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Bayeux

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Calvados

Bayeux - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Calvados
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The medieval town of Bayeux, in Calvados, is one of the few towns in the area to have been spared during the bombings of 1944. Its historic centre is therefore remarkably well preserved, and today visitors can enjoy the treasures of an authentic heritage. The centre of Bessin's capital reveals old cobbled streets lined with ancient timber-framed houses and elegant mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Tourist Office provides an itinerary so visitors don't miss any of this exceptional architectural heritage.

The Bayeux tapestry, known as Queen Matilda's tapestry, is an integral part of the town's identity and occupies the whole of the William the Conqueror Centre. This fresco embroidered in the 11th century with wool thread, 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall, depicts the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy. This thousand-year-old masterpiece, which was initially intended to adorn the newly built cathedral, is now listed on UNESCO's "Memory of the World" register.

In Old Bayeux, the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady, dating from the 11th century, is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in France and is the pride of the town. It combines the various styles of the three centuries in which it was built, and is particularly remarkable for its beautiful façade with five portals adorned with sculptures, its vast nave and its carillon that rings every quarter of an hour. It was consecrated in 1077 in the presence of William the Conqueror and his wife Matilda.

In Bayeux, culture is also a priority. The Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History displays some beautiful collections of art and local crafts, and the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy presents a fascinating exhibition about the military operations of 1944. At the Lace Conservatory, you can learn about a centuries-old skill which was initiated by the Sisters of Providence in the 17th century and eventually fell out of favour in the 1950s.

Visitors can take a detour via the British Military Cemetery, the final resting place of over 4,000 Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives to liberate France. As for lovers of nature and the great outdoors, they can stroll along the charming path by the River Aure, or discover the weeping beech tree, classified as a Remarkable Tree, on a walk around the botanical garden in Bayeux.

Additional information
Bayeux

Bayeux, living heritage... Bayeux, "city in the country" capital of the landing beaches, located in the heart of a farmland renowned for the protected natural environment, is a unique Normandy city heritage exceptionally preserved.

Summer 1944: the reconquest of freedom... The name of Bayeux is at the same time inseparable from another major page in the history of Europe, during which its fate ran from June to August 1944. Bayeux, the capital of the landing beaches which houses the moving British military cemetery on its soil, naturally focuses on the events and their stakes, through its Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, a vibrant tribute to the men of all nations who fought for the triumph of freedom. The War Reporter Memorial is a natural extension.

The charm of a preserved city... Unscathed release of these titanic fights, Bayeux conceals a multitude of treasures. She is known for her creations in the fields of lace or porcelain and the important collection of works of art that contains the MAHB. Art museum devoted to the history of the city, it is also dedicated to the enhancement of the architectural heritage of the city, which serves as a setting, throughout the year, to many events.

Know-how and heritage... Discover the Bayeux stitch embroidery, a particular technique used in the 11th century to create the famous tapestry of Bayeux. Chantal James, from the Bayeux Embroidery Art Studio, welcomes you for free to present her passion with demonstrations of embroidery representing reproductions of the tapestry of Bayeux or other motifs. Location: 24 Nesmond Street at Bayeux.

Things to see and do

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Show: Norman Towns, land of poetry, Bayeux
Entertainment17 € Bayeux

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Transport

Events and festivities

Exposition À Emporter !
150 ans de l'Impressionnisme - Exposition Seurat au MAHB - Week-end Inaugural
Worldbuilding : Comment Construire un Monde de Fantasy ?
150 ans de l'Impressionnisme - Prêt Exceptionnel d'un Tableau de Georges Seurat
Les Normands à la Conquête de l'Europe
Assassin's Creed Valhalla : Discovery Tour
Atelier Broderie
Escape Game
Patrimoine Secret : à la Conquête de la Normandie
Concert Reggae : Jojoba au Vandb Bayeux

Detailed information

D-Day Festival Normandy
A festival in honour of freedom regainedFrom 1 to 16 june 2024

Photos

Cathedral of Bayeux
Cathedral of Bayeux
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City Hall
City Hall
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St Jean area
St Jean area
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Guillaume's Cathedral Show
Guillaume's Cathedral Show
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See you at the Cathedral
See you at the Cathedral
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Cathedral, nave, choir and collaterals
Cathedral, nave, choir and collaterals
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Tympanum of the cathedral portal of Bayeux
Tympanum of the cathedral portal of Bayeux
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Crypt of the 11th century cathedral
Crypt of the 11th century cathedral
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Cathedral, 15th century frescoes
Cathedral, 15th century frescoes
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Cathedral, windows of the south transept on a stone lace
Cathedral, windows of the south transept on a stone lace
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Cathedral, painting by Hersant de Ronceray (1636)
Cathedral, painting by Hersant de Ronceray (1636)
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Cathedral, these windows are due to Escoffier (1873)
Cathedral, these windows are due to Escoffier (1873)
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Bayeux English Cemetery - 13000 Graves
Bayeux English Cemetery - 13000 Graves
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Bayeux - ​​Sherman Tank
Bayeux - ​​Sherman Tank
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Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux (1077)
Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux (1077)
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Cathedral, entrance to the crypt of the eleventh century
Cathedral, entrance to the crypt of the eleventh century
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Crypt, statue of a canon (fifteenth century)
Crypt, statue of a canon (fifteenth century)
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Crypt, tomb of a knight of the order of Hospitallers.
Crypt, tomb of a knight of the order of Hospitallers.
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Historic capitals of the crypt of the eleventh century.
Historic capitals of the crypt of the eleventh century.
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Cathedral, old stained glass windows
Cathedral, old stained glass windows
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Cathedral, altar dedicated to St Eloi, 15th century painting
Cathedral, altar dedicated to St Eloi, 15th century painting
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Cathedral, stained glass windows of Thévenot (1847)
Cathedral, stained glass windows of Thévenot (1847)
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Bayeux, one of the first French cities liberated in June1944
Bayeux, one of the first French cities liberated in June1944
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Raised to the glory of 13,000 dead English soldiers at Bayeux
Raised to the glory of 13,000 dead English soldiers at Bayeux
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June 7, 1944, Bayeux released by English troops
June 7, 1944, Bayeux released by English troops
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German tank Panzer 75
German tank Panzer 75
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The monument to the dead
The monument to the dead
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Sculpture at the Hôtel-Dieu
Sculpture at the Hôtel-Dieu
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Memory
Memory
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The city
The city
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The city
The city
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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

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