A MAJOR attraction in France is set to close later this year and won’t reopen until 2027.
The Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy houses the Bayeux Tapestry – a piece of artwork depicting the Norman Conquest.
The Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy will close to the public later this year[/caption]
The museum will be undergoing a multi-million-pound revamp, which will see its exhibition space double in size[/caption]
As many as 400,000 tourists visit it a year, and it is a landmark attraction in the town, along with the Museum of the Battle of Normandy.
The huge 70m-long cloth tells the story of William the Conqueror’s 1066 invasion of England,
However, a two-year renovation is to start in September, meaning these are the last few months tourists will be able to see it in a while.
The huge renovation project is estimated to cost €38million (£31million).
Under the plans, the building will be extended, doubling its exhibition space and providing more room to display the huge 70m-long cloth.
At the same time, the Bayeux Tapestry will be dusted down and placed into a conservation crate.
The Bayeux Tapestry Museum will close to visitors on September 1 and won’t reopen until 2027.
It is hoped that the museum will reopen to coincide with William the Conqueror’s 1000th birthday.
While no set opening date has been confirmed, the museum’s website states October 2027 for the reopening.
Once the museum reopens, the famous piece of historical art will be displayed in an airtight room to protect it from light and pollution.
Patrick Gomon, the Mayor of Bayeux, said: “In terms of economic and cultural influence, this is the most complex and ambitious project… ever undertaken by the Town of Bayeux.”
The Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of William the Conqueror’s 1066 invasion of England.
One of the most famous scenes on the tapestry is of Harold (the last Anglo-Saxon king of England) being killed by an arrow at the Battle of Hastings.
Entry tickets to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum cost €12 (£9.96) and cannot be purchased in advance online.
The Bayeux Tapestry Museum isn’t the only French tourist attraction closing to visitors later this year.
Earlier this year, the Centre Pompidou in Paris announced it would be closing in the autumn to undergo a five-year-long renovation.
The Centre Pompidou is the largest modern art museum in Europe, with its renovation slated to cost a staggering €358million (£297million).
Also undergoing a huge renovation is The Louvre, with a €900million (£748million) revamp taking place until 2031.
When it reopens, new rules means Brits will pay more as non-EU citizens.
Everything you need to know about visiting France
- Brits need to have a passport with at least three months left on it.
- No visas are needed for anyone staying up to 90 days within an 180-day period but you need to make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
- You may also need to show proof of accommodation and funds, around €120 a day.
- The country uses the euro with around €10 working out to £8.55.
- France is one hour ahead of the UK
- Direct flights to France from the UK take between 1-4 hours depending on the destination
- Or you can travel by train with Eurostar, with destinations including Paris or Lille.
In the mean time, you can visit the Notre Dame, which reopened in December after a five years following the devastating fire.
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Entry tickets to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum cost €12 (£9.96) and cannot be purchased in advance online[/caption]
The museum will reopen in October 2027[/caption]
