Low-emission zone of Caen
Effective 1 January 2025, the Norman city of Caen in northwestern France introduced a low-emission zone. An emissions sticker is mandatory within this zone. Below you will find a map of the low-emission zone of Caen and more practical information. Looking for other French cities with low-emission zones? Then check out this overview. Do you want to know more about the sticker itself? Then read this explanation.
Map of the low-emission zone in Caen
The low-emission zone of Caen is fairly simple in design and shown on the map in orange. The boundary is largely formed by the N814. This is the périphérique or ring road of the city. The part of the harbor of Caen that lies within the low-emission zone, east of the city center, is not part of the zone.
There are also some roads within the zone where you can still drive without an emissions sticker. This is to access parking lots from where you can continue your journey by public transport, or where you can park to carpool. These roads are marked on the map with blue lines.
The low-emission zone of Caen
The low-emission zone of Caen is actually the zone à faibles émissions (ZFE) of the Caen la Mer metropolis. This is an association of 48 municipalities. The low-emission zone is located in 11 of these. Apart from Caen itself, these include Bretteville-sur-Odon, Carpiquet, Cormelles-le-Royal, Eterville, Fleury-sur-Orne, Hérouville Saint-Clair, Ifs, Louvigny, Mondeville and Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe.
Do you have a car from before 1997 that does not qualify for an emissions sticker, but you do not drive more than 6,000 kilometers per year? Then it is possible to apply for a so-called petit rouleur exemption. For ordinary tourists visiting Caen, the lengthy application process will probably not be worth the effort.
Parking outside the low-emission zone
It is better to park at one of the parking relais or park-and-ride sites where you can continue your journey by public transport. You can park here even without an emissions sticker. We have listed them for you below.
- P+R Touraine: rue de Touraine, under construction.
- P+R Côte de Nacre: boulevard Henri Becquerel, 149 parking spaces, near the Campus 2 stop on streetcar line T2.
- Gare de Caen EFFIA: avenue Pierre Mendes, 1400 parking spaces, near central station streetcar lines T1 and T3 (T2 within walking distance).
- P+R IFS Jean Vilar: avenue Jean Vilar, 79 parking spaces, at IFS Jean Vilar stop on streetcar line T1.
- P+R Palais des Sports: rue Joseph Philippon, 90 parking spaces, free shuttle bus to downtown.
- P+R Pompidou: boulevard George Pompidou, under construction.
If there is no marker at the end of a blue line on the map at the top of this page, then this means there is merely a parking lot for carpooling located there. You will not be able to take public transport from here. For tourists, these are less useful. That is why we have not included these in our list.
Which emissions sticker in Caen?
At the moment, vehicles with all colors of the emissions sticker are allowed in the low-emission zone of Caen. You will only receive a fine if you do not have an emissions sticker. Usually, vehicles manufactured before 1997 are not eligible. You can check this page to see which color of French emissions sticker your car qualifies for.
Other low-emission zones nearby
You will find a number of other low-emission zones in the vicinity of Caen. If you drive northeast, the emissions sticker is mandatory in Le Havre and in Rouen, 100 and 130 kilometers from Caen. If you drive southwest for 180 kilometers, you will encounter a low-emission zone in Rennes.
What to see and do in Caen?
Caen is Normandy’s largest city after Rouen and Le Havre. Central to the city is the Château de Caen. This is a massive fortress built in 1060 under William the Conqueror, the Norman king who conquered England a few years later. Also dating from the same period are the Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames. Both are definitely worth seeing.