Things to Do in Bayeux

The Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-metre medieval embroidered chronicle of the 1066 Norman Conquest, is one of the finest examples of 11th-century needlework and has survived nearly 1,000 years in the same town.

Bayeux's Gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame de Bayeux, features a rare mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture and contains original 13th-century stained glass despite surviving World War II bombardment.

The town was the first in France to be liberated during the D-Day landings in June 1944, and was spared from destruction, making it one of Normandy's best-preserved medieval centres.

Bayeux sits roughly 6 km inland from the English Channel coast, placing it within easy reach of several D-Day beaches including Omaha and Gold Beach.

The town's historic centre, built around narrow cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, has remained largely unchanged since the medieval period and is entirely walkable on foot.