The Museum of Normandy

The Normandy Museum, situated in Caen, Calvados department of Normandy, is a municipal museum that encapsulates the historical past of Normandy and sheds light on the lives of Normans.

History of the Normandy Museum

The museum was founded on November 1, 1946, by Georges Henri Rivière. Initially, the museum was dedicated to ethnography, but from 1968 onwards, a substantial collection from archaeological excavations was incorporated. The museum is nestled within Caen's castle. Originally, the museum, along with Caen's Museum of Fine Arts, was situated in the Men's Abbey. In 1958, Michel de Bouard decided to relocate the museum to the governors' residence. In the 1960s, several services were conducted within the building, and in December 1963, it opened its doors to the public, housing mainly 19th-century ethnographic objects.

Exploring the Normandy Museum

With over 80,000 items dating from prehistory to the 20th century, the Normandy Museum draws an increasing number of visitors each year. The museum offers a range of activities for both adults and children, including guided tours, storytelling workshops, and shows. History enthusiasts can delve deeper into Norman history with a tour of the ramparts. The museum's archaeology section exhibits various tools, skeletal remains, and other artifacts from excavations, while the ethnographic section displays clothing and farming tools from medieval and modern times. The Plant Garden and Botanical Garden of Caen, built in 1689 by Gallard de la Ducquerie, is a significant natural heritage site. The garden is home to more than 2,000 different species and numerous rare plants. If you wish to explore the city's monuments and gardens, we can provide a driver to guide you around Caen.