Must-see

The Bayeux Tapestry, an immense woollen embroidery, has brought fame to the little Norman town for over 1,000 years, yet this town, rich in art and history, is much more than its chef-d'œuvre : spared by the 1944 bombing, Bayeux displays an exceptional architectural heritage where its craftsmen have displayed their skills with talent. The ancient capital of the Gaulish Bajocasses people can be proud of its embroidery, lace and porcelain.  The Bayeusains, as the inhabitants of Bayeux are called, have benefited from the religious importance of their city: although it was in the midst of ideological confrontations between Catholics and protestants, Bayeux also saw the construction of fine buildings, from the hôtel-Dieu (hospital) to the Benedictine monastery and Ursuline convent. The town became the provisional capital of France in 1944, and with its rich past it has a modestly dignified air.  For visitors who take the time to linger, its little streets and middle class residences seem preserved from superfluous and ostentatious splendour, in return for peace and quiet.


Virtual tour of Bayeux

Worth a visit

• The Tapestry : The huge embroidery, ordered at the end of the 11th century by Bishop Odon, the brother of William the Conqueror, to adorn the cathedral, tells the story of the conquest of England by the Duke of Normandy. This unique artistic exploit, registered in the UNESCO "Memory of the World" programme, is also an exceptional documentary resource..
• Old Bayeux and the Notre-Dame Cathedral : the town centre has retained its mediaeval structure, around the magnificent cathedral, inaugurated by William the Conqueror in 1077.
• Baron Gérard Museum : Fulfilling it role as a centre for the expression of local creative talent, this museographic exhibition displays a fine collection of arts and crafts from the region.
• Conservatoire de la Dentelle : the purpose of the Lace Conservatory is to preserve traditional skills dating back 300 years. As well as permanent and temporary displays,  visitors can also follow beginners' courses and training in the art of lace-making. 
• Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum : the museum retraces the key events that led to Bayeux becoming the fiirst town in France to be liberated, on the morning of 7 th June 1944 .
• General De Gaulle Memorial : the headquarters of liberated France's first authority contains numerous archives concerning De Gaulle's five encounters with Bayeux .
• The Public Park with its "weeping beech", classified among France's "Most Remarkable Trees"