The historical saga of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 is chronicled across the 230-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry, one of the most amazing yet mysterious art historical marvels of all time.
The tapestry’s richly detailed embroidery is a key source for understanding the brutal battle that unfolded after William the Conqueror arrived from northern France and fearlessly took on King Harold II. His win would have a decisive influence on England’s culture, language, and history for centuries to come, says ArtNet.
The 230-foot-long tapestry - which is, in fact, an embroidered cloth from the 11th century that was probably intended to decorate a local cathedral - is an iconic part of France’s cultural heritage, as well as a UNESCO Memory of the World object. In colourful detail, the Bayeux Tapestry depicts the epic story of how William, Duke of Normandy, better known as William the Conqueror, became king of England in 1066.
Now, a long lost fragment of the epic textile has been rediscovered in Germany. It was found in the state archives of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany’s northernmost state, more than 80 years after Nazi researchers stole it from occupied France during World War II.
German authorities are working to repatriate the stolen section back to France later this year, just in time for the start of the Bayeux Tapestry’s next chapter. Starting on 31 August 31 2025, the tapestry will leave public view for two years as it undergoes restoration work.
The space where the embroidery is housed will also be revamped, with an “inclined support” added to the display. The museum will reopen in late 2027, just in time for the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror’s birth in 1028.