Bayeux has two things that would justify a visit individually; together they make it one of the most rewarding small towns in Normandy. The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the great artefacts of the medieval world — a 70-metre embroidered narrative of the Norman Conquest of England, almost a thousand years old and still vivid. The D-Day beaches start just 15 km away, and the town's Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie provides an excellent grounding before you head out to Omaha, Utah, or Gold. In between, the cathedral and the compact old town provide the pleasures of a well-preserved Norman market town.