Have you ever been on holiday and had to leave your pooch at home? It’s not a great feeling, is it? Your dog is part of the family, so they should be a part of your family holiday. When you travel with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, you’ll never have to leave them at home again! We’re one of the UK’s best-loved pet travel services, with over 1 million happy pets having travelled with us so far. As well as helping guests get from A to B, we love sharing our knowledge of France and beyond, including where’s best to explore with your dog. This autumn, go outdoors and explore France with our guide.
The beautiful Parc de la Tête d’Or. © Flickr user Tracey Hind
France has some truly wonderful parks, some of which are dog friendly, and some of which are not. One of our favourite dog-friendly parks is Parc de la Tête d’Or, a large urban park in Lyon. Opened to the public in 1861, the park has a pretty rose garden, which has more than 16,000 rosebushes, an impressive botanical garden, a lake, and even a zoo. There are plenty of open spaces for your pooch to run around, and lots to keep you and your family busy, including mini go-karts, pony rides, a tourist train, and a carousel.
Parc de la Tête d’Or is located in Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
Omaha Beach
Take your dog for a walk on Omaha Beach. © Flickr user ho visto nina volare
If you think that the beach is only for summer, then we’re here to prove you wrong. France has loads of great beaches that you and your family, including your dog, will love. Like parks, beaches in France have different rules when it comes to your four-legged friend. Omaha Beach, which was keenly fought for on D-Day, allows you to bring your pooch, but you must keep them on a leash at all times. This five-mile, sandy beach has a special memorial to the troops and there’s a bunker that you can visit as well.
Omaha Beach is located near Sainte-Honorine-des-Perte in the Normandy region of France.
Bois de Vincennes
Paris’ Bois de Vincennes. © Flickr user alainlm
Although there are plenty of parks in Paris, it’s important to check which ones allow you to bring your pooch. Some have special dog areas, some ask you to keep your dog on a leash and some don’t allow dogs at all. Bois de Vincennes, on the eastern edge of the city, is Paris’ largest park and it’s dog friendly, too. It has a beautiful English landscaped garden, a botanical garden, a horse-riding track, four lakes, a zoo, a velodrome, and more. autumn is the perfect time to visit, as the summer crowds have been and gone.
Bois de Vincennes is located in the 12th arrondissement in Paris.
Parc du Mugel
Listed as one of France’s “Jardins Remarquables” (Remarkable Gardens of France), Parc du Mugel is undeniably beautiful. It’s made up of various gardens that feature all kinds of exotic and native plants, a children’s playpark, a picnic area, and not one, but two beaches. The park is located on the edge of La Ciotat’s calanque (steep-walled inlets, dotted along the Mediterranean coast), which is why the park has several pretty beaches. There’s so much to see in the park that you could easily spend a whole day just exploring with your pooch.
Parc du Mugel is located in La Ciotat in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France.
This autumn, go outdoors with your dog
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