This is part of our 10-day trip to the Normandy region of France in August 2020. You can find the overall itinerary and links to other stops on this trip in our Normandy post.
While the Château de Caen is one of the castles built by William the Conqueror, Château de Falaise is where William was born.
Most of the castle from William’s time is now gone. The oldest buildings currently on the site date back to William’s youngest son, Henri I Beauclerc (Henry I of England). Either way, visiting Chateau de Falaise was still a very cool experience, and our kids love touring castles. And while the castle was damaged during WWII, it has undergone – and is still undergoing – restorations.
The castle sits on a hill overlooking the town. Lots of green space and huge ramparts surround the castle, which means lots of space for the kids to run around before and after touring the castle. The ramparts themselves are worth exploring before entering the castle itself.
Complimentary tablets are available that use augmented reality to show you what the rooms would have looked like; you can pick this up when you buy tickets in the reception area, which is also where the gift shop is located. Some of the rooms are already set up to recreate how they would have looked.
Throughout the castle, there are various spots that show videos and have projections talking about the castle and its rooms. Overall, a fun place to spend a couple of hours!