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Fox News
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Famous medieval masterpiece to appear at top museum in celebration of 'shared history'
For the first time in nearly 1,000 years, the legendary medieval tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest will be shown in the United Kingdom — a unique opportunity for anyone planning to travel there in the near future. The temporary loan of the Bayeux Tapestry was announced while French President Emmanuel Macron was visiting the United Kingdom earlier this week. The tapestry will be on display at one of the top museums in the world — the British Museum in London — from Sept. 2026 to July 2027. Measuring some 230 feet long, the tapestry is one of the world's most famous medieval artworks. The piece of art vividly depicts the events surrounding the Norman Conquest, with an emphasis on the Battle of Hastings. The conquest took place in 1066, when Normans invaded the British Isles from France and seized power from the Anglo-Saxons. The tapestry was likely created in the 1070s, a few years after the 1066 conquest. Historians believe that Bishop Odo of Bayeux commissioned the art, which was likely produced in England before being brought to France. The Bayeux Museum in Normandy indicates that the intricate tapestry features 626 characters, 37 buildings, 41 ships and 202 horses and mules. "This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France." "To make it easier to recognize the characters, the artist added distinctive features such as mustaches and long hair for the Anglo-Saxons and short hair for the Normans," the museum noted on its website. In a statement, British culture secretary Lisa Nandy called the tapestry "one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the U.K." "I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026," the official stated. Nandy added, "This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure." As part of the cultural exchange, the British Museum is lending artifacts from its Sutton Hoo collection, which were found in a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon ship burial. The objects will be displayed at various French museums. The Bayeux Tapestry has been the subject of extensive study since its rediscovery in the 18th century. This winter, researchers in the United Kingdom recently discovered the long-lost residence of a legendary king who was depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. The residence of Harold Godwinson, also known as King Harold II, was identified in Bosham, a village on the coast of West Sussex, England.
Sky News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Bayeux Tapestry will return to Britain for first time in more than 900 years
Why you can trust Sky News The Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the Norman conquest of England, is returning to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years. The 11th-century masterpiece is being loaned from France and will arrive next year at the British Museum. It will feature in an exhibition from September 2026 to July 2027. The details were released as President Emmanuel Macron began a state visit on Tuesday. Talks about a potential loan had begun as early as 2018. King Charles welcomed Mr Macron for a three-day trip, aimed at celebrating the return of closer ties between London and Paris after Brexit. The fragile 70 metre (230ft) cloth depicts the events leading up to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. That confrontation was between the Earl of Wessex, Harold Godwinson, who had been crowned King of England after the death of his brother-in-law Edward the Confessor, and Duke William of Normandy, who believed he was the rightful claimant to the throne. The artwork was believed to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux and has been displayed in various locations across France, including most recently at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy. In exchange for the tapestry, France will receive artefacts from the British Museum's Sutton Hoo collection - which features items from a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon ship burial - and Viking treasures. Other items to be loaned to France include the Lewis Chessmen, the mysterious medieval chess pieces carved from walrus tusks and whales' teeth dating from around the 12th century that were discovered on the Isle of Lewis. "The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the UK and I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026," Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in a statement. "This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure," she added.
France 24
08-07-2025
- General
- France 24
Fast facts on the Bayeux Tapestry
Giant of history Embroidered in wool thread, the tapestry depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066 under William the Conqueror, an event that marked the history of England, France and Europe. Its origins have been the subject of speculation. Some studies indicate it was probably designed and made in England. According to some historians, Bishop Odo of Bayeux -- William's half-brother -- commissioned the work in 1077 to decorate the new cathedral in his hometown, Bayeux, in France's Normandy region. The artisans' identities have been lost to time. The tapestry is 70 metres (230 feet) long, 50 centimetres (20 inches) wide and weighs a whopping 350 kilogrammes (772 pounds), according to Unesco, which has listed it on its Memory of the World Register. Long story Made of nine panels, the work is an "embroidered story", said Antoine Verney, head conservationist at its usual home, the Bayeux Museum. The tapestry features 626 characters, 202 horses and 58 scenes -- an embroidered epic recounting the events leading up to William's conquest at the Battle of Hastings, in which England's King Harold famously died after taking a French arrow in the eye. Fragile The tapestry, which was last repaired in 1870, is in need of a restoration, at an estimated cost of two million euros ($2.3 million). In January, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said the government would foot the full bill. But that project is now on hold, the Bayeux Museum told AFP Tuesday. An expert study in 2020 found around 24,200 stains and 10,000 holes. The work is sensitive to micro-vibrations, handling and humidity, and must not receive more than 50 lux, a very dim light, said Verney. Museum upgrade Since 1983, the tapestry has been displayed in a long U-shaped hall. The Bayeux Museum, which received 429,000 visitors last year, is planning a 38-million-euro renovation from 2025 to 2027. Unprecedented loan It will be the first time the tapestry has been loaned to England, after two aborted plans: once in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and once in 1966 for the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry has only left Bayeux twice, to be displayed at the Louvre in Paris: once in 1803, on Napoleon's orders, and once in 1944, in tribute to the British and US troops who fought to free France from Nazi German occupation. © 2025 AFP
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bayeux Tapestry will return to England for first time in 900 years with iconic depiction of 1066 Norman Conquest being swapped for Sutton Hoo treasures in loan deal with France
The Bayeux Tapestry will return to England for the first time in 900 years in a new deal with France. British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce that the historic artefact will arrive in the UK at the British Museum next year on loan from France. The iconic depiction of the 1066 Norman Conquest including the Battle of Hastings will be temporarily swapped with the Anglo-Saxon treasures of the Sutton Hoo ship burial. The 70-metre-long work, which is more than 900-years-old, depicts the battle which saw William The Conqueror take the English throne from Harold Godwinson and become the first Norman king of England. It is widely accepted to have been made in England during the 11th century and was likely to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo Of Bayeux. It has been on display in various locations across France during its history, and in 1983 was moved to the Bayeux Museum in Normandy where it attracts 400,000 visitors per year. The Sutton Hoo treasures, discovered as part of a seventh century Anglo-Saxon ship burial in Suffolk in 1939, provide insight into England during the period before the Norman Conquest. Some of the impressive artefacts which are believed to have been part of a burial of a 1,400-year-old king include a helmet, weapons, coins and jewels. The exchange is part of a season of culture in 2027 celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of the birth of William The Conqueror, and the Grand Depart of the 2027 Tour de France from the UK. The swapping of ancient treasures also coincides with the Bayeux Museum's two-year renovation which will see the site extended WITH The British Museum chosen because of its ability to preserve and care for the textile, The Telegraph reports. The tapestry will be displayed in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery of the British Museum between September 2026 and July 2027. Director of the British Museum, Nicholas Cullinan, said: 'The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations. 'It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. 'This will be the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1,000-years-ago. 'We are also delighted to send the Lewis Chessmen, and some of our treasures from Sutton Hoo - the greatest archaeological discovery in Britain - to France in return. 'This is exactly the kind of international partnership that I want us to champion and take part in, sharing the best of our collection as widely as possible, and in return displaying global treasures never seen here before.' Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the UK and I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026. 'This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure. 'The British Museum is one of the world's most visited museums and is a fitting place to host this most treasured piece of our nation's history.' The deal was reportedly pushed through by the former Lib Dem leader and now British Museum Chairman George Osborne who, The Telegraph reports, has been more willing to engage in deals over historic artefacts. The exciting deal comes as French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte arrived in Britain for their three-day state visit. The visiting leader was welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales after disembarking his jet before the first lady at RAF Northolt in West London today. William and Kate greeted the Macrons at about 11.30am and travelled with them to Windsor to meet the King and Queen Camilla for a carriage procession. After the Macrons travelled to Windsor with Kate and William, Charles and Camilla formally greeted their guests on a Royal Dais constructed on Datchet Road in the town - with Windsor Castle in the backdrop as gun salutes sound in nearby Home Park. Later, the King will stress the vital partnership between France and the UK in the face of a 'multitude of complex threats' at the state banquet in honour of Mr Macron, declaring 'as friends and as allies, we face them together'. At a glittering banquet at Windsor Castle this evening, the monarch will deliver a speech, highlighting how 'these challenges know no borders: no fortress can protect us against them this time'. But he will tell Mr Macron that Britain and France can help lead the way in confronting threats relating to defence, technology and climate change, saying: 'Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world.' Charles and Camilla are hosting Mr Macron and the first lady at the historic royal residence. King Charles and Queen Camilla formally greeted their guests on a Royal Dais constructed on Datchet Road in the town The King, in his toast, will reflect on 1,000 years of 'shared history and culture between our two peoples', including many of the royal family's personal connections to France. 'For centuries our citizens have admired each other, amused each other, and imitated each other', he will say, and reveal how he remains 'in awe of France's extraordinary attributes and achievements'. Charles will also hail the Anglo-French partnership as vital amid the many challenges of today, saying: 'Our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions. As friends and as allies, we face them together.' It marks the first state visit to the UK by an EU head of state since Brexit, and will see Mr Macron address parliamentarians in the Palace of Westminster's Royal Gallery and, on Thursday, join a UK-France Summit at Downing Street.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Bayeux tapestry to return to Britain for first time in 900 years
The Bayeux tapestry will return to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years as part of a landmark loan agreement by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron. The 70-metre embroidered cloth depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings, in which William the Conquerer took the English throne from Harold Godwinson and become the first Norman king of England. It will go on display at the British Museum from September next year, in exchange for the Anglo-Saxon treasures of the Sutton Hoo ship burial, the Lewis chessmen and other treasures. The loan is to be officially announced during the French president's state visit on Wednesday at the British Museum, which has been closed to the public for the day. A blockbuster exhibition offering the chance to see the tapestry up close for the first time on UK soil since its creation is also expected to boost London's visitor economy. The Bayeux tapestry consists of 58 scenes and is widely accepted to have been made in England during the 11th century, most likely commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux. Sylvette Lemagnen, conservator of the tapestry, wrote in her 2005 book La Tapisserie de Bayeux that the work's survival over nine centuries was 'little short of miraculous'. 'Its exceptional length, the harmony and freshness of its colours, its exquisite workmanship, and the genius of its guiding spirit combine to make it endlessly fascinating,' she said. The tapestry has been on display in various locations in France throughout its history, including most recently at the Bayeux Museum. Visitors will now have the chance to view it in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery of the British Museum between September 2026 and July 2027. Meanwhile, museums in Normandy will host the Sutton Hoo treasures, which were discovered as part of a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon ship burial in Suffolk in 1939, and provide great insights into England from a time before the Norman conquest. Nicholas Cullinan, the director of the British Museum, called the Bayeux tapestry 'one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations'. He added: 'It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. 'This will be the first time the Bayeux tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1,000 years ago. We are also delighted to send the Lewis chessmen, and some of our treasures from Sutton Hoo – the greatest archaeological discovery in Britain – to France in return.' The loan will form part of a bilateral season of culture in 2027 that will celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conquerer and the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France in the UK. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said: 'The Bayeux tapestry is one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the UK and I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026. This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure. 'The British Museum is one of the world's most visited museums and is a fitting place to host this most treasured piece of our nation's history.'
