Bayeux Tapestry Set for Uncommon Journey from France to Britain
The Bayeux Tapestry, a 70-meter embroidered cloth detailing the conquest of England by French duke William in 1066, will make its first U.K. appearance in nearly 1,000 years. This remarkable news was announced during French President Emmanuel Macron's historic state visit to the U.K., the first by an EU leader since Britain's departure from the EU.
The tapestry, widely believed to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo, William's half-brother, around 1077, has been exhibited outside Normandy only twice: in Paris' Louvre from 1803 to 1804 under Napoleon and again in late 1944 following the Allied liberation of France during World War II.
For the British, the date 1066 is a date they all know. William's victory at Hastings is a defining moment in English history, deeply ingrained in the U.K.'s collective memory. The tapestry, considered a medieval precursor to modern comic strips, depicts 626 characters, 37 buildings, 41 ships, and 202 horses and mules across 58 scenes. It portrays sword-wielding knights, King Harold's famous death from an arrow to the eye, and a complex web of vengeance, betrayal, and power struggles.
The tapestry's age and fragility require meticulous planning for transportation. Next year, from September 2026 to July 2027, the Bayeux Tapestry will be exhibited at the British Museum.
During the tapestry's U.K. exhibition, the Bayeux Museum in Normandy will undergo a major renovation, closing to visitors from Sept. 1 this year and reopening in October 2027. The renovated museum will feature a new building and an inclined 70-meter display table that will transform the viewing experience.
The loan of the tapestry reflects warming cross-Channel ties following the U.K.'s Brexit-induced tensions. The Bayeux Tapestry's visit to the British Museum is set to be a significant cultural event, offering the British public a rare opportunity to witness this priceless piece of history up close.
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