Seeing the Bayeux tapestry, the Normans have a very prideful attitude towards their rich medieval history
Starting with the tapestry, it’s a 70 meter long (that’s roughly 210 feet) embroidery depicting the story of the Battle of Hastings and the last successful invasion of England by William the Conquer. The origins of the tapestry are unknown, but latest research suggests it was done by a Scottish Benedictine monk that previous lived in Mont St Michel (also in Normandy). It was created to tell the story to a mostly illiterate population with pictures. The drawings appear crude but upon further examination the depictions are almost impossibly detailed story for 1077, when it was made.
The tapestry is protected behind a thick glass wall with moisture and heat sensitive sensors and no photography is allowed, so sorry but I don’t have any pictures of it. Google it. The little town of Bayeux is very protective and very proud of the history this clothe holds. That history is reflection by the museum it’s held it. It’s not held in a new, modern building. It’s in a simple, local building that looks as though it could have simply been renovated to accommodate the tapestry. This is telling of the mindset of the town. Simplicity, and respect for the past. Not wanting to modernism to quickly, they’re perfectly content preserving the “small town” appearance of the museum.
The people also love the story of the tapestry. The first night we arrived, Justin, Stav, Becca, Matt, and I were at dinner, and the waitress told us that people in medieval costume were at the museum for the night. She highly in outraged us to go, so we did. Upon arriving at the museum, there were two Normans guards in full knight outfits. We talked to them for a while and one of the guards said that the towns people reenact the battle every year. Last year over 5000 people came, and it gets more popular every year. Several “maidens” welcomed us into the entrance and a Norman archer led us through to the tunnel where the tapestry is.