 Bayeux is
a city proud of its ancient religious heritage and its many old
houses and mansions, built between the 15th and 18th centuries.
The famous Bayeux Tapestry is not actually a tapestry,
but is embroidery and dates from 1077. The Bayeux Tapestry
commemorates the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings,
is 230 ft long and was probably commissioned by Bishop Odo, William's
half-brother, and stitched by nuns in England after the Norman
Conquest of 1066. It is housed in a specially-built tourist centre,
the Centre Guillaume le Conquerant and is one of best sources
of information on early Norman dress, armour, castle-building,
boat-building, hunting, and other facets of daily life. Above
Bayeux rise the spires and domed lantern tower of the
Gothic Cathedrale Notre-Dame, with an 11th century crypt decorated
with restored 15th century frescoes of angels playing musical
instruments. |
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Normandy gets its name from the Viking Norsemen who
sailed up the River Seine in the 9th century and colonized the
area, making Rouen their capital. Normandy has large ports with
important transatlantic trade, whilst inland it is overwhelmingly
agricultural. The image of Normandy is one of a lush, tranquil,
pastoral region of apple orchards, contented cattle, Calvados
and Camembert. There are ancient picturesque ports such as Honfleur
to visit, seaside resorts with elegant promenades, splendid centuries-old
half-timbered manor houses lining quiet countryside lanes and
extrordinary Romanesque and Gothic architectural treasures. |
