Bayeux Cathedral

Bayeux Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Bayeux Cathedral stands in the centre of Bayeux, Normandy, France, a few minutes' walk from the museum that holds the Bayeux Tapestry, and entry is free. It is one of the finest Norman Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in France, and it is closely connected with the tapestry, which was probably made to be displayed in the cathedral. Most visitors to Bayeux come to see the tapestry, which is ticketed and should be combined with the cathedral, and many use Bayeux as a base for visiting the D-Day landing beaches, the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer and Mont Saint-Michel.

Guided tours of the cathedral, including the crypt and the treasury, are offered in summer. Bayeux was the first town in France liberated in 1944, and it survived the war almost undamaged. The cathedral is active, and visiting pauses during services. The tapestry museum ticket can be combined with other Bayeux museums at a reduced price.

Visiting Bayeux Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral was consecrated in 1077 in the presence of William the Conqueror, and it was commissioned by his half-brother, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, who probably also commissioned the tapestry. The Romanesque cathedral was damaged by fire in the twelfth century and rebuilt in the Gothic style, keeping the Romanesque towers of the west front and the crypt. Inside, the nave has Romanesque arches decorated with carved patterns, below Gothic upper storeys. The crypt, from the eleventh century, has columns with carved capitals and fifteenth-century frescoes of angels playing music. The choir has carved stalls, and the chapels hold medieval frescoes. The chapter house has a medieval tiled floor with a labyrinth.

The tower's central lantern was rebuilt in the nineteenth century. In summer, a sound and light show illuminates the cathedral. The cathedral's west front has five portals, with carved scenes of the life of Christ and the Last Judgement. The nave's Romanesque arches are decorated with carved patterns, including dragons and geometric shapes. The crypt's frescoes of angels playing instruments date from the fifteenth century. The chapter house's floor has a labyrinth of glazed tiles. The treasury displays reliquaries and liturgical objects. The cathedral's stained glass windows include some from the fifteenth century. The choir's carved stalls date from the sixteenth century. The central tower is topped by a dome and lantern.

Bayeux Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily. Bayeux is busy in summer, especially around the anniversary of D-Day on 6 June, when commemorations are held across Normandy. The Bayeux Medieval Festival in July brings costumed events to the town. The sound and light show on the cathedral, in summer evenings, is beautiful. Normandy's weather is mild and often rainy. Allow about forty-five minutes for the cathedral, and about an hour and a half for the Bayeux Tapestry museum. The Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie, in Bayeux, tells the story of the Battle of Normandy in 1944.