Between embroidery and lace
Bayeux. This town in Calvados is world-famous for a work as unique as it is spectacular: its famous tapestry. This incomparable work of art has survived the centuries, and no doubt owes its fame to its singular appearance. The Bayeux Tapestry, embroidered in the 11th century, is both a masterpiece of Romanesque art and a historical record. William the Conqueror's epic journey to the throne of England is recounted on a linen canvas almost 70 meters long and 50 meters high. The embroidered woollen threads depict longships, horses, battlefields and knights in chain mail: all indispensable elements as the tapestry recounts the famous Battle of Hastings. William, Duke of Normandy, crossed the sea with thousands of men to reclaim his rightful throne. Visitors are invited to take their time and discover the many precious details that adorn this Unesco World Heritage masterpiece, offering a unique insight into medieval history. Commissioned by Bishop Odon, half-brother of William the Conqueror, the Bayeux Tapestry probably adorned the nave of Bayeux Cathedral. To be discovered at the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux until 2024, when the tapestry is due to head for the UK for restoration.
After embroidery, it's time for lace. Here again, the region has produced veritable works of art with delicate, refined motifs. Lace-making took off in Normandy in the 17thcentury , when Louis XIV's minister, Colbert, decided to create lace factories. Caen, Bayeux and Alençon were major production centers until the end of the 19thcentury . The prefecture of Orne, dare we say it, really came into its own with its famous Alençon stitch. Dubbed the "queen of lace", this unique needlepoint owes its origins to lacemaker Marthe de la Perrière. Highly coveted at court, Alençon lace requires meticulous craftsmanship and a great deal of patience: it takes seven hours of work to produce 1 cm2 of lace. Now a Unesco World Heritage Site, this know-how is perpetuated at the Atelier Conservatoire National du Point d'Alençon. Seven lacemakers continue to design pieces that are each time small masterpieces. Magnificent creations, including the bride's veil dating from the 19th century, can be seen at the Musée des Beaux-arts et de la Dentelle d'Alençon. Forty kilometers away, you can also visit the Maison des Dentelles in Argentan.
Normandy, impressionist version
The cliffs of Etretat, Rouen cathedral, the sun rising over the town of Le Havre, the pretty little port of Honfleur, lunches on the grass on the banks of the Seine... Normandy's landscapes inspired the Impressionist painters. The region is proud to be the birthplace of this pictorial movement, which emerged in the second half of the 19th century. It was an art form that revolutionized existing practices by emphasizing the interplay of light, color and emotion. Born in 1840 and dying in 1926, Claude Monet, author of numerous paintings, including the famous water lilies in dozens of versions in his gardens at Giverny, is one of the great names to have marked the history of art. A visit to the house and grounds of the man considered the father of Impressionism is an absolute must during a stay in Normandy. Another key figure in this pictorial movement is Eugène Boudin. Born in Honfleur in 1824, he is considered the precursor of Impressionism. The sea, sailors and the sky were his main sources of inspiration. The artist bequeathed his drawings and paintings to his native town, which has now assembled them in the Musée Eugène-Boudin. His works are exhibited alongside those of other Honfleur painters.
Rouen's Musée des Beaux-arts devotes part of its impressive collection to Impressionist painters. Here, you'll discover works by Claude Monet, of course, but also by Sisley, Renoir and Pissaro, who drew much of their inspiration from the cathedral and the loops of the Seine. The site also boasts a wealth of works in fields as varied as sculpture and the decorative arts.
Classified as one of France's most beautiful villages, Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei has also attracted many artists. In the 19th century, many of them came here, attracted by the charm of this small town with its changing light, ideal for inspiring painters. The famous Eugène Boudin was one such artist. The village boasts a very special place: the Moisy sisters' inn. This old dwelling, popular with artists from 1875 to 1925, has a very special feature: its "decapitated" room. On its walls, artists drew charcoal shadows of the profiles of the guests who stayed here. The room is open to visitors. Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei continues the village's artistic tradition with its annual "painters' meeting".
The region also offers themed tours of the Impressionists' favorite spots: the Alabaster coast and the port of Fécamp, the wild lands of the Cotentin and its famous Gatteville lighthouse, the Seine estuary and the city of Le Havre, a UNESCO World Heritage site... And when it comes to festivals, "Normandie Impressioniste" is not to be missed, with the next edition scheduled for 2024. As part of this event, several events are organized throughout the region, including contemporary art and photography exhibitions.
