Bayeux Tapestry

23.5.2013  Normandy to Brittany

Bayeaux Tapestry (picture from web)

Bayeaux is pretty much on the way between Veules les Roses and Saint-Malo.  That tapestry thing would be worth a look. And so we drove along sunny motorways, round numerous roundabout and cut off for Bayeux.  Beside an immense church, the museum houses the tapestry and not much else that we could see.  We were given a headset each by a nice young lad, who as soon as I said ‘Bonjour’, responded in English.  (This keeps happening.  What is wrong with the way I say ‘Bonjour’???)  Through a door into a darkened area, and there is was.  It’s not very wide – only about four feet or so from top to bottom.  It’s colours may have faded a little, but are still bright enough to catch the eye.  It’s more of an embroidery than what we would call a tapestry, but the art is fantastic.  The facial expressions and postures - even of the horses! – evoke the dynamism and charisma of the characters and events.

Normandie Bridge

It may be not very broad, but it is no less than 70 meters long, and its raison d’etre is to tell the story of the invasion of England by William the Bastard, who was to become William the Conqueror, by defeating King Harold.  It was sewn on the instructions of his half brother Odo, so one has to expect that it is pro-William propaganda to some extent.  But whatever it is, it’s dramatic.  The commentary took us through is, scene by scene.  It was like going to a night at the cinema to see and action-packed thriller. 

An so on, over the filigree elegance of the Normandie Bridge into Brittany.  Sunshine and wind, and now, after dark, thundering, clattering rain.

Pitched at Les Petits Bois, Saint Malo