The Bayeux Lace Conservatory is a small site—more of a room than a museum. You can duck in during a stroll around central Bayeux, which is lined with shops and restaurants. Walking tours of Bayeux often swing past the Lace Conservatory to discuss Bayeux’s lacemaking history, which dates back to the 17th century. The building that houses the conservatory is also of interest, with a medieval façade and carvings of Adam and Eve.
The Lace Conservatory is a small site; plan a quick visit of less than an hour.
English speakers can watch the lace makers at work, but explanations are in French.
Combine the lace conservatory with a visit to the Bayeux Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is just around the corner.
The Lace Conservatory is in Hotel du Doyen, on Rue de Bienvenu, Bayeux. It’s easy enough to reach by car, following the N31 to Bayeux. The site is a 15-minute walk from Gare de Bayeux, a train station that serves as a regional hub with lines to Paris, Rennes, Caens, and more.
The Lace Conservatory is open to the public year-round (excluding public holidays), between Mondays and Saturdays. The doors are open from mid-morning until early evening, although the site is closed for a lunch break for around 1.5 hours each day. To take part in the site’s bobbin-lace and needle-lace classes, you’ll need to book in advance, directly with the museum.
If you’re interested in Bayeux’s lacemaking traditions, you can learn more by visiting the Bayeux Museum-owned Museum of Art and History Baron Gérard. While the museum focuses on prehistory up to the 20th century, there’s an important exhibit dedicated to bobbin lace, where samples are showcased proudly along with information about the industry’s 17th-century roots in the town.