Family FriendlyOur Family-Friendly section suggests some ideas from the very wide range of things for children and families to do in Provence. For ease of reference, we are dividing the region into areas within roughly a 40 minutes' drive from Marseille, Aix en Provence and Avignon. Click here for guides to things to do with kids within Marseille, Aix, Arles, Avignon and Toulon themselves. Click here to book a hotel in Provence
The Préau des Accoules is a museum and exhibition space designed especially for children in a beautiful building in Marseille's Old Town: a former Jesuit college dating back to the 18th century.
Here's the sort of miniature world that kids love, with a unique provençal twist: a display of 200-odd clay figurines acting out quirky scenes from Marcel Pagnol's life, books and movies. The pleasures of Aix en Provence - wine, art, history, culture - are mostly rather adult ones. But this book set in the city aims to bring Aix alive for children aged from 8 to 12. Nestled in lush countryside a half hour's drive from Aix, the village of La Barben offers an enticing package for children: a Château and a zoo. A 40-minute drive north-west of Aix, Grimmland (formerly the Park of Giant Labyrinths or Le Parc des Labyrinthes Géants) claims to be the biggest planted maze in Europe.
Some 250 motorbikes are on show in this educational and enjoyable museum dedicated to the art of speed, from 19th century prototypes to futuristic racing machines.
A cowboys-and-Indians themed family amusement park, OK Corral sits in a large pine forest between Marseille, Aix en Provence and Toulon.
An enormous park a short bus or metro ride from Central Marseille, the Campagne Pastré has something for children of all ages, from a tree-top adventure park and riding school to hiking trails.
A pretty astonishing edifice in its own right, the Palais Longchamp also has a excellent range of family attractions clustered around it.
The bohemian-chic Cours Julien district of central Marseille is a perfect place to explore with children.
In winter the renowned Alexis Gruss circus tours France with its latest show. But in May the company moves to its own park in Provence to offer a unique, full-day, behind-the-scenes family experience. If you are looking for an alternative to the usual characterless American-style theme parks, the Écomusée de la Forêt (Forest Ecomuseum) could fit the bill. These two large, adjacent play parks, one outdoor, one indoor, are an ideal destination for families with small children.
This large indoor play centre on the edge of Marseille opened in 2010, shortly after the very similar Gulli Parc and Urban Kids, both near Aix en Provence. And, like them, it has been a great success. |
NewAix en Provence fêtes the graphic novel
Bacchus: Toulon's spring wine festival
Marseille's coast road goes car-free!
Van Gogh Immersive comes to Marseille!
Spring in Provence: better than Paris!
Andalusia comes to Avignon this month. Olé! ! New show announced at the Quarries of Lights
New art highlights in Provence this winter
Damien Hirst show at the Château La Coste
New farmers' market on Marseille's Old Port
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