Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Best known for the eponymous tapestry that masterfully depicts the 11th-century Norman Conquest, explore the northern French town of Bayeux on this fascinating half-day tour.

Board your comfortable motorcoach in Cherbourg for the scenic one-hour drive through Normandy to Bayeux.
This small city was founded on the banks of the River Aure in the first century B.C. as a Gallo-Roman settlement, then called Augustodurum, but was largely destroyed by Viking raids during the late ninth century. After William the Conqueror invaded and occupied England, his half brother Odo, Earl of Kent, rebuilt the city, erecting the cathedral that still stands in the center of Bayeux. In more recent – but no less turbulent – times, the city was the first to be liberated by the allies in the Second World War's Battle of Normandy, and its buildings were largely spared in the conflict.

Your first stop in town is at the Tapestry Museum , the home of the famous Bayeux Tapestry. This grand 18th-century building was originally a seminary and now displays one of the most artistically and historically significant artifacts in the world. This embroidered cloth, remarkably well preserved, depicts 58 scenes from the Norman conquest of England. It is 20 inches wide, but over 230 feet long. One might say that the way the long sequence of events is depicted makes it the first comic strip in history! The final scene in the tapestry shows the Battle of Hastings of 1066, in which William the Conqueror's forces defeated Anglo-Saxon King Harold II – who was killed in the fighting. It is widely seen as the decisive battle in William's conquest of England.
Legend has it that the tapestry was originally commissioned by William's wife, Queen Matilda, and in France it is sometimes known as "La Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde" (Tapestry of Queen Matilda). The museum also includes a number of fascinating dioramas as well as an informative film that outlines the tapestry's history and significance.

After your time at the museum, you may explore independently or join your knowledgeable guide, who will lead a walking tour through the charming medieval streets of Bayeux, past beautifully restored homes, both modest and impressive, such as the "Hotel de la Tour du Pin" with its imposing 18th-century Louis XVI style façade.

Don't miss the large and stunning Norman-Romanesque Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux, completed in 1077 by William's half-brother Odo of Bayeux – and perhaps the first place the tapestry was ever displayed.

After the walking tour, you have a bit of time to explore and shop on your own before re-boarding your motorcoach for the scenic drive back to your ship in Cherbourg.