During the Norman conquest by William, his half-brother Odo, also Arlette’s son, was Bishop of Bayeux. Historians believe that the Bayeux Tapestry was commissioned by Odo to adorn his new cathedral, which was consecrated in 1077. The Tapestry was displayed there once yearly and illustrated Harold’s ill fate to the cathedral’s faithful community.
During its consecration, all of the Dukedom of Normandy and the Kingdom of England’s most eminent dignitaries were present alongside Lanfranc, the Men’s Abbey’s very first abbot, who was to become Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bayeux Cathedral
1077
William used the Church's great authority to reinforce his power
Site history
Bayeux Cathedral
The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Bayeux is located on the vestiges of a forum dating back to the Gallo-Roman period, itself built on Merovingian ruins. The present-day cathedral was consecrated on the 14th of July 1077, in the presence of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders.
At the time, it housed the Bayeux Tapestry.
Bayeux Cathedral is of Romanesque and Norman Gothic style. It is a listed Historic Monument since 1862.
The Norman-Romanesque architecture of Notre-Dame Cathedral
We owe the cathedral to Hugh II of Bayeux, who ordered its construction after a fire had destroyed the former church. However, it was Odo of Conteville, better known as Odo of Bayeux, who completed it.
Odo of Bayeux was William the Conqueror’s half-brother. As well as being Bishop of Bayeux, Odo was also the Earl of Kent.
The cathedral’s architecture reunites both Norman and Romanesque styles.
Today, the crypt and the western facade towers are the only features dating back to the Romanesque period.
The 9th century crypt is quite remarkable. Its pillars and columns are adorned with paintings, some of which date back to the 15th century. Located in the choir, this crypt was walled up for centuries and even fell into oblivion. It was rediscovered in 1412, during work to hollow out a grave for the Bishop Jean de Boissey.
Bayeux Cathedral’s Gothic architecture
Work on the cathedral’s Gothic architecture began in 1180. The Bayeux Cathedral we know today is very different to the one that stood in William the Conqueror’s time, its Gothic architectural features only being completed in 1700.
However, a number of fires, pillaging, the Huguenot rebellions, the French Revolution and even lightning were to damage the edifice and its objets d’art. The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Bayeux benefited from restoration work in 1851.
Bayeux Cathedral today
The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Bayeux is now open to visitors. Guided tours are regularly organised, in particular during school holidays.

Copyright : ©Arnaud Guérin – Lithosphère

Copyright : ©Arnaud Guérin – Lithosphère
Pratical information
Cathédrale de Bayeux
14400 BAYEUX
Tel : 02 31 51 28 28
Opening hours and rates :
Open from to Individuel
Site location
Images of the site




1027 - Arlette’s fountain
FALAISE
1027 - William the conqueror’s castle
FALAISE
1046-1047 - Ryes, the ‘Sente au Batard’
RYES
1047 - The battle of Val-es-Dunes
ARGENCES
1057 - Varaville
VARAVILLE
11th century - Dives-sur-Mer, the church of Notre Dame
DIVES-SUR-MER
1066 - The Ladies’ Abbey
CAEN
1067 - Eglise Abbatiale
SAINT-PIERRE-EN-AUGE
1077 - The Men’s Abbey
CAEN
1060 - Caen Castle
CAEN
1040-1050 - The Olivet Castle mound – Grimbosq
GRIMBOSQ
1077 - Bayeux Cathedral
BAYEUX
1066 - Bayeux Tapestry
BAYEUX
1083 - Church of Saint-Nicolas, Caen
CAEN
11th century - Church of Saint-Laurent, Falaise
FALAISE
12th century - The Church of Saint-Martin, Ryes
RYES
11th century - Church of Saint-Pierre, Thaon
THAON
1180 - Church of Saint-Samson, Ouistreham
OUISTREHAM
10th century - The Château Ganne in La Pommeraye
LA POMMERAYE