Caen is a commune of northwestern France. It is the préfecture of the Calvados département and the capital of the Basse-Normandie (Lower-Normandy) region. The city has a population of 115 000 inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 199 490. Its inhabitants are called the caennais (and caennaise(s) for women). It is located 15 km (6 m) inland from the English Channel (French: La Manche.
Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried here, 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 town.