Unique in the world, the Bayeux Tapestry is a wool embroidery on linen cloth made in the 11th century. Much more than just a beautifully decorated piece of fabric, this treasure can be admired in the charming medieval town of Bayeux, in Normandy. While awaiting the reopening of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, scheduled for 2027 to coincide with the European Year of the Normans, two temporary exhibitions are on display at the Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History in Bayeux and the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum, offering visitors the chance to uncover the secrets of this medieval masterpiece.
An incredible comic strip from the Middle Ages
Almost 70 metres long and 50 centimetres high, this tapestry tells the story of the conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy. A masterpiece of Romanesque art, it was probably commissioned by his half-brother, Bishop Odon, to decorate the new cathédrale de Bayeux, consecrated in 1077.
A universal work...
Remarkably well preserved, the Bayeux Tapestry has been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, to be protected and listed as a document of universal interest. Rescued many times throughout history, the "Tel du Conquest", as it is known, continues to reveal its secrets.
The Bayeux Tapestry: a medieval masterpiece and universal treasure
Measuring nearly 70 metres long and 50 centimetres high, the Bayeux Tapestry recounts the conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy. A masterpiece of Romanesque art, it was probably commissioned by his half-brother, Bishop Odo, to adorn the new Bayeux Cathedral, consecrated in 1077
Remarkably well preserved, the Bayeux Tapestry is listed in UNESCO's ‘Memory of the World’ register, in order to be protected and recognised as a document of universal interest. Saved many times throughout history, the ‘Tale of the Conquest’, as it is also known, continues to reveal its secrets.
Since 1983, it has been on display at the Centre Guillaume le Conquérant, the former Grand Séminaire de Bayeux. With more than 500,000 visitors a year, the Bayeux Tapestry Museum is one of the most visited places in Normandy. It is a showcase that allows visitors to discover the work in its entirety, to view it without damaging it and to understand its history and how it was made.
A brand new museum expected in 2027
Closed since summer 2025 for renovation work, the Bayeux Tapestry Museum will reopen in 2027, coinciding with the European Year of the Normans celebrating the millennium of William the Conqueror's birth.
Adjacent to the current museum, the new building will consist of a new 11,000 m² contemporary space extending from the Grand Séminaire, built in the 17th century, skilfully blending historical heritage and modernity.
Completely redesigned, the new exhibition will further highlight the unique Bayeux Tapestry, which will be displayed on a sloping support over 70 metres high. Visitors will be able to view the tapestry in optimal conditions and take a fresh look at this medieval treasure, while respecting long-term conservation requirements.
Normandy
Temporary exhibitions offering a different perspective on the Bayeux Tapestry
Despite the closure of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, it is still possible to admire this medieval masterpiece. The museum offers an online platform where visitors can view the tapestry in high definition: they can zoom in on the embroidery and access explanatory text for each of the scenes depicted.
This digital project was made possible thanks to the support of Bayeux and DRAC Normandie, in partnership with Fabrique de patrimoines, the University of Caen and the CNRS. The data collected will be used as the basis for the SIDS tool, which will support future research and inform the design of the new museum.
From spring 2026, two temporary exhibitions will be on display in the town of Bayeux, at the Baron Gérard Museum of Art and History and the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum. The first will trace the adventures and known locations of the Bayeux Tapestry since its creation in the 11th century, while the second will revisit an episode from the Second World War during which the Nazis attempted to seize the work, offering visitors a new perspective on the history of the Bayeux Tapestry.
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