Bayeux: Visitors Guide ⚔️✨
So you're planning a trip to Normandy? Excellent choice! There is a lot to see in this underrated, historical region of France!
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Quick history:
🏰 Normandy's history is iconic and is deeply linked with the life of William the Conquerer. Born in Falaise (not far from Caen), William the Bastard inherits his father's duchy and eventually inherits the throne of England.
⚔️ He officially claims his throne after the Battle of Hastings - the details of this story are displayed in the Bayeux Tapestry - and he is quickly known as William the Conquerer.
⛪️ Today, William is laid to rest in Caen. His life and history is sprinkled all across the region and there is so much discover.
🌊 More recently, Normandy is also known for its history as the grounds for many battles in WWII. The beaches of Normandy have many monuments and memorials commemorating the lives that were lost on their shores.
Where to stay:
When picking a place to base yourself for a visit to the western side of Normandy, I would recommend choosing Bayeux.
We opted for Caen, which is another nice city, but when we visited Bayeux, we knew we would have much rather preferred staying around there! It is much more charming and quaint compared to the bigger city of Caen.
Other recommendations:
How to get around:
If you'd like to stay in the main towns such as Bayeux and Caen, both are accessible by train.
⏰From Paris, you can reach Bayeux by train in between 2-2.5 hours. Direct trains leave from Paris St. Lazare Station
💰Prices range depending on the time of year. As I am writing this, prices are around 50 euros one-way.
🎟️ You can book your trains using sites such as Trainline or Omio. Both compare travel options and show you the best prices.
🚗 However, if day trips are something you have in mind, then finding a guided tour or renting a car might be best.
Where to eat:
What to do:
Day Trip Ideas:
If you don't have a car:
🚂 Caen is 15 minutes by train (costs around 8 euros) from Bayeux
If you don't have a car:
🚌 I'd recommend taking a tour, since there are not many other ways to access the D-Day beaches without a car. Here are some to consider:
(👆🏻 Although I haven't gone on this particular sidecar tour, I have done a tour with the same company in Paris. The experience was really amazing - I really enjoyed our tour!)
Bucket List Moment:
In the blog post below, I detail EVERYTHING you need to know about taking a day trip to Mont Saint Michel from Bayeux 👇🏻
If you don't have a car:
🚂It is not the easiest to visit but here is an article explaining the different ways to get there
🚌 Alternatively, taking a tour may be the most stress-free way for a day trip from Bayeux
If you DO have a car:
🚗 approximately 1.5 hour drive from Bayeux
🎟️ We still opted for a guided walking tour of the town - the tour began at the parking lot on the mainland and we really enjoyed it. Here is a link to the exact tour we took:
Want some more info and tips? Check out my blog post below!
As I said above, this is just a TASTE of what Normandy has to offer! I have visited the region on 2 separate road trips and fell in love more with each visit!
If you would like help planning your trip to Normandy, check out how I can help you with my customized trip planning service on my profile!
COMING SOON: Ultimate Normandy Map! Be sure to save this guide and follow my page for updates!
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