蜜芽传媒

At the medieval town of Bayeux, Michael Portillo heads for the Bayeux Tapestry Museum to admire the striking 70-metre-long work of art commissioned to record William the Conqueror鈥檚 claim to the English throne and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

On the Normandy coastline, from which William launched his invasion, Michael recalls the D-Day landings of 1944. Crossing Gold Beach in a 1943 Willys Jeep, Michael hears how the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare unfolded. He is moved to visit the beautifully kept Bayeux War Cemetery, where 4,600 of the dead are buried.

Close to Argentan, Michael reaches the Versailles of horses, France鈥檚 300-year-old national stud, the Haras du Pin. He tours the magnificent estate in a splendid carriage pulled by a pair of Normandy鈥檚 emblematic Percheron horses, before enjoying a taste of competitive carriage driving at the World Championships.