Half-Timbered Houses, Caen
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Must see of Caen
8 attractions · 8h 49min · transit route
Tickets ~€29.8 · Transport ~€1.8
Step-by-step route with transport options and cost breakdown
About Half-Timbered Houses
These rare medieval half-timbered houses are among the very few surviving examples of Caen's pre-war architecture, as 68% of the city was destroyed during the 1944 Allied bombardments. The twin houses at 52-54 Rue Saint-Pierre, built in 1513, feature richly sculpted polychrome facades combining religious and classical motifs, while the nearby Maison des Quatrans dates from around 1460. Unlike typical Norman timber-framed buildings, these houses use timber only on the street-facing facade, with the rest constructed in local Caen stone – a unique regional adaptation due to limited local forests.
Half-Timbered Houses — Planning Your Visit
Exterior Viewing Only
This attraction can only be viewed from the outside. Interior access is not available.
Open 24/7
This attraction is accessible at any time, no specific opening hours required.
Combine with 8 nearby attractions for a full day
From €14 / person — all tickets and transport included — transit route with total cost breakdown
The Norman Parliament banned half-timbered construction in 1524, making these houses among the last legally built with this technique in the region. The prohibition was enacted as a fire safety measure after devastating urban fires, which explains why Caen has so few timber-framed buildings compared to nearby Rouen, where construction continued until the 18th century.
Travel Plans for Half-Timbered Houses
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Day Routes
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Historic Caen: From William the Conqueror to Medieval Streets
Caen
