The nostalgic charm of the capital of the Bessin district is the result of an extraordinary heritage that has been miraculously preserved. The history of Bayeux is closely tied to two conquests – the 1066 conquest of England by the Normans, and the 1944 Allied invasion of the beaches of Normandy that saw Bayeux the first town in France to be liberated.
A jewel of Norman architecture located in the heart of the preserved historic quarter, the cathedral was dedicated on July 14th, 1077 by Bishop Odon of Conteville in the presence of his illustrious brother, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and King of England. It is said that to decorate the cathedral’s nave, Odon had the Bayeux Tapestry embroidered. Completely spared in 1944, the historic centre around the cathedral boasts a rich array of historical buildings, with timber-framed houses, manors with towers, and grandiose town houses.
Explore the history and the secrets of Bayeux Cathedral and the old town thanks to the guided tours offered by the tourist office, or at your own pace!
The Bayeux Tapestry relates the events of the conquest of England by the Duke of Normandy in 1066. It can be seen in a darkened gallery where only the work itself is illuminated. With 16 languages to choose from on the audio guide commentary, it is accessible to a wide audience. To round off the visit, there is a permanent exhibition covering the secrets of the tapestry's creation, the historical context and the Anglo-Norman kingdom in the 10th century. Finally, on the second floor, a 16-minute film is shown, either in French or English. With real, re-enacted scenes of the Battle of Hastings, it tells the story as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.
Inaugurated in 1981, the museum is located at the very heart of one of the strategic sites in the Battle of Normandy – the town of Bayeux, the first town liberated in continental France on June 7th, 1944. At the heart of the town's “memory centre” known as Liberty Alley, the museum is located right by the memorial garden for wartime reporters and the Bayeux War Cemetery.
Over 4000 Commonwealth soldiers are buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery, which makes it the largest Commonwealth World War II military cemetery in France. Across from it is a memorial commemorating Commonwealth soldiers who fell during the Battle of Normandy and whose bodies couldn’t be identified.
Located next to the cathedral in the historic centre of Bayeux, the MAHB (Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History) and its collections are housed in the old bishop’s palace (dating from the 11th to 16th century).
Explore these exceptional collections across 14 different stages highlighting all aspects of European art from prehistory to the 20th century, all against the backdrop of the history of the city.
You can’t visit the town’s museums without also discovering Bayeux’s old town. By taking the route through Old Bayeux you can visit the medieval town, on foot, and discover its secrets via the 21 information points dotted along the 2.5 km circuit. The route is marked by round bronze markers set into the ground and decorated with a stylised tree, a reproduction of one found on the Bayeux Tapestry. The way the tree is pointing indicates the direction to take.
- The Aure, a river in the town.
- The bishop’s palace, dating back to the Middle Ages.
- A cathedral at the gates to the town, its square and Flachat esplanade.
- Manors from the Middle Ages, magnificent town houses and timber-framed buildings.
- General de Gaulle in Bayeux, a page in contemporary history.
- Bayeux porcelain, its lace, a very quiet industry.
- The Saint Jean district and its former fish market, as well as the tanners and dyers district, a commercial faubourg.
- The Augustines, the Hotel-Dieu, a pious foundation;
- The former seminary, a splendid backdrop for the Bayeux Tapestry;
