I am from Aix en Provence which is about 15 minutes away from Marseille. I love going back there to visit my family but to also show my kids and my husband where I grew up. Knowing that our kids are 6, 4, and 9 months old right now, here are a few things that we like to do in the south of France with our kids, or even without them.
Visiting castles: La Barben
Our kids absolutely love visiting castles. We have three girls, so it's all about the princesses over here. We have been to La Barben a couple times but we went for the first time after all the renovations. It is a beautiful medieval castle. Only one part can be visited with a guide. They now have a lot of shows throughout the day. They also have a provencal market with lots of souvenirs like local honey and soap. On the weekends they have shows at night. It was the highlight of our last trip. Everything is in French but my husband was able to follow most of it. For more info, visit the website https://www.rochermistral.com/en/. Going to markets: Aix en Provence My girls love going on walks, and even better if there is a market to see. The one in Aix en Provence on Le Cours Mirabeau is an all time favorite. Be aware though, it is a tourist trap. Be careful with your belongings and if you think it’s too pricey, it’s probably not worth the price anyway. Another market that we like is in front of the Palais de Justice. It is less touristy and more local. We love to buy fresh fruits and veggies there as it is mainly selling produce, but also local honey, light summer dresses, scarfs… Also if you go during Christmas, the Christmas market is a big hit and something that shouldn’t be missed!
A zoo on the hills
At La Barben there is a castle, but there is also a zoo. We have been there a couple times now. My husband thinks it’s an amazing one because the animals have a lot of spaces and don’t necessarily feel like they’re in a small cage. The zoo is very big in size, so there is a lot of walking involved. There is a little train that will take you around as well. I would suggest spending at least half a day there. They also have picnic tables and restaurants. For more info visit their website at https://www.parcanimalierlabarben.com/. The village des automates et Montopoto The outside part is an amazing park filled with animated puppets. They have themes like in the ocean, Aladdin, the ants… The kids will love it. They also have tables and a restaurant so we usually stay all day. Inside they have a playground and an amusement center for kids with another restaurant. They also have racing cars and a helicopter where you have to pedal in order to move. When it is too hot outside it’s nice to take a break and enjoy the light AC inside for a while. For more info visit their website at https://www.villagedesautomates.com/. Going to the beach Whether it is winter or summer, we always go to the beach everytime we go to France. We live in Utah, far away from any ocean, so I need my dose of sand when we go there. My favorite ones are La Sainte Croix and La Couronne, both in Martigues (near Marseille). It is not very busy and there are not a lot of tourists like in Marseille. Some other good beaches are at La Ciotat, Cassis, and Saint Cyr sur Mer. It is also a free activity that can last all day, so win win.
Visiting an island
Near Marseille, there are islands that you can visit. The most famous one is The Frioul. You need to take a boat to get there. It is a cute island with a little town filled with lots of fresh seafood restaurants. Another one that my kids loved is The Chateau d’If. The same boat will take you there as well. There is an old prison on this one that you can visit. In summer it is an escape from the heat because the “air marin” (sea air) cools you down. To book a boat tour with stop on the Frioul islands click here. To get skip-the-line Chateau d'If tickets click here. La Camargue Growing up it was the number one place for a school trip. The Camargue is a region in the south of France and is known for the pink flamingos and white small horses. Be aware of the mosquitoes in summer! We like to go to a little town called Sainte Marie de la Mer. The beach there is beautiful and there is a trail where you can bike along. If you don’t have any, you can rent the bikes there too. You can also go horseback riding on those white small horses. Of course they also have lots of seafood restaurants and especially some Paella, a traditional Spanish dish made with seafood and Spanish rice. For a guided electric bike tour in Camargue click here. Les Carrières des Lumières This takes place near the famous village Les Baux-de-Provence. If you have seen a postcard of the South of France, it is usually the village in the picture. Les Carrieres des Lumieres is a show inside a former quarry projecting arts on the walls with some music. It might sound boring saying it like this, but it was really breathtaking and peaceful. Plus it is cold inside the quarry so it was another break from the heat in summer. The girls loved it. They didn’t have to just sit and watch so they could dance if they wanted to. For more info visit their website on https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/en.
La Fontaine du Vaucluse
My kids enjoy visiting villages in the South. This one is one of our favorites. It is known for the source of the river Sorgue, a beautiful spring. There is also the paper museum, a museum that shows how to make paper out of water wheels. I love to buy paper from there as a souvenir. There is a history museum about WW2 and the Resistance. They have lots of shops that sell the santons (Provencal figurines). This village is literally a hidden gem for those who want to visit a traditional French village. La Sainte Victoire La Sainte Victoire is the name of the rocky mountain by Aix en Provence. It is very symbolic of the region of Provence. There are many hiking trails for different levels, but there is also a large grass area where people have picnics on a spring day. It is such a fun place to go to with kids if you just want to spend a simple day in the South of France. If possible, you can hike the mountain up to the top and enjoy a breathtaking panorama of Provence and the Mediterranean sea. It is definitely a must do! Those are only a few ideas of what you can do in Provence with little kids. Of course there is so much more to explore. Not that I’m biased, but Provence is such a beautiful region of France in my opinion, and a must do if you visit France one day, even with kids. Let me know in the comments if you can think of anything else to do with kids in Provence!
1 Comment
Patti Sanchez
9/21/2022 01:51:07 pm
It all sounds so lovely and enchanting!
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AuthorMy name is Melanie Ashby. I am from France and I currently live in the US. Here are some tips about traveling to France from a French and an American perspective! Archives
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