Falaise

From whatever side you approach the town the full square stone keep on its rocky outcrop (the name comes from the Old German word falisa meaning ‘rock’) dominates the market town to this day. Always associated with William the Conqueror as his birthplace, the present stone castle is, as in Caen, mostly the work of his youngest son, Henry I.

Birthplace of William the Conqueror

Between the Suisse Normande and the Pays d’Auge, Falaise is surrounded by a generous natural environment, where lush green valleys give way to plains of flax and wheat. This environment is ideal for leisure activities. Mountain bikers, hikers and kayakers will all have a great time discovering the rich architectural heritage of the town where William the Conqueror was born. An important centre for trade and crafts, Falaise has always enjoyed economic prosperity. The medieval castle that dominates the town bears testimony to this. Bombed on 6 June 1944, Falaise was at the centre of the fighting in the summer of that year. It would lend its name to one of the greatest sequences of the Battle of Normandy: the Falaise pocket. The liberation of Normandy and the inevitable retreat of the German army in France took place in August 1944 in this small area of just a few square kilometres, where almost all the belligerent nationalities were gathered.

What to see and do in Falaise

• Château Guillaume Le Conquérant: Perched on a rocky outcrop between the valleys of the Ante and Marescot rivers, this 12th century castle, listed since 1840, is a magnificent reminder of the power of the Dukes of Normandy. If you’re coming by train, coach or bike, take advantage of Normandy’s low carbon rate.
  
• The medieval town: Far from being completely destroyed in 1944, Falaise still retains much of its glorious medieval past, including a fortified wall almost 2 km long!
  
• Automates Avenue: A collection of over 300 automatons is set in a reconstruction of the streets of Paris. A workshop reveals the secrets that bring to life the actors in the shop windows of yesteryear.
  
• The Falaise Memorial: Opened in 2016, this museum is unique in the world. It is dedicated to the life and survival of civilians during the Second World War. The weight of the German occupation and repression, the rule of Marshal Pétain and the Vichy regime, the Resistance, but also the Allied bombing during the liberation, marked the lives of civilians until the reconstruction..

What to see and do near Falaise

• Montormel Memorial: The museum tells the story of the Battle of the Falaise Pocket
  
• The Suisse Normande: Breathe in, breathe out… Take a deep breath and enjoy a refreshing experience in this spacious corner of Normandy. Climbing, canoeing, hiking… you’re in for a treat!
  
• Argentan: One of the most important fortresses in Normandy bears the traces of its turbulent past. The skill of its workers has made Argentan the other major lace-making town.
  
• Caen: Ideally located just 2 hours from Paris and 10 minutes from the beaches, Caen, the city of William the Conqueror, is a lively city.