curtain walls were built during the 12th century, but most of them date from the 15th century. The castle has two main entrances: the porte sur la ville ('gateway to the town') and the porte des champs ('gateway to the fields'); they are reinforced by two barbicans. Recent works Since March 2004, the town of Caen has undergone the restoration of the ramparts, with the financial help of the ERDF (consolidation, opening of arrow slits walled during the 19th century) . 6,000 m³ of earth are being removed, in order to give a better view of the north-west wall of the 12th century. This operation has revealed the cellar of a private house of the 15th century which still has its firehouse, a powder magazine and two walls of a forge of the 14th century. Traces of the stables have also been found. The base of the keep has been cleared, and people are still working on excavations around it. Bibliography Joseph Decaëns and Adrien Dubois (ed.), Caen Castle. A ten Centuries Old Fortress within the Town. Publications du Centre de Recherches Archéologiques et Historiques Médiévales), Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, 2010, , Publications du CRAHM B. Guillot (éd.), Forges médiévales et écurie de la Renaissance au château de Caen. Publications du Centre de Recherches Archéologiques et Historiques Médiévales), Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, 2015 () See also List of castles in France References External links Timeline of Caen Castle The Château de Caen (official site) Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen Musée de Normandie Castles in Calvados (department) William the Conqueror Museums in Calvados (department) Buildings and structures in Caen Local museums in France Duchy of Normandy Monuments historiques of Calvados (department)