As thousands of people visit the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum for the first time, locals in Bayeux, France, are feeling its absence keenly.
Since the tapestry was sent to the UK in July, the town has seen a significant drop in tourist numbers, having been closed for renovations since September 2025. Mathis Laîné, who works at a nearby restaurant, noted a 20% decrease in lunchtime sales and at least a 10% drop in the evening following the museum’s closure.
The tapestry, which depicts the Norman conquest of England, was on display in Bayeux for nearly 1,000 years before its transfer. The exhibition at the British Museum runs until July 2027, but the tapestry won’t return to Bayeux until the museum reopens in October next year.
Laîné worries about the impact of another summer without the tapestry. “We’ve always relied on summer earnings to get through the winter,” he said.
At Le Balto, a souvenir shop, manager Marie-Laure Lamare reported dwindling sales of memorabilia. “If tourists haven’t seen the tapestry, they’re not buying,” she said, noting a distinct decrease in visitors speaking various languages in town, contrasting previous summers filled with international tourists.
Local tour guide Estelle Isidor-Leroux expressed the emotional toll of the tapestry’s absence, saying, “It’s as if I’ve lost a member of my family.”
In response, the tourism sector is attempting to find alternative attractions. Isidor-Leroux now conducts tours highlighting the tapestry’s history, while local museums are hosting exhibitions on its preservation. Bayeux’s tourist office director, Didier Llorca, insists other attractions also draw visitors, saying the tapestry is only responsible for about 20% of the town’s tourism. Bayeux boasts a medieval centre, a cathedral, and access to nearby D-Day beaches, which continue to attract visitors despite the temporary closure of the Tapestry Museum.
“We can cope with the closure, even for two years,” Llorca reassured.
