At Børglum Abbey we are proud to possess a faithful replica of the historic and magnificent Bayeux Tapestry. The Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-meter-long embroidered wall hanging made of wool yarn, rightly also called the world’s longest comic strip.
The tapestry shows how the Normans, led by William the Conqueror, defeated King Harold Godwinson’s England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
On the Bayeux Tapestry, people, animals, trees, and ships are depicted, offering insight into the harsh environment that formed the setting for the bloody conflict in 1066.
The tapestry also contains the story of the events that took place before the battle, showing how the main figures communicated with each other prior to the historic event.
The original Bayeux Tapestry, embroidered by Anglo-Saxon women, is mentioned in 1476 as one of the greatest treasures of the cathedral in Bayeux, northern France, and today it can be found in a nearby dedicated museum.
One of the elements that makes the Bayeux Tapestry such an outstanding historical artifact is its value as a source. The tapestry has long been regarded as a highly reliable source concerning the weapons, warfare methods, and clothing of the time, and therefore provides an impressive picture of the era.
In addition, the depiction of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, as told on the tapestry, broadly corresponds with the Norman historians’ own accounts of the event.
The historic Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts Duke William’s conquest of England and the events leading up to the final battle at Hastings, is believed to have been commissioned shortly after the victory as testimony to its success.
The tapestry is thought to have been commissioned by William the Conqueror’s half-brother, Odo, who at the time was Bishop of Bayeux and who also oversaw the construction of the cathedral where the tapestry was housed. Odo played a significant role in the conquest of England and was rewarded for his efforts when, after 1066, he was made Earl of Kent - making him the country’s second-largest landowner.
After its creation, the Bayeux Tapestry was hung in the monastery of Saint Augustine’s in Canterbury, and we are pleased once again to present this beautiful pictorial tapestry in monastic surroundings in the form of the faithful replica at Børglum Abbey.
At Børglum Abbey, our fascination with this piece of history has led to a permanent exhibition of a faithful replica of the Bayeux Tapestry, which can be experienced during the abbey’s regular opening hours.
It took 14 years to embroider the replica of the historic tapestry, and our version-embroidered by nine embroiderers - was created in collaboration with the Bayeux Museum in Normandy.
The tapestry measures approximately 70 meters in length and 0.5 meters in height.
It took nine embroiderers 14 years to create a faithful copy of the original tapestry.
The tapestry is embroidered on linen cloth with wool threads in eight colors.
