The Bayeux Tapestry on the Move

At the end of this summer, the Bayeux Tapestry will be lovingly put away in storage while a new, state-of-the-art museum is built to showcase the 1,000-year-old artwork to its best advantage. But what will the new Bayeux Tapestry Museum look like?

The Bayeux Tapestry is on the move from the Grand Seminary, which has been its home for 40 years, to a new, purpose-built museum, which is scheduled to open in 2027 to mark the millennium of the birth of William the Conqueror. Bayeux mayor Patrick Gomont called the €38m project “the most complex and ambitious ever undertaken by the town”.

A competition for the new design was won by British architecture practice RSHP, which has been working tirelessly with project partners to tackle issues such as preventive conservation and enhancement of the artwork.

In the heart of the town

The future Bayeux Tapestry Museum will remain at the heart of the town. Within an 11,000m² urban space, a new extension will be built next to the current 17th-century Grand Séminaire, which will be completely renovated.

“This cultural and historical lung had to remain close to the Cathedral to continue to unravel the thread of its history and to meet the challenges of our tourism strategies,” said Loïc Jamin, Bayeux’s deputy mayor.

The new building will house the tapestry, which will be displayed on an inclined support more than 70m long to meet the conservation requirements, which were established by analysing the condition of the fabric which, at 1,000 years old, is extremely fragile.

As it has since 1983, the Bayeux Tapestry will continue to be conserved in a hermetically-sealed room to protect it from variations in light, climate and atmospheric pollution. A window along the length of the room will allow the public to view the tapestry. Tilted for maximum impact, visitors will be able to appreciate the fine details of the masterpiece, which is as long as the distance between the pillars of the Eiffel Tower. The set-up will also allow for the tapestry to be moved in order for conservationists to work on it.

New view of the tapestry

The new museum will also improve the flow of visitors, who numbered 423,000 in 2023. Cloakrooms, rooms for school groups, a study room, an auditorium and a temporary exhibition room all feature in the plans.

There will be improved accessibility for disabled visitors, with specially-adapted museography and a new entrance via the main courtyard which will provide access for all.

An in-depth experience

The Bayeux Tapestry, to which the entire museum is dedicated, will be at the heart of the exhibition space, which will be doubled in size with the new building.
Thanks to ingenious construction of the spaces on two levels, visitors will be able to discover the embroidery from different angles and backgrounds, supported by comprehensive displays.

The first look is intended to be a visual shock for visitors, who will gradually discover the work overlooking the exhibition gallery via a 180° view. As they move towards the beginning of the Bayeux Tapestry, equipped with their audio guide, visitors will then enjoy an intimate relationship with the embroidered canvas, which tells the story of the conquest of England in the 11th century by William, Duke of Normandy. Visitors will be able to continue their exploration by entering the interpretation areas on the second level, while maintaining visual contact with the original work below. This new tour will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the medieval world, and expand their knowledge thanks to the results of the very latest scientific research.

Sketches of the new museum are on display in the chapel, located in the courtyard of the current museum, to allow visitors a glimpse of what is to come. This information area dedicated to the project is open to the public during regular opening hours.

A very special deadline

The aim is to open the new Bayeux Tapestry Museum in October 2027 to mark the millennium of the birth of William the Conqueror. To meet this deadline, the current museum will close on September 1, 2025

While the museum is being built, the Bayeux Tapestry will be kept in a storage area specifically designed for its conservation. The removal of the tapestry from its current display case and its conditioning will be carefully carried out in close collaboration with the French State, which owns the artwork, to ensure the preservation of one of the most precious heritage objects of the 11th century, which, unsurprisingly, is classified as an Historic Monument and listed in the UNESCO’s Memory of the World register.

From France Today Magazine