A cemetery with American and French flags

Troops at the D-Day landings in Normandy

Bayeux Travel Guide

May - SeptemberFranceEUR

European History

The Great War & WWII

Military & Communist History

Bayeux is an old, well-preserved town in the Northwest of France. The area around Bayeux is most known as the backdrop for a major WWII battle - the Battle of Normandy. Visitors who descend from WWII veterans often feel a special, somber connection with this part of France.

On June 6, 1944, otherwise known as ‘D-Day’, thousands of Allied troops landed on Normandy’s Atlantic Coast with a mission to drive out the German occupying forces. For the next three months, the battle raged inland toward Paris, village by village, making the entire region one giant battleground. ‘Operation Overlord’ as the battle is sometimes known, was an intense and complicated military maneuver, involving paratroopers, air assaults, artificial harbors, and weeks of combat on the ground. As you tour the Norman countryside you’ll see the remains of tanks, aircraft, and bunkers. The region’s beaches are still referred to in English as Utah, Omaha, Juno, Sword, and Gold, military code names used during the operation.

Normandy was a major turning point in WWII and ultimately a success for the Allies, who went on to liberate the rest of France by early September. This victory did not come without significant cost. More than 120,000 Allied soldiers died in combat at Normandy - over 4,000 on D-Day alone. For Americans, the Normandy campaign incurred the most losses ever suffered in United States military history. The sacrifice made by troops in Normandy is engraved on the heart of every American, and forever deepened the relationship between America and France. Special cemeteries and memorials pay tribute to fallen soldiers throughout Normandy. Walking between the neatly arranged graves, it is impossible not to respect their sacrifice.

Despite the destruction of nearly every neighboring village, the town of Bayeux endured WWII unscathed. Along with its medieval architecture, the town’s most precious treasure, the Bayeux Tapestry, was miraculously spared. Stitched in the 11th century, the Tapestry tells the epic and exciting story of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. After viewing the tapestry as you stroll through the streets of Bayeux, past the sweeping cathedral spires and gently flowing River Aure, France’s medieval past springs to life around you. A landscape of war, but also remembrance, a trip to Bayeux and Normandy will deepen your appreciation and respect for the past.

Must See Attractions in Bayeux

American and French flags at the American Cemetery in Normandy

D-Day Tour

During World War Two, the ‘D-Day beaches’, on Normandy’s Atlantic coast, presented a terrible challenge for the Allies, who needed to land from across the English Channel in order to liberate France. The Germans were prepared for the incoming invasion and lined the shore with bunkers, snipers, and tanks. The Battle of Normandy was one of the bloodiest fought in WWII. When you see the landscape of Normandy for yourself, the sheer bravery of the Allied troops who fought to liberate France becomes clear. On your visit to Normandy, choose from either an American or Commonwealth tour, and a knowledgeable guide will drive you to the D-Day landing beaches and other points of historical interest. On the American tour this includes Omaha and Utah Beaches, the Pointe du Hoc, and Sainte-Mère-Église. You will also stop at the American Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer, where you can pay your respects.

The Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is a must-see during your stay in Normandy. Nearly 1000 years old, the tapestry depicts William of Normandy's conquest of England in 1066, in a dispute over the crown. Presented with an accompanying audioguide, the tapestry unfurls across 231 feet in a series of panels, similar to a comic strip. An epic tale, the story of the Norman invasion is so exciting it is hard to remember it happened almost a millennium ago. As well as the main action, which features a bloody battle, the margins of the tapestry are stitched with tiny details.The tapestry brings the medieval era to life and will make you look at the entire region of Normandy in a new light.

A painting of a woman with a lace head dress

Historic Bayeux

When you stay in Bayeux, you’ll surely want to learn more about the heritage of this miraculous town that emerged from WWII unscathed. The history of Bayeux runs deep. From the moment you set foot in the town, you will notice its fetching cathedral towering above the slanted roof stone houses. Consecrated in 1077, for a long time the cathedral was home to the famous Bayeux Tapestry. The site the cathedral rests upon is even older, and dates back to Roman times. As well as the cathedral, Bayeux’s cobbled streets, ancient houses, and pretty riverside call to be explored. Especially after you view the Bayeux Tapestry, the history of the pretty town springs to life before your eyes.

Bayeux War Cemetery and the Museum of the Battle of Normandy

On the outskirts of Normandy, The Battle of Normandy Museum offers an in-depth examination of Operation Overlord in its entirety, from the D-Day landings to the final battle of Falaise. It is considered one of the most detailed museums on the subject, offering three pavilions that break down the entire Battle of Normandy into a succession of smaller battles and operations. After your visit the museum, pay your respects to some of the fallen at the Bayeux War Cemetery, where Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives in Normandy are buried. The headstones in this cemetery are personalized with messages from soldier’s families, which make for heartbreaking reading. A half-day spent at the museum and cemetery will increase your perspective on the horrors of war and the importance of remembrance.

Optional Day Trips from Bayeux

Cherbourg

Cherbourg-Octeville is a quiet town not far from Bayeux by train. The town’s main highlights are its museums. The spectacular maritime museum, La Cité de la Mer showcases fascinating aspects of Cherbourg’s nautical history, as a stopping port for the RMS Titanic. The Liberation Museum sits in a fort which was occupied by the Germans during World War II. Cherbourg is one of the more northern parts of the Normandy region, and this made it a strategic target for those wanting to hold control over the Channel and the broader Atlantic. For this reason its capture was the main objective of the United States military during the Battle of Normandy. Easily accessible from Bayeux by train, a trip to Cherbourg will boost your understanding of history and makes for a fun day out.