. [edit text][editors]
