Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there, and for the Battle for Caen—heavy fighting that took place in and around Caen during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, destroying much of the city.
Caen er kendt for sine historiske bygninger fra Vilhelm Erobrerens tid (han er begravet her) og for slaget om Caen—de svære kampe som fandt sted i og omkring Caen under slaget om Normandiet i 1944.