REPORTAGE
The city of Bayeux was so far famous for its 11th century tapestry recounting the Battle of Hastings and the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy, which attracts 400,000 visitors a year. But a "small" competitor is shading her, a few hundred yards away: the tapestry of Game of Thrones, one of the most popular series in the world.
Bayeux hosts until the end of the year this monument of flax 87 meters long, 17 meters more than the tapestry of Bayeux. The work was created in Northern Ireland, near the filming locations, and required 16 weeks of work for 30 embroiderers. They retrace the mythical scenes of the series, even the most gory scenes.
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"I find it wonderful but there is a lot of cruelty: decapitation, strangulation, they even cut hands ... I think young people love," reacts a visitor, amused. The visitors are numerous and advance in tight ranks to see the tapestry. "He blows his skull flatly with his hands, there are teeth torn off ... I like, they dared," says Gregory.
"It gives me chills, it makes me think of the series and the Bayeux tapestry at the same time," adds Sandrine. "The two of them together are a lot of emotion and I became a fan from the moment I knew that the tapestry was coming to Bayeux and now I can not live without it."
An opportunity for the city
For the deputy mayor in charge of tourism and museums, Loïc Jamin, this is a chance for the city. "The Bayeux tapestry has been copied and recopied hundreds of times, but Games of Thrones is a great opportunity, there are millions of spectators around the world, fans who have been coming to Bayeux for a week are really fans of tapestry, they meet there. "
Exposure is not recommended for sensitive souls. And the young audience is warned by the officials of the exhibition.