Nestled on the northern coast of France, is a small village known as Bayeux. The town was first built under Roman control in the first century B.C. In 880 Vikings conquered Bayeux. The city developed into a stronghold for the Norman forces. It is from here that William the Conqueror of Normandy began his famous conquest of England in 1066. The town took part in several wars years later, including the 100 Years' War and the Wars of Religion.
Then in 1944, Bayeux was the first town liberated by the Allied forces on the second day of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Luckily, the fighting did not destroy the town, and the history of this ancient town stayed preserved.
Bayeux is known for the Bayeux Tapestry housed in the Bayeux Tapestry Museum. The tapestry is the oldest and one of the longest in the world! It really does go on for quite a while, 231 feet! The 70 plus scenes and over 1000 characters that are sewn into the linen explain the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror. Luckily, there is an audio guide that accompanies the tapestry that explains the scenarios and the history.
Just down the road from the museum is a local creperie nestled in the stone buildings that follow the meandering canal. This small creperie makes you feel at home. It is in a stone cottage-like building with homely decorations on the inside. The table setting is non-pretentious as each person has a different setting. The only negative is that there are too many different crepes to choose from!
In the town center is the Notre-Dam de Bayeux Church built in a Romanesque and Gothic style. The towers were built in the eleventh century, and the frescoes that decorate the walls were painted in the fifteenth century. Walk by at night as lights illuminate the church against the night sky, which makes for an exquisite view.
As Bayeux was the first French town liberated from the Germans in the Invasion of Normandy, this town is a gateway to the Normandy beaches. From here it is an hour to the Omaha Beach, one of the beaches that American soldiers landed on. Many WWII memorials are in this area as well.
The town of Bayeux is a perfect day trip from Paris. It takes you away from the urban center of Paris with many American influences to the countryside where you can really explore French life. There is even a direct train from Paris to Bayeux that is about an hour and a half, which makes the trip that much easier. Once in the town, everything is in walking distance of the train station. The tapestry museum is about a 10 minute walk away, and the city center another 10 to 15 minute walk.
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