Things to do in  Bayeux

It’s best known for a certain hanging wall carpet. The Bayeux Tapestry is 230 feet (70 meters) long and tells the story of William the Conqueror’s conquest of England in 1066 in embroidery. The year 1066 was the last time that England was successfully invaded.

Yes, even if there wasn’t an immense 11th-century tapestry on display, Bayeux is worth a visit. In the former Gaulois capital, the overriding sense these days is medieval, with narrow streets and covered bridges crisscrossing the Aure river. It’s extremely quaint.

Where you stay depends on what you prefer. The port city of Caen has 100,000-plus inhabitants. It’s modern, due to being rebuilt after World War II bombings, although there’s architecture that dates to the time of William the Conqueror, too. Bayeux is tiny in comparison, with better-preserved buildings.

The main Bayeux market on Place St-Patrice happens on Saturday mornings. This market sells fresh produce (seafood, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and Calvados, among other regional delicacies). There’s a smaller, pedestrianized market on Wednesdays on Rue St-Jean, which is also worth visiting.

True to its name, the Bayeux Tapestry is in Bayeux, in the Bayeux Museum. Eventually, it will be loaned to the British Museum in London following an agreement for a cultural exchange, but many experts believe that this will only happen when the tapestry needs restoration work.

The 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry is largely responsible for Bayeux’s fame, but it’s not the sole reason. Bayeux has a proud tradition of lacemaking dating back 300 years, and an extensive World War II museum detailing the town’s swift liberation by the Allied Forces.