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William the Conqueror - Locations Visited |
| The Ducal Castle - Built by William in 1060, Ducal Castle was a residential palace and administrative centre for the Duchy of Normandy. It has one of the largest fortified enclosures in Europe and the 12th century Norman Exchequer room still stands on the site. Constructed on an outcrop of rock the castle dominated medieval Caen. |
| Abbaye aux Hommes - The original monastery buildings of the Abbaye aux Hommes were built in 1066. The Abbey Church of St Etienne houses the tomb of William the Conqueror and is a fine example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. |
| Abbaye aux Dames - The Abbey Church of the Trinity was built by William's wife Queen Matilda in 1060 and is another excellent example of Norman Romanesque architecture. Queen Matilda's crypt and tomb lie within the Church. |
| Bayeux Tapestry - One of the oldest historical documents in Europe, it was actually made by English craftsmen at Winchester on the orders of Bishop Odo and designed to hang in his Cathedral in Bayeux where it remained for several centuries. Its present location is just a few hundred yards away where the Tapestry can be viewed with the aid of an audio-guided tour explaining each scene. Seventy metres long, it records William's conquest of England and his victory at Hastings in 1066. The Tapestry goes to great length in explaining and justifying William's claim to the English throne and as such can be regarded as an example of propaganda in its depiction of the official Norman version of events. |
| Bayeux Cathedral - as Caen was the focus of government in Normandy, Bayeux was its religious centre and Odo, William's half-brother, was its bishop. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1077 and thus reflects the Norman Romanesque style of architecture. |
| Falaise Castle - the castle, which now dominates the town of Falaise, was largely constructed during the reign of Henry I. The foundations are those of the castle where William was born and which he would have known. Today it is the only example of an Anglo-Norman keep in France. A guided tour of the castle includes the rectangular keep of Henry I, the Talbot Tower built in 1204 after Normandy passed from English rule to that of Philippe Auguste, King of France. The walls of the castle enclose a large bailey area. |
A typical 4-day itinerary |
| Day 1: Pick up from school, travel to Dover for cross-channel ferry and check in to hotel for evening meal. |
| Day 2: Trip to Caen visiting the Ducal Castle, the Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames. |
| Day 3: Trip to Bayeux to see the Tapestry, the Cathedral and Falaise Castle. |
| Day 4: Breakfast in hotel, return to UK & drop-off at school. |
| Itineraries can be tailored to your requirements. Contact us now by clicking here. |
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