Things to do in Bayeux
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Cathédrale Notre Dame
Most of Bayeux' spectacular Norman Gothic cathedral dates from the 13th century, though the crypt (accessible from the north side of the choir), the arches of the nave and the lower portions of the entrance towers are 11th-century Romanesque. The central tower was added in the 15th century; the copper dome dates from the 1860s. First prize for tackiness has got to go to 'Litanies de la Sainte Vierge', a 17th-century retable in the first chapel on the left as you enter the cathedral.
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Bayeux Tapestry
Undoubtedly the world's most celebrated embroidery, the misnamed Bayeux Tapestry (it's actually wool thread embroidered onto linen cloth) vividly recounts the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Divided into 58 scenes briefly captioned in almost-readable Latin, the main narrative – told from an unashamedly Norman perspective – fills up the centre of the canvas, while religious allegories and depictions of daily life in the 11th century unfold along the borders. The final showdown at the Battle of Hastings is depicted in truly graphic fashion, complete with severed limbs and decapitated heads (along the bottom of scene 52). Halley's Comet, which blazed across …
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Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux
Undoubtedly the world's most celebrated piece of embroidery, the Bayeux Tapestry is housed in the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux . Upstairs there's a short historical film and a full-size reconstruction of the tapestry, but you'll be better off skipping both and heading downstairs to see the real thing. An audioguide is included in the admission price.
The tapestry recounts the story of the Norman conquest of England in 58 remarkable scenes, briefly captioned in Latin, and all told from an unashamedly Norman perspective. Scholars believe that the 70m-long tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William's half-brother, to commemorate the opening of Bayeux cat…
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Bayeux War Cemetery
This peaceful cemetery, a few hundred metres west of the Musée Mémorial, is the largest of the 18 Commonwealth military cemeteries in Normandy. It contains 4848 graves of soldiers from the UK and 10 other countries, including, rather surprisingly, Germany. Across the road is a memorial for 1807 Commonwealth soldiers whose remains were never found; the Latin inscription across the top reads: 'We, whom William once conquered, have now set free the conqueror's native land'.
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Normandy Beaches Half-Day Trip from Bayeux
by Viator
Pay tribute to the soldiers who fought at Omaha Beach on this afternoon tour of the Normandy beaches from Bayeux. You'll visit the famous battlefield sites of …Not LP reviewed
from USD$75.15 -
Private Tour: Normandy Landing Beaches, Battlefields, Museums and Cemeteries from Bayeux
by Viator
Take a private tour from Bayeux to Normandy, where you’ll relive the events of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944 – more famously known as D-Day. You can perso…Not LP reviewed
from USD$91.58 -
Omaha Beach Half-Day Trip from Bayeux
by Viator
If time is tight and you'd like to tour the Normandy beaches, this quick morning tour from Bayeux will show you all the poignant highlights of these important W…Not LP reviewed
from USD$56.36 -
Private Day Tour of Mont Saint-Michel and Saint Malo from Bayeux
by Viator
See the spectacular sights of the island of Mont Saint-Michel and the walled town of Saint-Malo on this private day trip from Bayeux. Mont Saint-Michel, situate…Not LP reviewed
from USD$91.60 -
Normandy Battlefields Day Trip: Omaha, Sword and the British Airborne Sector
by Viator
Retrace the main assaults undertaken by the British forces during the first days of the Battle of Normandy on a poignant battlefields tour you'll never forget. …Not LP reviewed
from USD$112.73 -
Normandy Battlefields Tour - Canadian World War II Sites
by Viator
Begin your Normandy Battlefields Tour with a visit to the Juno Beach Center, the only museum in the Canadian sector. The Center retraces the implementation of t…Not LP reviewed
from USD$75.15 Advertisement
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Normandy Battlefields Tour - Sword Beach and the British Airborne Sector
by Viator
On this Normandy Battlefields Tour, you will visit the famous site of Pegasus Bridge, captured just after midnight on D-Day by elements of the 6th Airborne Divi…Not LP reviewed
from USD$75.15 -
Private Tour to Bayeux, Honfleur and Pays d' Auge from Bayeux
by Viator
Discover the history, culture and food of the Normandy region on this private tour of Bayeux, Honfleur and Pays d'Auge departing from central Bayeux. See the fa…Not LP reviewed
from USD$91.60 -
Normandy Battlefields Tour - American Sites
by Viator
Visit the American D-Day sites where the greatest amphibious landing in history took place on this Normandy Battlefields Tour from Bayeux. See the famous sites …Not LP reviewed
from USD$112.73 -
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La Rapière
Housed in a late-1400s mansion held together by its original oak beams, this restaurant specialises in hearty home cooking – the timbale de pêcheur (fisherman's stew) is served up piping hot in a cast-iron pan. For dessert, an excellent option is trou normand (apple sorbet with a dash of calvados).
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Mémorial des Reporters
Just beyond the cemetery and easily missed (the entrance is not on bd Fabien Ware itself) , a landscaped promenade lists the names of nearly 2000 journalists killed in the line of duty around the world since 1944. A project of Reporters Without Borders (www.rsf.org) and the City of Bayeux, it was inaugurated in 2006.
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Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie
Using well-chosen photos (some in original colour), personal accounts, dioramas and wartime objects, this first-rate museum offers an excellent introduction to WWII in Normandy. Signs are in French and English. A new 25-minute film on the Battle of Normandy is screened in English three to five times a day.
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Conservatoire de la Dentelle
This workshop is dedicated to the preservation of traditional Norman lacemaking, and you can watch some of France's most celebrated lacemakers create intricate designs using dozens of bobbins and hundreds of pins. At its height, the local lace industry employed 5000 lacemakers.
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La Table du Terroir
The crimson chairs and tablecloths at this country-style restaurant are entirely fitting, as this is definitely one for the carnivores - rump steak, pork fillet and tripes à la Caen are just some of the meaty treats on offer.
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Le Pommier
Specialities at this smart restaurant include fillet of roast duck, filet mignon de porc and a varied selection of imaginative French dishes made with fresh Norman products, including rare heirloom vegetables.
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La Reine Mathilde
A sumptuous, c 1900-style pâtisserie and salon de thé that's ideal if you've got a hankering for something soft and sweet. There's seating here, making it a great spot for breakfast or afternoon tea.
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Musée Baron Gérard
The Musée Baron Gérard specialises in local porcelain, lace and 15th- to 19th-century paintings (Italian, Flemish and impressionist). Admission is free if you buy a ticket to the tapestry museum.
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Le Petit Bistrot
The top place in town for down-to-earth regional cooking, served in a tiny dining room decked out with sunny colours, plain wooden tables and terracotta floor tiles.
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Normandy Cycle
6 days (Bayeux)
A cycle through WWII history from Bayeux to Honfleur via the Norman coast and the landing beaches.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,290 -
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