🇫🇷 Caen's Saint-Étienne Abbey: A Hidden Gem in Normandy! 📸
Finally sharing my July Normandy deep-dive—UK students, skip Paris/Nice and discover France's true soul here! 🏰 Why Visit? ✔ William the Conqueror’s Tomb 👑 – The "British Empire’s founding father" rests here! ✔ Golden Hour Magic ☀️ – Arrive early for ethereal morning light on the Romanesque facade. ✔ Less Crowded 🚶♂️ – No tourist hordes (unlike Mont Saint-Michel!). 📸 Photo Ops 1️⃣ Abbey Exterior: Dramatic arched doorways + medieval stonework. 2️⃣ Cloister Garden: Perfect symmetry + shadow play. 3️⃣ Tomb of William: History buffs’ pilgrimage spot! 🎓 Academic Bonus Shoutout to my uni’s research grant for funding this trip! 📚 (Who says studying can’t be adventurous?) 🍽 Nearby Eats Le Bouchon du Vaugueux: Try tripes à la mode de Caen (local offal stew). Patisserie BL: Almond croissants worth the queue! #FranceTravel #NormandyHiddenGems #WilliamTheConqueror #OffTheBeatenPath #StudyAbroadLife