The French call it La Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde, in the rest of the world it is known as the Bayeux tapestry. It depicts the story of William the Conqueror who in the eleventh century crossed the channel from Normandy and invaded England.

To set the record straight: it was not made by Queen Matilda, it did not originate in Bayeux and it isn't a tapestry. It is an embroidered strip cartoon, most likely produced in England soon after the conquest, and designed as propaganda to legitimise William's claim to the English crown. Nevertheless it is a mediaeval masterpiece, which you can find in nearly every introduction to the history of art.

The 70 metres long cloth, embroidered in wool with 58 scenes, traces the great adventure of the Norman conquest of England in often surprising detail. To prevent discoloring, it is on display in a dimly lit gallery at the town museum. It's a special experience to watch these earliest scenes of British history while walking through corridors in semi-darkness.

But there is a lot more to see in Bayeux; an excellent Battle of Normandy museum next to the Commonwealth War Cemetery; a cathedral which reads from bottom to top like a history of Norman architecture; a host of small museums and galleries and very good shopping. There is a maze of medieval streets to explore.