Day Trips from Paris - Bayeux

Normandy’s D-Day Beaches including Omaha Beach are only a day’s journey from Paris. Bayeux is my favorite town located near the D-Day beaches and I’d heartily it as a great day trip (or overnight trip) from Paris. There are several good reasons to come to Bayeux aside from the nearby American Cemetery and the D-Day landing beaches.

Bayeux is also home to the 230-foot long Bayeux tapestry which recounts the story of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. This is one of the unique artifacts of French and English history. The huge tapestry is described by some as a sort of ‘comic book history’ of the Norman warrior’s ambitious project which involved constructing thousands of boats to cross the channel and land at Hastings, England where he successfully waged a battle against Harold for the English kingdom.

Bayeux’s cathedral with its lace-like spires may not be as famous as Chartres or Notre Dame de Paris, but its history is closely linked with William the Conqueor, his wife Mathilde and the tapestry which once graced its walls. (Now the tapestry can be seen at the museum constructed specifically for the best preservation of the tapestry).

There is yet another reason to come to Bayeux - the Reporters’ Memorial which is one of the few monuments of its kind in Europe. This is a memorial walkway dedicated to reporters who’ve died while doing their job.

You may have seen Robert Menard’s name mentioned in the news for the past few weeks. President of Reporters without Borders. Although his name has most recently been associated with the recent Olympic flame relay protests, almost a year ago, Robert Menard represented Reporters Without Borders at a moving inauguration ceremony for those reporters whose names are carved in the stone markers of Bayeux’s extraordinary remembrance.

At that time, (May, 2007), Menard had just returned from Iraq. Those that attended this ceremony were the husbands and wives, parents, children, grandchildren, and coworkers of reporters who have died in all corners of the world.

Just looking over the internet listings of past stories on Robert Menard and Reporters Without Frontiers (i.e. RSF unmasked) it is clear that the organization has left few corners of the world exempt from its searchlight (including France!). Those that attended the ceremony last May, 2007 should have a betterr understanding of the organization’s commitment to helping reporters work - free from fear, imprisonment and retribution.

Bayeux was the first town liberated in Normandy in 1944. Bayeux continues to carry the torch of liberty through enlightenment with an annual award each October to reporters who have succeeded against all odds, sometimes risking death and imprisonment to bring the facts to light.

Getting to Bayeux:
Bayeux is approximately a two-and-a half to three-hour drive from Paris. The closest large city is Caen (you can take the train from Gare St. Lazare in Paris). If you don’t want to rent a car in Paris, take the train to Caen and pick up your rental car at the Caen train station.

For driving instructions, check out www.mappy.com.
Mappy also includes weather reports, speed traps and traffic reports including the heaviest traffic days during the holiday season.