2025 Tour Day 15 - Bayeax Tapestry

Cold wet morning. 

We said goodbye to the friends we made from Belgium who are hiking the coast, and we didn't even make breakfast or coffee, we just packed it all up and hit the road. 

Pretty enough, coming inland to Bayeax, but frustratingly cold and wet. 

We stopped at this massive chateau to take a photo and met a couple from Halifax doing the same thing - cycling in the rain.

One other quick stop for an "emergency" Cliff bar, but mostly the phone was sealed in a ziplock bag. 

We made it to Bayeax and to a very good Bakery Cafe, (just) before the lack of coffee and breakfast crankiness got too bad 😉

We are at the Municipal Campground in Bayeax, very nice and well kept, and the walk into town along the Aure is less than a kilometer. Nice to be walking.  We locked up the bikes and left all the clothes and gear in the tent and off we went. 

Bayeax was spared much of the destruction that other towns suffered during the wars, and it has a very lovely old town feel, with lots of cobblestones and old stone walls and bridges over the Aure. 

We are a little early for the (other) Tour de France, but apparently it will be here in July. So fun! 

The cathedral is impressive. Very old.  Details about it from their website:

The Notre Dame Cathedral of Bayeux, a masterpiece of Norman Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is at the heart  of the old town’s conservation area.  Its history is as grand as the two towers which flank its facade. The cathedral was consecrated on 14 July 1077, in the presence of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and King of England, and his wife Matilda.  

Bayeax is not only famous for the Cathedral and William the Conqueror, but also for the equally as old 70 meter long Tapestry, currently displayed in its own museum. (Photo below from Google, no photos allowed in the exhibit)

It is so well done as an exhibit / experience. Everyone who enters gets an audio guide telling the story that the tapestry tells - the story of William the Conqueror. Because everyone is listening to the story on their own device that starts as you enter, (and it does not stop or pause), and has cues for the numbered sections on the tapestry, the whole crowd moves slowly along the exhibit and you get to hear the whole story with the explanations exactly timed. Very well done. 

The story telling is clear through the scenes with energy and movement, colours and details that are quite spectacular in their detail of the time - uniforms and structures, tales of friendship and oath, and betrayal and battle.  Although perhaps told only through William's side - propaganda is not a modern idea. 

The origin of the creation is not known for sure, although it is widely believed that William's half brother had it made for William, and for the Cathedral here in Bayeax, as a means to capture the story and share it as learning. It is believed that it was created in England and brought here, based on the stitching. 

There are also other exhibits and a movie to learn more. A local artist Pixi, who specializes in miniatures (well known in Paris), has undertaken the recreation of each of the images on the tapestry, into 3D figures. 

https://www.pixietcie.com/fr/

It even features some nudes 😳

Our day finished with a stop at a cafe where we were served by a young lady from Barrie ... Ontario ... No kidding! Small world. 

And a walk back to our campsite along the river. 

We are enjoying some evening sun while our towels dry and we prepare to nestle in for another rainy night expected. Tomorrow Juno.