![]() |
Bayeux, Normandy, France | |
| Known for the Bayeux Tapestry, this charming town is also a good base for visiting D-Day sites. | ||
|
|
||
|
Above, Spire of Notre- |
|
The small town of Bayeux (population about 15,000) has the distinction of having been the first town in Normandy liberated by Allied invasion forces, on June 7, 1944. Because most of the D-Day battles focused on Caen, Bayeux was spared much damage. A lot of medieval and Renaissance Bayeux is intact and yours to explore. Located about 30 kilometers northwest of Caen, it's also very near the coast and beaches of Normandy. Bayeux's main attraction today is of course the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a beautiful embroidery dating from the 11th century that tells the story of the Norman Conquest (1066). The lovely Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux stands in the center of the town and is surrounded by medieval streets. With its good selection of hotels, inns, guest houses and restaurants, Bayeux makes a delightful, atmospheric base for visiting the D-Day sites such as Ste-Mère-Église and Omaha and Utah Beaches.
|
|
Above, the Bayeux Tapestry,
|