Knights at the Chateau de la BarbenNestled 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.

booking.com logoClick here to book a hotel in the La Barben area

There's a fair bit to see at both these attractions, so you might want to visit them on separate trips to avoid an exhausting (and expensive) day out.

Rearing dramatically up out of the surrounding greenery, the large, rugged mediaeval Château de la Barben once belonged to Good King René, a noted 15th century monarch. It is the oldest and reputedly the most beautiful castle in Provence.

Previously owned and managed as a stately home by the Pons family, the Château was bought in 2019 by a young investor and entrepreneur, Vianney d’Alençon.

He has transformed it into something much more ambitious: a huge theme park with a provençal theme. It has been renamed the Rocher Mistral after the Nobel Prize-winning provençal writer Frédéric Mistral and opened in 2021.

The Chateau de la BarbenInspired by Puy du Fou, an historical park in the Loire Valley, this 30 million €uro project includes a reproduction traditional hilltop village and a provençal market. But there is much more to it than that.

The Rocher Mistral claims to offer "a unique Provencal immersion in a thousand-year-old castle. An incredible journey through the history of Provence from the eleventh century to the present day through breathtaking shows."

Actors stage thrilling costume tableaux starring historical figures from the region with a strong emphasis on kid-friendly entertainment. The performances are in French, but there are notes in English to guide you through the stories.

The vast, 400 hectare / 990 acre grounds feature vineyards, beehives and olive and almond groves, in a drive to promote local biodiversity. You'll find local farm animals too: merino sheep from the Camargue and Le Rove goats from Southern Provence.

The Rocher Mistral also retains the Château's lovely park in the formal French style designed by André Le Nôtre, who created the gardens at Versailles.

Both the gardens and the Château are illuminated at night, and there are also son et lumière shows.

The Château itself is totally renovated and you can tour the interior, with its original furniture and decor. It's partly accessible for visitors with restricted mobility.

There is a restaurant, guinguette (traditional provençal open-air bar) and picnic area, and a small children's playground.

The nearby Zoo de la Barben, the largest in south-east France, has several hundred animal species from around the world on display, among them giraffes, elephants, lions, panthers, tigers, cheetahs, pumas and ostriches, as well as a reptile house, an aquarium and an aviary.

Lions at the Zoo de la BarbenThere are opportunities to meet the keepers and organised activities for children as well as a play area. A recent addition, demonstrations of falconry and birds of prey are held throughout the day (see the website, below, for details).

The zoo is set on a rather steep hill, but ramps enable families with push-chairs to avoid the long flight of steps.

Alternatively you can take a little train up the slope (for a small extra charge in addition to the entrance fee); mobility scooters are also available for disabled visitors.

You might well feel the need for them: the zoo at La Barben covers 33 hectares / 81.5 acres, with 9 km / 5.5 miles of paths.

It would take a a minimum of two hours to tour it (a map is supplied at the entrance), but four hours would allow you to do it at leisure, including a lunch break.

The animals can get sluggish and sleepy in the provençal midday heat, and, if your own cubs are flagging, this is a good moment to chill out in a shady picnic area with benches and tables at the upper part of the zoo.

A café sells drinks, sandwiches, ice-creams and other light snacks and microwaves are available for you to heat up food.

Where: Rocher Mistral, Château de la Barben, 13330 La Barben. Website for the Rocher Mistral.

The Rocher Mistral closes for the winter between early November to Easter.

Zoo de la Barben, Route de Château, 13330 La Barben. Tel: (+33) 4 90 55 19 12. Fax: (+33) 4 90 55 27 75. Website for the Zoo de la Barben.

The Zoo de la Barben is open all year round.

Both the Rocher Mistral and the zoo have parking areas.

If you are planning to rent a car, please consider our comparison search engine for all grades of hire car from Smarts to 4x4s and limousines.

Powered by our affiliate partner, it will instantly compare the current rates on offer from all the major suppliers at your chosen location to ensure you get the best deal.

 

RELATED ARTICLES

 

Main Menu