www.bessin-normandie.com. Bayeux was the first town to be liberated in 1944, and the fine historic town centre emerged unscathed, which makes visiting its world-famous tapestry all the more enjoyable.

Wrongly attributed to Queen Mathilde in the 18thC, the Tapisserie was probably commissioned in England by Odon, Bishop of Bayeux, (also spelt Odo) to decorate the nave of his new cathedral consecrated in 1077. Actually the ‘tapestry’ is an embroidery of wool on linen, and the 70-m masterpiece is divided into 58 scenes illustrating the background, the preparations for and indeed the Battle of Hastings which culminated in the defeat of King Harold. At the Bayeux Museum, www.bayeuxmuseum.com, which houses the tapestry, visual displays and an audio guide (available in 14 languages) give a blow-by-blow description of events. The real thing snakes around a dramatically darkened room in all its glory. The vivid colours are a surprise, and the tale is further enlivened by a delightful border depicting hunting and farming scenes, mythical beasts, animals and birds.

√¢¬Ä¬ã√¢¬Ä¬ãBishop Odon’s Cathédrale de Notre-Dame is an arresting Medieval edifice with a great Romanesque facade flanked by towers with pointed Gothic spires, a graceful 15thC tower (but an unfortunate 19thC top-knot), and east end supported by an elegant arrangement of buttresses. High windows fill the 12thC nave with light and illuminate beautiful woven and knotted Norman decorative carvings. There is marvellous stained glass, and the triple tiers of arches in the choir are supported on skeins of pillars.

North of the cathedral, the Musée Baron Gérard displays fine arts and crafts, ceramics and furniture; on the south side, the Musée Diocésain d’Art Religieux parades ecclesiastical treasures including elaborate vestments. The Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie, boulevard Fabian-Ware, recounts the events of June 7 to August 2 1944, across the street from the British War Cemetery.