Bayeux Tapestry leaves museum for first time since 1983 before UK loan

"The 68-metre-long (224-foot-long) tapestry, which depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066, was taken to a secret storage location from its museum in the French town of Bayeux in Normandy, sources told AFP. The authorities in Calvados, northern France, which supervised the delicate manoeuvre with Normandy's regional cultural affairs body (DRAC), said more than 90 people were involved in the removal, which took seven hours and 15 minutes."

"France's loan of the artefact, which was added to UNESCO's "Memory of the World" register in 2007, has sparked an outcry from heritage experts concerned over the ancient embroidery's already fragile state. Since 2020, experts have meticulously documented 24,204 stains, 9,646 holes and 30 tears in the artwork. In 2021, DRAC told AFP that "it was not possible to transport the work before restoring it"."

"The operation had been planned for Thursday, prompting the French government to announce a delay as a result of nationwide strikes and protests against French President Emmanuel Macron. But because of the intricate planning involved, the removal -- the first from the museum since 1983 -- went ahead as planned under a shroud of secrecy, the sources with knowledge of the move said."

The 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry was removed from its museum in Bayeux, Normandy, and taken to a secret storage location ahead of a planned loan to the United Kingdom. The 68-metre embroidery, depicting the 1066 Norman conquest, required a carefully supervised operation involving more than 90 people and lasting seven hours and 15 minutes. The removal was planned amid nationwide strikes that briefly delayed actions, and authorities maintained secrecy to ensure security and minimize local impact. Conservation experts have raised alarm over the tapestry's fragile condition after documentation of thousands of stains, holes and tears. French authorities have noted previous statements that transport before restoration was not possible, and a loan to the British Museum is scheduled for September 2026 for 18 months.

Read at The Local France