Bayeaux Tapestry

Our third stop of the day was the Bayeux tapestry in Bayeux, France.  This tapestry was embroidered in the 1070s!  Sylvia had had it by this point in the day and the two of us spent this time in the car.  Typing these posts has made me realize that the third stop was a bit too much to ask.  I had seen the tapestry when I was in high school and sent Pierre and Lil to check it out.  I was grateful because for some unknown reason I had a wifi connection in the middle of this large parking lot.  Someone was looking out for me.

 

Lillian and Pierre went inside and listened to the audio guide.  They came out with many facts.  Here is a rundown from Wikipedia:

 

The Bayeux Tapestry (French: Tapisserie de Bayeux, IPA: [tapisʁi də bajø], Norman : La telle du conquest) is an embroidered cloth—not an actual tapestry—nearly 70 metres (230 ft) long, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry consists of some fifty scenes with Latin tituli (captions), embroidered on linen with coloured woollen yarns. It is likely that it was commissioned by Bishop Odo, William's half-brother, and made in England—not Bayeux—in the 1070s. In 1729 the hanging was rediscovered by scholars at a time when it was being displayed annually in Bayeux Cathedral. The tapestry is now exhibited at Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Bayeux, Normandy, France.

Photos are forbidden.  Here are some photos of Lillian's postcards.

 

 Harold hit in the eye by a Norman arrow and killed!

 William solemnly receiving Harold at his castle.

A lookout warns Harold of the approach of William's army.

 

During our trip in Normandy we stayed in two Chambres d'hotes.  It is very popular in France to stay in chambres d'hotes or in gites.  A chambres d'hotes is basically a bed and breakfast.  In both places we stayed, we had a large room with a double bed and bunk beds and our own full bathroom.  Both places also provided a very nice French breakfast.  My understanding is that gites are more like indoor camping.  There are beds there, but you are expected to bring all of your towels, bedding, etc.  The girls like the rooms a lot better than hotels--bunk beds!!--and we all slept a lot better than we usually do away from home.