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The ducs de Normandie sent their sons
to this Viking settlement to learn the Norse language. Bayeux has
changed a lot since then, but was spared from bombardment in 1944.
This was the first French town liberated, and the citizens gave de
Gaulle an enthusiastic welcome when he arrived on June 14. The town
is filled with timbered houses, stone mansions, and cobblestone
streets.
Visitors wanting to explore sites associated with "the Longest Day"
flood the town, because many memorials (not to mention the beaches)
are only 9.5 to 19km (6-12 miles) away. The cozy little streets are
lined with shops, many selling World War II memorabilia, and more
postcards and T-shirts than you'll ever need. |
