Caen was the city chosen by William the Conqueror as his strategic site of power, and we can still see evidence of its influence in the Medieval times through its monuments. The ducal castle is one of the largest fortified enclosures in Europe. The abbaye aux Dames (Women’s Abbey) and the abbaye aux Hommes (Men’s Abbey) along with the Mont-Saint-Michel, are jewels of Norman Romanesque architecture. Caen, which is the capital city for the Basse-Normandie region, was the first city to be liberated in 1944. Its well known Mémorial represents the city’s commitment to peace and freedom. These values are also demonstrated through certain events which take place here; The International Human Rights Competition (in January), the international meeting for the artists of Cartooning for Peace (April) and the “Courants de la Liberté” (a sports event in June). Caen’s festivals also show the same desire to meet new people, to discover other cultures and explore new artistic trends. For example, Nördik Impakt- an electronic culture festival (October), the Boréales (Borealis), the platform of Nordic creation (November) and the literary festival “Passages de témoins” (May).