Bayeux Day 1 (Part 1 for today)

This morning we left Caen and drove 40 minutes to our new base at Bayeux. We're staying here for four nights. We drove along little two lane roads that are only wide enough for one car. Whenever we met a car coming towards us, one of us had to pull over. Also the roads are often lined with tall hedgerows (like the Allies had to cross as they pished inland From the beaches). Theyre so tall and dense that it feels a bit like driving in a tunnel at times. And when there werent hedgerows we got to see mile after mile of pastures, cows, and beautiful old stone houses. And every village we passes through had a beautiful old stone church with a tall spire you could see from way down the road. Here are few scenic pics.

Can you tell cows were a common theme? I love all the white cows in Normandy. And they're always grazing in fields of yellow flowers!

 

 

Bayeux is the largest town closest to the D-Day landing beaches, and it was the first town liberated on D-Day +one. It also has the unique distinction of having never been bombed during the war. A local chaplain of Bayeux contacted London to let the Allies know that Bayeux was not a German headquarters and wasn't strategically important. So a scheduled bombing raid was canceled. Pretty amazing!

The town itself is absolutely amazing! I know I've said that so many times, but it's true. All the buildings are old stone ones, and the streets are so narrow you have to pull over onto the miniscule sidewalks to pass. Every single house and business in town looks like it has 500 years of history to it! Here are a few pics of the buildings around the Bed & Breakfast we're staying at.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The B&B is a 17th century manor in the main part and a 15th century tower in the section where the three bedrooms are. Yes, we're staying in a tower! It's the tall stone part on the left. The wall is so high you can't really see how cool the manor really is, but it's beautiful!

 

This is the spiral staircase we have to climb to get to the room. It's three stories in total. The tower is 15th century, but the rooms have all been newly renovated in French country style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the right is the view from the bedroom window. It's of the twin spires of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux. It's as large as the more famous Notre-Dame in Paris.

 

 

 

 

 

Below is the little garden area of the B&B. It's very peaceful and quiet.

 

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