Bayeux October 4, 2009

We went to Bayeux by train last Sunday. It was great fun. We took the tram to the train station and took a 15 minute train ride to Bayeux, a small town near the Normandy beach. It was the first town liberated by Allied forces in 1944, the day after landing on the beach.


We haven’t described the transportation here yet. Because in general the French are very reserved in public, everything is pristine. The French speak very softly to each other, especially in public. We can be in a crowded restaurant or grocery store and the noise level is like being in a library. The mass transit is also somewhat crowded during rush hour, spotless and quiet. We’ve ridden 20 or so rides and only heard one person on a cell phone. The trains and trams are powered by electricity so they are quiet too. The rides are very smooth. Yes, I’m jealous.

So, back to Bayeux. Our first stop was to see the 11th century Tapisserie de Bayeux (Bayeux Tapestry). It’s a 70-meter history lesson about William the Conqueror’s rise from duke of Normandy to king of England, probably from the French point of view. It’s hung behind glass and with English (or about 8 other languages of your choice) headphones, we walked along its length as the story and art was told. It is truly wonderful. If you’re interested in reading about it, here’s the link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry

Then on to the first of many cathedrals. (There are at least two in Caen that we have to see). This one was beautiful, built in 1066 and getting a badly needed cleaning and restoration. But it is huge, paintings and carved wooden furniture all over, really awe inspiring. You can see its towers from the whole town.

Last, before the train ride back, we went to the World War II British Cemetery. It was sobering to say the least. There had to be more than 2,500 grave markers, almost all identical, lined up as you can see in the picture. Most had names, rank, branch of the armed force and age. But there were lots that had no name on them.