From June 27 to 29, 2025, Caen’s Millenium summer season kicks off with a festive event celebrating the region through water: the Maritime Weekend, from Caen to the Sea which marks 1,000 years of Caen – see www.caenlamer-tourisme.com
For three days, 48 ships, symbolizing each of the communes of the Caen la mer urban community, will dock in the port of Caen and along the quays. Among them, the prestigious Belem (an historic 3-masted tall ship) will make a stopover to the delight of visitors.
Caen (14, Calvados, Normandy) is a major French port and a cross-channel ferry port – but, of course, the Ferry docks at Ouistreham which is on the coast, whilst the city of Caen is 10 miles inland – but is nevertheless a major port in its own right, by virtue of the Caen canal which links the city to the sea. Large ocean-going ships use the canal, which also has another claim to fame, i.e. Pegasus Bridge at Benouville – a bascule bridge which enables ships to pass, but is also the site of the first encounter between the Allies and the Germans on D-Day in 1944, and the beginning of the Normandy landings.
So, just to clarify – the Brittany Ferries route from Portsmouth to Caen actually terminates at Ouistreham on the coast, whilst Caen, which is 10 miles inland still serves as a major shipping port.
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