点评:After travelling around Anglesey for a week with two impeccably behaved Hungarian Vizslas, I was really looking forward to visiting Caernarfon Castle. Instead, I was greeted with a blanket “no dogs” policy and turned away.
The irony wasn’t lost on me. This is a castle that has survived wars, sieges, rebellions, invading armies, centuries of Welsh weather, and over 700 years of history. Built by Edward I to withstand determined human attacks, it now apparently needs protecting from two calm, well-trained dogs on leads.
Somewhere, I imagine a committee spent hours deciding that a dog quietly walking beside its owner poses an unacceptable risk to a medieval fortress made of thousands of tonnes of stone. Quite an achievement.
What’s particularly disappointing is that many people holiday in North Wales with their dogs. Responsible owners spend money in local cafés, pubs, shops and attractions. To drive all that way only to discover you’re not welcome because you have a dog feels completely out of touch with modern tourism.
Thankfully, the town itself is lovely and many local businesses were far more welcoming than the castle.
The castle is undeniably magnificent, and its history is fascinating. Unfortunately, its visitor policy belongs in another century. Perhaps it’s time Cadw reviewed whether common sense could make an appearance alongside the medieval history!
翻译:在安格尔西岛上与两只举止温顺的匈牙利维兹拉犬一起游览了一周后,我满心期待着能参观卡纳封城堡。然而迎接我的却是“禁止带狗入内”的规定,我只好悻悻而归。
这一讽刺的现实让我感慨良多。这座城堡历经战争、围攻、叛乱、外敌入侵,扛过了几个世纪威尔士的恶劣天气,也见证了700多年的历史。当年爱德华一世建造它正是为了抵御人类的猛烈进攻,如今它却似乎需要被保护,以免受到两只乖巧温顺的狗狗的“侵扰”。训练有素且系着牵引绳的狗。
可以想象,某个委员会花了好几个小时来判定:一只乖乖跟在主人身旁行走的狗,会对这座由数千吨石头砌成的中世纪堡垒构成“不可接受的风险”。真是了不起的“成就”啊。
最令人失望的是,很多人都会带着自己的狗到北威尔士度假。这些负责任的狗主人会在当地的咖啡馆、酒馆、商店以及景点上花钱消费。大老远驱车而来,结果却因为带了狗而不被欢迎,这种做法完全背离了现代旅游的理念。
值得庆幸的是,这座小镇本身非常迷人,许多当地商家也比那座城堡友善得多。
那座城堡确实宏伟壮观,其历史也引人入胜。可惜的是,它的游客政策还停留在另一个时代。或许是时候让Cadw考虑一下:能否在传承中世纪历史的同时,也引入一些常理与常识呢!