What is Bayeux, France, famous for?

Bayeux is well known for the Bayeux Tapestry, a cloth about 70 metres long with embroidered scenes from the 1066 Norman Conquest of England. It is also the first main French town freed during the 1944 D-Day landings.

Bayeux fell fast, and much of it stayed standing, so the medieval buildings did not take the worst damage. The Bayeux Cathedral, in particular, still stands today. This mix of history is why many travellers use Bayeux as a starting point for visits around Normandy. People can see medieval art earlier in the day, then go on to World War II sites and battlefield areas later. In a region that was hit hard in the north, that does feel unusual.