The Mini Rough Guide to France (Travel Guide eBook) by Rough Guides

Author:Rough Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, France
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2023-03-30T04:57:54+00:00

Sylvaine Poitau/Apa Publications

The Bayeux Tapestry

Bagnoles-de-l’Orne

Normandy’s Bagnoles-de-l’Orne is one of France’s iconic spa towns, filled with large institutions and residences for those with rheumatic disorders. It is worth a visit as it represents a communal and holistic approach to health many Westerners would find surprising.

The remains of William’s 11th-century château house the Musée des Beaux-Arts (mba.caen.fr; Apr–late Sept Mon–Fri 9.30am–12.30pm, 2–6pm, Sat–Sun 11am–6pm, late Sept–Mar Wed–Sun 9.30am–12.30pm, 2–6pm) and an excellent collection of European painting. Highlights include Poussin’s Mort d’Adonis, Veronese’s Tentation de St Antoine, Rubens’ Abraham et Melchisédech and Boudin’s La Plage de Deauville. The nearby Musée de Normandie (musee-de-normandie.caen.fr; Mon–Fri 9.30am–12.30pm, 2–6pm, Sat–Sun 11am–6pm, closed Mon–Tue late Sept–mid-Apr) makes a handsome introduction the region, with displays on its history, archaeology and ethnography.

Le Mémorial – Un Musée pour la Paix (Museum for Peace, esplanade General Eisenhower) is a modern interactive exhibition, placing the events of D-Day and World War II in the context of the 20th century as a whole.

Bayeux

The first French town to be liberated in World War II (on the day after D-Day), Bayeux fl [map] was blessedly preserved from destruction. Its Gothic cathedral dominates a pretty old town (vieille ville) of medieval and Renaissance houses.

But the town’s most cherished treasure is the magnificent Bayeux Tapestry (or more accurately, embroidery), which was created for the consecration of Bayeux Cathedral in 1077 to tell the story of Duke William’s conquest of England. It is lovingly mounted in the Grand Seminary of the Centre Guillaume-le-Conquérant (www.bayeuxmuseum.com; Mar–Oct 9am–6.30pm, May–Aug until 7pm, Feb and Nov–Dec 9.30am–12.30pm, 2–6pm, closed Jan), in rue de Nesmond, and is accompanied by a fascinating film (in English or French) explaining the work’s historical background. Audio commentary headsets are available to bring the pictures to life.

The Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of the invasion of England from the Norman point of view, showing the English King Harold as a treacherous weakling who cheated the noble William of Normandy out of the throne promised him by King Edward the Confessor. No dreary piece of obscure medieval decoration, the beautifully coloured 70m (230ft) tapestry gives a vivid and often humorous picture of life at William’s court, with insights into medieval cooking, lovemaking and preparations for war. These and the climactic Battle of Hastings are depicted with all the exciting action and violence of a modern adventure film, played out by a cast of 626 characters, 202 horses, 55 dogs and 505 other animals.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.