The Bayeux Tapestry is what attracted us to this area of Normandy in northwest France, although we found a heck of a lot more there to see. My brother recommended a book about the tapestry for me to read before I left home. Unlike when I was at school, I now find it a good idea to do my homework.
Bayeux, just a few kilometers inland from the English Channel, is a petite French
village that is home to a rather grand piece of history. Its claim to fame is the centuries-old Bayeux Tapestry on
display in its own museum in the center of town.
Apparantly not everyone is an enthralled with the tapestry as I was, as I've read it is
currently best known for its ties with World War II. Bayeux was the
first non-coastal town liberated, one day after the D-Day invasion but remarkably was spared the bomb damage which
devastated so much of Europe (thanks to pleas from its clergy to the
Allies). The old town has retained an enchanting
medieval character with its famous Cathedrale Notre-Dame which
was inaugurated by William the Conqueror himself, a native of the
region, in 1077 A.D.
The cathedral has been damaged by fires, repaired and expanded over the
years. Inside it has magnificent arches, high ceilings and large stained
glass windows. Outside it has flying buttresses which support the
magnificent building.
The narrow curving streets of the village have charming shops and
cafes and are very pleasant to stroll around although we'd still be there going in circles had I been driving.
For our visit to the tapestry we each had an audio guide which explains the details of the tapestry as you view it. I did feel that the audio guides are on speed mode to pump through as many people as possible.
As we were unable to stop or pause the audioguide, we had to continue
walking from each numbered spot to the next.
It would’ve been much better to be able to press play, pause it then
have a look then start again but this would’ve started a backup of
people if it was busy. Lucky for us, it was far from busy while we were there and we could lean forward over the barrier to peer at the stitchwork up close. It's a remarkable work of art.
The tapestry is 66 metres (over 200 feet) long and
about 50 centimetres (around 20 inches) wide and has roughly 50 scenes on it. The scenes are embroidered on linen with coloured woollen yarns. There are additional details in the top and bottom borders. It is likely that it was commissioned by William the Conquerer's half-brother, and made in England—not Bayeux—in the 1070s. It tells the story of events leading up to the Norman conquest of England, concerning William Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. The detail is amazing with all sorts of gory details of battle
shown even Harold with a Golden Arrow in his eye.
Photography of the tapestry was not permitted but I've found a couple of photos online: