Falaise Travel Guide

Birthplace of William the Conqueror, Falaise preserves a heritage of exceptional architecture: the Anglo-Norman keeps, the city walls, the ramparts flanked by towers.

The churches, precious witnesses of Romanesque architecture: church of St Laurent, contemporary of William the Conqueror, the church of St Gervais, the church of the Holy Trinity and the church Notre-Dame de Guibray.

The castle: A unique and undisputed part of the history of Normandy, William the Conqueror's castle was built after the conquest of England in 1066. During the 12th century his descendants built two more keeps on the former foundations, in the typical Anglo-Norman style. The round tower was built by Philippe-Auguste, the king of France , when Normandy became French. 

The Château de La Fresnaye opens to visitors only for special event or exhibition. 

Second world war: 1944, the Allies land in Normandy. Then, July 30th-August 21st: the 7th German army was trapped in the "Falaise pocket", the "corridor of death", by the Canadians and the Poles in the north, by the British in the south, and by the Americans and French in the west. The German armies lost 3/4 of their forces, Falaise faced heavy bombing and 450000 soldiers were injured or killed.

Visitors are welcome in the Castle and in the churches and the three following museums: Automates Avenue museum, André Lemaitre museum and Août 1944 museum.

Market downtown every saturday.

A lovely and friendly town, where people are very used to welcome foreign tourists. Some good restaurants and bars !