Bayeux Cathedral

Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux
Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux; Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux
	Bayeux Cathedral
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
District	Diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux
Rite	Roman
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Cathedral
Location
Location	Bayeux, France
Geographic coordinates	49°16′32″N 0°42′12″W / 49.27556°N 0.70333°W
Architecture
Type	Church
Style	Norman-Romanesque, Gothic
Height (max)	76.6

Bayeux Cathedral, also known as Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux), is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Bayeux in Normandy, France. A national monument, it is the seat of the Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux and was probably the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry, still preserved nearby. The cathedral is in the Norman-Romanesque architectural tradition.

*UBI HAROLD SACRAMENTUM FECIT WILLELMO DUCI* ('Where Harold made an oath to Duke William'). This scene, which is stated in the previous scene on the Tapestry to have taken place at *Bagia* (Bayeux, very likely in Bayeux Cathedral), shows Harold touching two altars with the enthroned Duke looking on, and is central to understanding the Norman Conquest of England. (from the Bayeux Tapestry)

The site is an ancient one and was once occupied by Roman sanctuaries. The present cathedral was consecrated on 14 July 1077 in the presence of William, Duke of Normandy. It was on this site that William may have forced Harold Godwinson to take an oath of support to him, the breaking of which led to the Norman Conquest of England – meaning that the oath must have been made before 1066.

Architecture

Following serious damage to the cathedral in the 12th century, the cathedral was rebuilt in Gothic style which is most notable in the crossing tower, transepts and east end. However, despite the crossing tower having been started in the 15th century, it was not completed until the 19th century.