Calvados, Administrative department in Normandy, France.
Calvados is a department in Normandy, France, stretching from the English Channel coast to flat farmland further inland. Sandy beaches alternate with meadows and small forests, while towns like Caen and Bayeux shape administrative and cultural life.
The administrative area was created in 1790 during the French Revolution from older provincial structures. In June 1944, Allied troops landed on five beaches along the northern coast and began the liberation of Western Europe.
The name comes from dangerous rocks off the coast where a Spanish ship is said to have sunk. Small villages still practice cider-making traditions and many farms sell cheese directly from their stables.
Regional train lines and highways connect coastal towns with inland cities, making the area suitable for day trips or longer stays. Caen sits centrally and serves as a starting point for trips in all directions.
The coastline contains five beaches where Allied troops landed in June 1944 and which today rank among the most visited memorial sites in Europe. Thousands of visitors come each year to walk along the narrow strips of sand and see the preserved bunkers.
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