Bayeux

The magnificent Cathédrale Notre Dame.	A scene from the famous Tapisserie.	Much of the medieval city remains intact.

This medieval city has survived the war with most of its historic buildings intact, despite being the first French city to be liberated.

Bayeux is most famous for its tapestry - whose intricate embroidery tells the story surrounding the conquest of England in 1066. Now housed in the William the Conqueror Centre, the tapestry was made by craftsmen in England and was originally kept in the crypt of the Cathedrale Notre Dame, just a short walk away. This magnificent cathedral is a mixture of original Romanesque architecture - dating from the 11th Century - and later Norman Gothic.

The Musée Mémorial du Général de Gaulle is where the wartime leader made his first speech after liberation, while the Musée Mémorial 1944, Bataille de Normandy gives a good overview of the events following D-Day. Opposite is the British War Cemetary.

If you are a fan of old buildings, then Bayeaux is a great place to check out well-preserved houses dating as far back as the 15th century.