The Calvados and its beautiful towns: Bayeux, Caen, Honfleur

Bayeux

A medieval town on the edge of the D-Day Beaches, Bayeux remarkably stood intact amidst the devastation following D-Day and as the first town to be liberated. Bayeux's history stretches back much further than the Second World War however, a point which can be witnessed in the cobbled streets around the splendid cathedral or by a visit to the Tapestry. This incredible woven masterpiece is 70 m long and 50 cm high and tells the story of William's assertion to the crown of England in

1066. The cathedral dates back to 1077 while the ancient traditions of lace making and porcelain can still be observed at the Conservatory and Baron Gerard Museum respectively.

The Battle of Normandy Museum
is dedicated to the events of 1944 while just across the road lies the British Military Cemetery. The Latin inscription on the monument tells how in 1944 the British came to free the homeland of their victors in 1066.
Centre Guillaume Le Conquerant William the Conqueror Centre An excellent layout presents the history leading up to William's invasion in 1066 before arriving at the Tapestry itself. English language headphones help to explain the detail. Rue de Nesmond
Tel: (0)2 31 51 25 50
Open: 15 March to 30 April &
1 September to 2 November, 9am-6.30pm;
3 Novemberto 14 March, 9 30arrv12 30pm
and 2pm-6pm. 1 May to 31 August,
9am-7pm.
Admission: Adult €7.40, Senior €6,
Student/Child €3. Free for children under
10yrs. Headphones €1

Musee Baron Gerard
Fine arts and history museum
A chance to admire 2 other important aspects of Bayeux heritage: lace and china.
Hotel du Doyen Rue Lambert Leforestier
Tel' (0)2 31 92 14 21
Open: 1 September to 30 June, 10am-
12.30pm and 2pm-6pm; 1 July to
31 August, 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-7pm.
Admission: (for the Ba'on Gerard Museum
onlyl Adult €2.60, Senior €2, Student/Child
€1.50
The entrance ticket lo the Bayeux Tapestry
will also allow you free entrance here

Musee de la Bataille de Normandie
Battle of Normandy Museum
Appropriately for the first town liberated after D-Day to have so many documents and artefacts from the period on display. The museum stands across the road from the British Military Cemetery in Bayeux Boulevard Fabian Ware Tel: {0)2 31 51 46 90 Open: 1 May to 15 September, 9.30arn-6.30pm; 16 September to 30 April, 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-6pm. Closed: 13 to 26 January.
Admission: Adult €5.50, Senior €4.50, Child €2.60.
BayeuxTourist Office
Pont Saint Jean
BP 80049
14400 BAYEUX
Tel: (0)2 31 51 28 28
Fax: (0)2 31 51 28 29
info@bayeux-tourism.com
bayeux-tQurism.com

Caen

An historic town - city of William the Conqueror - in the heart of an area which exudes a warm welcome and love of life. To see Caen is to retrace your steps through its rich history. At the same time, you will not fail to notice Caen's fine mix of traditional and modern and its comfortable way of life.
Built around 1060 by William the Conqueror, The Castle is one of the greatest fortified structures in Europe. Used alternately as a fortress or barracks, it is today a rich cultural centre with reminders of the Middle Ages in the Exchequer's Hall of the 12th century Dukes of Normandy. It also houses the Fine Arts Museum (one of the most prestigious galleries in France for 16th & 17th century European works] and the Normandy Museum.

Abbaye aux Hommes
This prestigious Benedictine abbey 'Saint-Etienne de Caen' was founded around 1063 by William the Conqueror and was consecrated in 1077 The abbey church (11th/13th century] is one of the most significant religious monuments in Normandy. The 18th century monastery buildings now house the town hall.
H6tel deVille
Esplanade Jean Marie Louvel
Tel: (0)2 31 30 42 81
Open: Monday to Thursday, 8am-6pm;
Fiidays, 8am-5pm; Saturdays, Sundays and
bank holidays, 9.15am-1prn and 2pm-
5.45pm.
Admission: Adult €2, Student/ Seniors €1,
Child free of charge. Free for everyone on
Sundays.

Abbaye aux Dames
This abbey for Benedictine nuns of the Caen Trinity, was founded in 1062 by William the Conqueror's wife Mathilda of Flanders. The Romanesque Church still houses
Mathilda's tomb.The 18th century convent buildings are now the home of the regional council of Lower Normandy.
Place Reine Mathilde
Tel: (0)2 31 06 98 98
Open: daily 9am-6pm (church); guided tours
of the abbey daily at 2.30pm and 4prn
Admission: free of charge.

Le Memorial de Caen
Caen Memorial Museum
The Caen Memorial offers visitors a spectacular audio-visual presentation of 20th century history from 1918 to the present day. With its collections of photographs, posters, models and an exceptional film on D-Day, the museum, along with the gallery dedicated to the Nobel Peace Prize invite each visitor to reflect on the present time and the question of peace. Also visit the remembrance gardens. Esplanade Dwight Eisenhower Tel: (0)2 31 06 06 44 memorial-caen.fr
Open: daily 9am-7pm (9am-6pm in Winter and 9am-8pm in Summer). Closed the first 2 weeks of January. Cash registers close 1 V-hrs before the museum closes. Restaurants on site Admission: Aduli €18,Child €16.
Caen Tourist Office
Place Saint Pierre
14000 CAEN
Tel: (0)2 31 27 14 10
Fax: (0)2 31 27 14 13
tourisminfo@ville-caen.fr
caen.fr/tourisme

Honfleur

One of the most impressive phenomena in the Seine Valley is the unique light and reflections on the water triggered by the changing moods of the Normandy skies. It is little wonder that the 'impressionist' artists chose to base themselves here, nor too that painters still flock to the area today. The centre for most of this activity is the lovely port of Honfleur. It is at the nearby Ferme St Simeon hat Boudin entertained like-minded young artists such as Monet, and you can discover an Honfleur today which is little changed from that time, A working port and pleasure harbour, Honfleur is a page out of history. The cobbled streets around the quay are overlooked by the incredible wooden Church of St Catherine where seamen have given thanks since the 16th century.
Naturally there is a museum dedicated to Eugene Boudin but you can also learn more about another of Honfleur's famous sons - Erik Satie. The famous musician and composer was born here in 1866 and the Maisons Satie certainly provides for a visit with a difference,

Eglise Sainte Catherine
This wooden stave church was built by the shipwrights of Honfleur during the 15th and 16th centuries in the flamboyant gothic style. Uniquely, the belfry stands apart from the main church building.
Open: (other than during services) daily from 8am to 6pm. The bell tower is only open between Palm Sunday and 1 November (exceptTuesdays).

Musee Eugene Boudin
The main feature of this museum is its collection of paintings including the complete collection of drawings and canvasses donated by the creator of Impressionism to his home town.
Rue de I'Homme de Bois
Tel (0)2 31 89 54 00
Open: 15 March to 30 September, 10am-
noon and 2prn-6prn; 1 October to
31 December and 10 February to 14 March,
2.30pm-Ejpm during the week. At
weekends also open in the mornings
10am-noon.
Admission: Adult €4.40, Child/ Seniors
€2.70. From June to November Adult €5.10,
Child/ Seniors €3.60. A combined ticket is
available, see Satie museum.

Maisons Satie
The birthplace of well-known musician and art lover, Erik Satie, now provides for an original visit to discover more of his life. 67, boulevard Charles V Tel: (0)2 31 89 11 11
Open: 1 May to 30 September, 10am-7pm. 1 October to 30 April, 11am-6pm. Closed: Tuesdays and during the first 7 weeks of the year.
Admission: Adult €5, Child/Senior €3.50 A combined ticket ior the Satie, Boudin and the Old Honfleur Marine Museum can also be purchased. Contact the tourist office for further information, Tel: (0)2 31 89 23 30.

Honfleur Tourist Office
Quai Lepaulmier
14602 HONFLEUR CEDEX
Tel: [0)2 31 89 23 30
Fax: (0)2 31 89 31 82
office-du-tounsme-
honfleur@wanadoo.fr
ot-honfleur.fr