Bayeux (bah-yuh; pop. 28,000) may be most famous for its 900-year-old tapestry narrating William the Conqueror’s victory over England, but the lively city offers more than historical needlework. After narrowly escaping the devastation of WWII and surviving both Nazi occupation in 1940 and Allied liberation in 1944, Bayeux today retains its charming architecture and a resplendent cathedral. The city’s Old World atmosphere, pleasant—if slightly touristy—pedestrian byways, and manifold D-Day tour operators cater to a map-toting middle-aged crowd, but Bayeux makes an equally appealing base for younger travelers looking to tour WWII sites.