NORMANDY - France 2014 - page 411

Laundry: A launderette with big machines is a block behind the TI, on Rue Maréchal
Foch.TwomorelaunderettesarenearPlaceSt.Patrice:Oneisat4RueSt.Patriceand
the other is at 69 Rue des Bouchers (all open daily 7:00-21:00).
Bike Rental: Vélos Location has what you need and will deliver to outlying hotels (daily
April-Oct8:00-20:30,closesearlieroff-season,acrossfromtheTIatImpassedeIslet,
tel. [phone]).
Taxi: Call 02 31 92 92 40 or mobile [phone].
Car Rental: Bayeux offers few choices. Scauto (at the Renault dealership) is handiest,
just below the train station at the BP gas station. A rental at about €70/day with
a 200-kilometer limit is sufficient to see the key sights from Arromanches to Utah
Beach—you'll drive about 180 kilometers (16 Boulevard Sadi Carnot, tel. 02 31 51
18 51). Hertz is the only agency in town that allows you to drop off in a different city
(located west of the city center on Route de Cherbourg, off D-613, tel. [phone]
26).
Day Trip to Caen Memorial Museum: France's most complete WWII museum (de-
scribed on here ) is a manageable day trip from Bayeux, thanks to frequent and quick
(20-minute) rail service between Bayeux and Caen, and easy access to the museum
from Caen's train station. It's a 30-minute drive from Bayeux to the museum.

Sights in Bayeux

▲▲▲ Bayeux Tapestry (Tapisserie de Bayeux)
Made of wool embroidered onto linen cloth, this historically precious document is a mes-
merizing70-yard-longcartoon.ThetapestrytellsthestoryofWilliamtheConqueror'srise
from duke of Normandy to king of England, and shows his victory over England's King
Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Long and skinny, the tapestry was designed to
hanginthenaveofBayeux'scathedralasareminderforlocalsoftheirancestor'scourage.
The terrific museum that houses the tapestry is an unusually good chance to teach your
kidsabouttheMiddleAges:Models,mannequins,amovie,andmoremakeitanengaging,
fun place to visit.

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