Caen

France / Basse-Normandie / Caen /
 city, capital city of state/province/region, municipality
114,000 inhabitans.
Old celtic settlement. Built-on during the reign of William the Conqueror in 11th century.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caen
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   49°11'5"N   -0°22'20"E

Comments

  • The Battle for Caen from June to August 1944 was a battle between the Allied and German forces during World War II's Battle of Normandy. Originally the Allies aimed to take the French city of Caen, one of the largest cities in Normandy on D-Day. Caen was a vital objective for several reasons. First, it lay astride the Orne River and Caen Canal; these two water obstacles could strengthen a German defensive position if not crossed. Second, Caen was a road hub; in German hands it would enable the enemy to shift forces rapidly. Third, the area around Caen was relatively open, especially compared to the bocage country in the west of Normandy. This area was valued for airfield construction. On D-Day, Caen was an objective for the British 3rd Infantry Division. Because Caen was not taken during the D-Day assault, it became the focal point for a series of battles through June, July and into August. The old city of Caen, with many buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, was largely destroyed by Allied bombing and the fighting. The reconstruction of Caen lasted until 1962. Today, little of the pre-war city remains.
  • The funny thing about Caen is that they add béchamel sauce to crudités and velouté sauce to pot-au-feu here.