Places to see in ( Bayeux - France )
Places to see in ( Bayeux - France )
Bayeux is a town on the Aure river in the Normandy region of northwestern France, 10 kilometers from the Channel coast. Its medieval center contains cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and the towering, Norman-Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The famed 68-meter Tapisserie de Bayeux, an 11th-century tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman invasion of England, is on display in an 18th-century seminary.
Bayeux is located 7 kilometres (4 miles) from the coast of the English Channel and 30 km (19 mi) north-west of Caen. The city, with elevations varying from 32 to 67 metres (105 to 220 feet) above sea level – with an average of 46 metres (151 feet) – is bisected by the River Aure. Bayeux is located at the crossroads of RN 13 and the train route Paris-Caen-Cherbourg. The city is the capital of the Bessin, which extends north-west of Calvados.
The town of Bayeux is a popular destination in Normandy, near the coast and north-west of Caen and is also listed as one of less than 100 important protected Historic Towns in France. There are several reasons that people visit Bayeux including the famous tapestry; the town and cathedral; and the proximity of the Normandy Landing beaches.
France This Way comment: of course, Bayeux is best known for the tapestry, but even if you don't plan to see the tapestry the rest of the town, especially the old town around the cathedral and along the river is well worth exploring. The Bayeux tapestry is without doubt the most famous tapestry in the world, and an unmissable site when you are in this part of Normandy. The tapestry relates the story of the conquest of England and King Harold by the Norman, William the Conqueror, in the Battle of Hastings, including the preparations for the battle and the battle itself.
Although the origins of the tapestry are slightly unclear, it appears probable it was either commissioned by the half-brother of William the Conqueror or his wife. The tapestry was also probably completed around 1077, and it seems likely it was made in England, although even that is not certain. Despite its probable English origins the tapestry is, of course, a French National Treasure. An extraordinary feat, the tapestry is about 80 metres long and 50 centimetres high and is a fascinating document that provides a great deal of valuable information about life at that time. The tapestry can be seen, not surprisingly, in the town of Bayeux in the Centre Guillaume le Conquerant, itself a 17th century seminary building.
Bayeux itself is an attractive town with a reasonably well-preserved medieval centre, centred around a renowned cathedral. The Cathedrale Notre Dame dates in part from 1077, although most of what we see today is in gothic style and was built in the 13th to 15th centuries. The tapestry was originally displayed here in the cathedral before being moved to its current location in the Centre Guillaume le Conquerant. Note that the stained glass windows in the cathedral, like the tapestry, tell the story of William the Conqueror.
The medieval streets around the cathedral also have lots of medieval houses, some half-timbered, and many other historic houses of interest. These grand townhouses were built over a long period, from the 14th century to the 18th century, so include a wide range of different styles. The Grand hôtel d'Argouges at 4 Rue Saint-Malo is among the most interesting: built in the 15th century it incorporates numerous carved statues in the upper parts of the facade. The house on the corner of 1, rue des Cuisiniers, is another very impressive half-timbered medieval house.
Across the road from here is the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy (Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie). This museum recounts the action seen in Normandy from the 7 June to the 29 August 1944. The Museum Baron Gérard in Bayeux is also interesting, with collections that tell the history of the town, including the important lace and porcelain industries, as well as exhibiting a good number of works of art. Nearby, Bayeux also houses the largest British war cemetery in Normandy.
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