Normandy castles in 2 days from Caen
2 days · 6 châteaux · 295 km
Caen, Balleroy, Falaise, Carrouges, Crèvecœur-en-Auge and Château-Gaillard, a loop around Caen and then the road to Paris.
Written for visitors arriving by ferry at Ouistreham, the port of Caen, or driving in from Paris. Caen is the base for the first day, a loop of three castles that returns to the city. The second day heads south into the Orne and then east along the road to Paris, ending at Château-Gaillard above the Seine at Les Andelys, about 100 km from the capital. The rhythm is three castles a day, with more road on the second day than on the first. Nothing here needs booking in advance, but opening seasons differ widely: the two town castles, Caen and Falaise, keep long seasons, while the country houses and the ruin at Les Andelys do not. Check the six fiches before you fix the dates.
Day 1
91 km on the road
Caen castle stands in the town centre, its enclosure free to enter with two museums inside; then 35 km west to Balleroy, and back southeast to Falaise, the birthplace of William the Conqueror.
château de Balleroy (Balleroy Castle)
Balleroy-sur-Drôme · Calvados
35 km from the previous stop1ère moitié 17e siècle
The rest of the route
The stops on the following days. The full plan, with distances, goes out by email.
Day 2
Carrouges south in the Orne, Crèvecœur-en-Auge at midday, a small moated manor in the Pays d’Auge, then about 100 km east to Château-Gaillard on its rock above the Seine, on the road to Paris.
Before you go
Opening seasons vary from one castle to the next, and several close for part of the year. Check each castle’s fiche before you fix your dates: it carries the hours and prices as they were verified, with the date of verification.
The order of stops is chained nearest-first from the starting town, and distances are as the crow flies: allow a third more by road. Only châteaux whose opening to the public we know are included.