Bayeux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bayeux
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 Bayeux
Location in France
Bayeux
Location in Normandy
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| Country | France | |
| Region | Normandy | |
| Department | Calvados | |
| Arrondissement | Bayeux | |
| Canton | Bayeux | |
| Intercommunality | Bayeux Intercom | |
| Area
1
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7.11 km2 (2.75 sq mi) | |
| Population
(1999)
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14,961 | |
| • Density | 2,104.2/km2 (5,450/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
| INSEE/Postal code |
14047 /14400
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| Elevation | 32–67 m (105–220 ft) | |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
Bayeux is a cool town, also called a commune, located in the region of Basse-Normandie in the Calvados area in Northwest France.
This town is super famous for its amazing tapestry. It's one of the oldest and most complete tapestries in the whole world!
People who live in Bayeux are called Bajocasses or Bayeusains. Bayeux is also a sous-préfecture, which means it's an important administrative center for the Calvados area.
Contents
History of Bayeux
What's in a Name?
Bayeux is the main city of a region called the Bessin. Long ago, this area was known as Bajocasses. The name of the city, Bayeux, actually comes from an old Celtic tribe that used to live here.
Bayeux in the Middle Ages
Sadly, Vikings attacked and destroyed the town in 890. But don't worry, it was rebuilt by a person named Bothon in the early 900s.
Later, two important bishops, Hugues II and Odon de Conteville, decided Bayeux needed a brand new cathedral. Odon was even the half-brother of William the Conqueror! So, a new cathedral was built in 1077.
Around this time, Bayeux lost some of its power. William the Conqueror chose Caen to be his main city in 1050. This is also when the famous Bayeux Tapestry was made!
The Renaissance period didn't bring many big changes to Bayeux. One important building from that time is the Saint-Patrice Church, built between 1544 and 1548.
Bayeux in World War II
Bayeux has a special place in history because it was the very first city in France to be freed after the Battle of Normandy during World War II. On June 16, 1944, a famous French leader, General Charles de Gaulle, gave his first big speech in Bayeux.
Luckily, the buildings in Bayeux weren't damaged much during the Battle of Normandy. This was because the German army was busy defending Caen at the same time.
Today, you can visit the Bayeux War Cemetery. It's the biggest British cemetery from World War II in France. There are 4,648 graves there, including 3,935 British soldiers and 466 German soldiers.
Geography of Bayeux
Where is Bayeux?
Bayeux is located about seven kilometers (about 4 miles) from the English Channel and the famous D-Day Landing Beaches. It's also about 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) northwest of Caen.
The town sits at different heights, from 32 to 67 meters (about 105 to 220 feet) above sea level. The average height is 46 meters (about 150 feet). The Aure river flows right through the town.
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Vaux-sur-Aure, Vaucelles |
Vaux-sur-Aure | Saint-Vigor-le-Grand | |
| Vaucelles |  |
Saint-Vigor-le-Grand | ||
 Bayeux  |
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| Saint-Loup-Hors | Guéron, Monceaux-en-Bessin | Saint-Martin-des-Entrées |
Bayeux's Climate
Bayeux has a mild climate. It gets a good amount of sunshine each year and some rain. It doesn't snow very often, and storms are not super common. Fog can happen, especially in the mornings.
Getting Around Bayeux
Bayeux has a train station on the main line that goes from Paris to Cherbourg. There's also a local train line (called TER) that connects Caen to Rennes.
Inside the town, you can use the Bybus system. It has one main line and three smaller lines that go to different parts of Bayeux and nearby towns like Saint-Martin-des-Entrées and Saint-Vigor-le-Grand.
If you're driving, Bayeux is easy to park in, with 3,000 parking spaces in the town center, and most of them are free! The By-pass is Bayeux's ring road, which helps traffic go around the town. The first part of this road was built by British soldiers after the Battle of Normandy because the old roads were too narrow for Tanks.
The closest airport is in Caen, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) away. If you want to take a ferry to England, the closest port is in Ouistreham, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) away.
Twin Towns
Bayeux has special friendships with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities":
Dorchester (United Kingdom)
Lübbecke (Germany)
Chojnice (Poland)
Eindhoven (the Netherlands)
Viborg (Denmark)
Population of Bayeux
Bayeux is the fourth largest town in Calvados by population. The three bigger towns are Caen, Hérouville-Saint-Clair, and Lisieux.
Images for kids
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Bayeux (Bagias), shown in scene 22 of the famous Bayeux Tapestry
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Bayeux city center in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Bayeux para niños
