Bayeux - Center Guillaume le Conquérant

The great attraction which draws visitors to Bayeux, however, is the famous Bayeux Tapestry (known in French as the Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde); it is to be found at the Center Guillaume le Conquérant. This is actually not a tapestry at all, but a work of embroidery: a band of linen 70 m/230ft long, which recounts the story of the conquest of England by Mathilde's husband William the Conqueror in 58 scenes with 623 figures, 759 animals and 37 buildings and ships, accompanied by a kind of running commentary in Latin, but with a headphone commentary in English. North of the cathedral is the former Bishop's Palace (12th-16th C), which now houses the Musée Baron Gérard and the Palais de Justice (Law Courts). The chapel has a fine ceiling painting. The Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) is 18th C.