Pet-Friendly Attractions in Caen

William the Conqueror's 11th-century ducal fortress, 5.5 hectares of ramparts, gates, lawns and the Salle de l'Échiquier exterior. Free entry to the grounds 24/7. Leashed dogs welcome on all outdoor areas; the Musée des Beaux-Arts and Musée de Normandie inside are closed to dogs.

Romanesque abbey founded by William the Conqueror in 1063, where he is buried. The Saint-Étienne facade and the classical 18th-century cloister gardens that adjoin the Hôtel de Ville are open to leashed dogs free of charge. The abbey church interior is closed to dogs.

Bayeux, miraculously untouched by WWII bombing, packs a 1066-era Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, half-timbered old town and the leash-friendly riverside walk along the Aure with its watermills. The Tapestry Museum (the actual Bayeux Tapestry) closes its interior to dogs, but the cathedral exterior and the entire old town are dog-welcoming.