The town of Bayeaux, only a few kilometers from the beaches of D-Day, was the first French town to be liberated from the Nazis. The town has always been famous for the Bayeaux Tapestry, a seventy meter long embroidered that is almost one thousand years old. It takes several hours to see the tapestry since there is a photo display highlighting the tapestry and a film to see before actually seeing the tapestry. We ended up studying the tapestry for close to an hour since there wasn’t much of a crowd that morning. The tapestry really does read like a comic strip and the story of Harold’s betrayal is clearly told. It is truly remarkable how history can be captured in thread. 

Though the tapestry, which doesn’t look as old as it really is, is a highlight of any visit to Bayeaux, there are other attractions to keep a visitor busy for the rest of the day.

The Cathedral Notre Dame was the original home of the tapestry and is a lovely place to visit. The crypt, one of the few parts of the church remaining from the time of the tapestry, is particularly lovely. History buffs can head over to the Museum of the Battle of Normandy easily recognized by the huge guns out front. The British War Cemetery is next to the museum.

After the museum, head back to the cathedral area and have your pick of one of the many delicious restaurants serving Norman food. Beyond the delicious seafood, Norman butter, cream and cheeses are worth every pound that they put on.