If you’re planning a family trip to France and are considering Provence but think it might not be right for your kids, let me let you put all your worries at rest! Provence is a fantastic place to visit, with many different things to do with kids! Although Paris is a big draw for people coming to France for the first time, it is a big, busy city. And while this means there is no shortage of activities, it can be overwhelming for little travellers.
If you’re looking for someplace, that is more laid back and yet still will introduce your kids to the wonders of France, you should check out everything there is to see and do in Provence! There is truly nothing like experiencing the Provencal way of life with your kids, from wandering the outdoor market and sampling the freshest fruits and vegetables to exploring the ruins of an ancient castle that will bring history to life right before your eyes. There truly is something for everyone. And for those travellers who want to split their time between Paris and Provence, you can get a TGV train from Gard du Nord into Provence in less than 3 hours!
So, don’t delay. And start dreaming of your perfect trip to Provence with your little explorers. Here are my favourite recommendations for the best activities for kids in Provence!
- #1 Explore the Exciting Outdoor Markets
- #2 Hike into the Ochre Quarries of Rousillon
- #3 Discover the Ruins of the Château des Baux-de-Provence
- #4 Take an Exciting E-bike Tour
- #5 Canoe Along the Pont du Gard
- #6 Solve the Intrigue Dans la Ville
- #7 Step Back in Time inside the Rocher Mistral
- #9 Try out a Provencal Pastime
- #10 Take a Workshop inside the Musée de la Lavande
#1 Explore the Exciting Outdoor Markets
One of the first outings I recommend doing with the kids upon arriving in Provence is hitting a local market. Preferably one near your home base. This is the best way to introduce the kids to exploring a new city before diving into a big touristy town. I always recommend going to one of the smaller markets over the busy ones in larger cities. While the Sunday Market in Isle-sure-la-Sorgue is amazing, it can be overwhelming with so many people. And the little ones are bound to get swallowed up by the big crowds.
Interacting with the Locals
And don’t think the smaller markets are anything to look down on. Even the most humble market in Provence is a fantastic place for kids. Here they can learn, just by looking, about all the different kinds of Provencal produce. Foods are unique to this part of the country.
And there will be a lot of opportunities for them to interact with the local vendors. In my experience, the vendors loved interacting with kids. They would come out from behind their booths and stalls to show off their produce. They would even slice into melons and give them apricots to try! I think the kids ate more samples than real meals throughout the trip! One of their favourite finds was a lovely woman who made freshly pressed apple juice from her nearby orchard. The kids adored her version of “special apple juice!“
And our kids really got a kick out of being in charge of the cash and doing all our transactions. They loved working out the math and studying the different coins and bills we would use in the market. In Canada, cash is also becoming almost obsolete, so that was a novelty all in itself.
Afterwards, Go for a Provencal Picnic
One way we got the kids engaged with a visit to the market was to help us pick up all the different elements for a little picnic. I created a scavenger hunt printout where the kids could mark off each element of the picnic as we went along until we had everything we needed for a beautiful Provencal spread! Included in our checklist were the following:
- Saucisson (cured sausage)
- Baguettes
- Cheese
- Fruit (whatever was in season)
- Jam
- Juice
- Nuts
- And Olives (for the adults, of course)
- Chicken and Fries/Potatoes (almost all markets have rotisserie chicken cooked and ready to eat!)
Provence is chock-o-bloc with incredible picnicking options. And, of course, you can seek out those iconic viewpoints and vistas that make for the most picturesque picnic spots. But we often preferred whatever was close by to the markets. This meant we could eat up quickly as the kids were starving after salivating at the food in the market all morning. We often packed a small, foldable picnic blanket, but often we ended up in the park.
The parks in Provence were exceptional. The one in Saint-Remy has playscapes designed to look like owls, bats, and all different animals! And best of all, they had big tables for us to eat at. So the kids could run around and play after eating while the adults just lounged around and casually snacked on all the collections of goods we found that day.
#2 Hike into the Ochre Quarries of Rousillon
The city of Roussillon is nestled in the beautiful countryside of the Luberon. But this city really sets itself apart from the rest as it is surrounded by these remarkable ochre cliffs. These magnificent geological formations showcase vivid colours ranging from deep reds to vibrant yellows, creating a surreal and enchanting environment. One of the best ways to get up close to these amazing formations is by hiking along the “Sentier des Ocres,” the site of the former ochre quarries of Roussillon.
They call it a “hike,” but it’s much more of a leisurely walk. There are two routes, the short walk, which takes 35 minutes and the long walk, which takes around 50 minutes. There is an entry fee of 2.50€ per person to walk through the Sentier des Ocres, but you don’t need to make reservations in advance. The trail is open every day from February to December. As you walk along, stop with the kids and read the various interpretation boards you pass by. Each one explains the geological landscapes, how these unique formations were made, and how the quarries mined them for their rich materials.
After your short hike, you should head into the town. Picnics are prohibited along the trail, so a trip into town is a great place to grab something to eat. In addition, the little village is a charming and welcoming place. With houses painted the same ochre colours as the hillsides you just explored. After lunch, stroll through the vibrant alleys, where kids can discover unique artisan crafts and local products made with the clay they found in the quarries.
#3 Discover the Ruins of the Château des Baux-de-Provence
Perched atop a rocky outcrop in the Alpilles mountains, watching over Provence, are the great ruins of the Château des Baux-de-Provence. Entering this medieval fortress is like stepping into a world frozen in time. Your kids can run around this amazing 10th-century castle, sneak into the dungeons, explore the ancient castle chapel, walk around the crumbling Saracen Tower and learn about the old troglodyte houses.
From the ramparts, you can gaze out over the vast Provençal landscape, stretching as far as the eye can see. The panorama lets you take in the rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and quaint villages. Creating a breathtaking backdrop that adds to the castle’s allure. Because the castle is open to the air, lacking roped-off areas that you might expect in a normal museum, it feels like you are an explorer discovering these ruins. Instead of a load of placards, your admission includes an audio guide which gives you live commentary on the history of the Château. And more specific information about the Lords of Baux and what life would have looked like in the Middle Ages inside the castle.
Special Events & Activities
During the summer and holidays, the castle holds different special events for kids. This includes archery lessors, war machine demonstrations, a stonecutter workshop and even a working blacksmith. These special activities are included if you buy the activities admission ticket.
Throughout the year, there is also an Escape Game. This game teaches kids all about the history of Château des Baux-de-Provence while having fun! In teams of 2 to 6 people, you lead the investigation and explore the remains of the castle. You must discover the mysteries surrounding the last will and testament of the Princess of Les Baux. Kids solve a series of riddles and challenges to solve the mystery. Although they say, it’s age +12, with some adult help, even younger kids will be able to participate in the game! The game costs an addition €5 in addition to the entrance ticket.
Hours and Admission
The Château des Baux is open every day, all year round. January, February, November, December: 10am-5pm | March, October: 9.30am-6pm | April, May, June, September: 9am-7pm | July and August: 9am-7.30pm
Admission: Adults €8 without special activities €10 with special activities | Seniors €7 without special activities €9 with special activities | Children (7-17 years old) €6 without special activities €8 with special activities | Free for children under the age of 7
#4 Take an Exciting E-bike Tour
Now that we’ve settled into life in Provence, it’s time for a real adventure! One of the best ways to explore the stunning Provencal landscape is on a bike. There is nothing like being able to smell the countryside, stop easily on the side of the road to soak up a gorgeous view or just admire the changing scenery without being obscured behind car windows. But if you’re like me, you can’t imagine how people possibly have the strength to bike up those steep hills to reach those picturesque perched villages. Well, the answer is an e-bike.
What is an E-bike?
An e-bike, short for electric bike, is a bicycle that is equipped with an electric motor. It combines traditional pedal power with this motor to provide varying levels of assistance, depending on the rider’s preference. Whenever you feel like you need it, you can turn up and down the motor to assist with propulsion. There was no better feeling when the hill would start to get steep than the feeling of the motor kicking and your bike simply soaring like it was nothing up the steep hills.
Renting e-Bike in Provence
We knew the kids would love this activity, and happily, we found a company that could accommodate the kids. Sun-E-Bike, at their location in Bonnieux, set us up with a bike trailer for the 6-year-old. The trailer was so roomy, and we referred to it as his personal Provencal chariot.
The older 8-year-old is really tall for his age, so he was above the weight limit for the child trailer. Thankfully, even though I hadn’t considered this, they quickly sorted us out with a tandem bike he could ride with his dad. Riding the tandem bike was great since the kid didn’t have to do any work. But he got to experience the entire trip just like the rest of us! If your child is going to ride tandem, even if they don’t need to make much of an effort, they must know how to ride a bike. That way, they feel comfortable peddling and keeping their balance on the back of the bike. The kids had a BLAST on the ride! The little one who rode in the trailer brought his colouring books and wasn’t bored every minute.
Going with a Guide
We also booked a guide for the day (or an accompanist, as listed on their site), who was one of the best parts of the experience. Having her lead us, we didn’t need to worry about using a map or ensuring we were on the right road. Instead, we just followed behind her like a flock of sheep.
We rode an astonishing 37km without breaking a sweat! Passing through all different small hilltowns and perched villages. The kids would scream in excitement as we saw various animals on the side of the road. And they enjoyed spotting the colourful flowers in bloom as we went. We even found a roadside cherry grove and snacked on fresh cherries plucked right from the tree! We stopped at a boulangerie to pick up sandwiches and drinks and picnicked under the plane trees. Definitely make reservations in advance. We had already done so, but when we showed up, I saw a few people get turned away who didn’t.
#5 Canoe Along the Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard is a remarkable ancient Roman aqueduct located near the city of Nîmes. It is considered one of the most well-preserved and impressive examples of Roman engineering and architecture anywhere in the world. The Pont du Gard was crucial in providing fresh water to Nîmes during the Roman period. It remained in use for centuries until the fall of the Roman Empire. Over time, the aqueduct system fell into disrepair, but the Pont itself survived relatively intact.
Introducing kids to these Roman sights is a fantastic way of making history come alive. This structure is unchanged from when it was first built, and it really makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time without a trace of the modern world around you.
Renting a Canoe along the Gardon River
And while visiting the historic site and the nearby museum is a great option for the kids, an even better way to explore the Pont du Gard is along the water. We rented canoes from Canoe Collias, just 15 minutes from the Pont du Gard historic site. You can park your car in their parking lot, where you pick up your rental canoes.
Although called “canoes,” the boats were more like a cross between a canoe and a kayak. They were sturdy, made of heavy plastic, and used double-sided ores to paddle along the river. After signing your rental agreement, a member of the Collias crew will help sit you and the kids for lifejackets and give you a very short crash course on how to paddle down the river. If someone in your group has some experience in canoeing, this will be a big plus since most of us were newbies and probably could have used a little more guidance. But luckily, my dad knew what he was doing, so with a few lessons from him, we were quickly on our way. The kids sat in a three-person canoe, primarily controlled by their dad at the back. The rest of us sat in two-person canoes.
Courses along the Gardon River
We opted for the 8km Pont du Gard course. This was rated as a beginner course which takes about two hours to complete without stopping. The journey took us 2-hours, but that was going at a pretty fast pace. We arrived at the end of the day and needed to hustle to ensure we arrived at the pickup spot by 5pm, their last pickup of the day. I would advise leaving yourself 3 hours or more for your journey. This way, you can take ample breaks along the way.
You canoe down the Gardon River, passing through the massive Gorges Des Gardon. This canyon was carved out by the river Gardon, and this spectacular landscape is one of France’s most impressive geological sites. From the start of the course, you will canoe for about an hour and a half before passing right underneath the enormous three-tiered Pont du Gard. After passing under the Pont du Gard, you continue for about 30 additional minutes, where you will spot the endpoint. From here, you are met by a member of the Collins crew who drives you back to your car. This was a huge plus, as you don’t need to worry about paddling back.
Picnic on the Gardon
Each canoe is paired with a watertight barrel to place your belongings inside. If you plan in advance, you can aim to bring some picnic food and supplies. That way, when you arrive at the stunning Pont du Gard viewpoint, you can simply pull your canoe over to the side of the river and stop for lunch. There is also a small beach where you can swim if the weather is warm enough! A great way to cool down. Just be sure your canoe doesn’t float away…
The kids could do their fair share of paddling, but their favourite part of the experience was just being on the water. They loved spotting the different flora and fauna we came across. There were grey herons, eagles flying overhead, beavers nibbling wood offshore and lots of perch and pike swimming under our feet. And although our arms were certainly tired at the end of the journey, it had all been worth it for our amazing experiences along the way. Be SURE to wear lots of sunscreen and large-brimmed hats to keep the sun off. Bring lots of water and pack some towels in the watertight barrel to dry off if you get wet.
Prices & Info
Location: 194 Chemin St Privat | 30210 Collias (with Private parking, Toilettes and changing rooms)
Prices: 25€/Adult | 19€/Young Adults from 13 to 17 years old | 13€/children from 6 to 12 years
#6 Solve the Intrigue Dans la Ville
My nephews love a good scavenger hunt! They are obsessed with solving riddles and figuring out context clues. So when I came across Intrigue Dans la Ville, I couldn’t believe such a perfect thing existed in Provence. “Intrigue dans la ville” is a game designed for families that offer entertaining and educational puzzles set within various Provencal villages. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, revolves around a fictional historical crime in the village. You receive a suspects pack with beautifully illustrated pictures of the people suspected of the crime. You must explore a town to crack the mystery and solve the various game puzzles. Hidden in plain sight are clues. And throughout the game, you will learn more about the town’s history. As you unravel the game’s various enigmas.
Where can you Buy Intrigue de Ville?
You can pick up the game package for Intrigue de Ville at the Tourist Information Centre in whichever village you choose to explore. There are over 22 destinations across Provence where you can find unique puzzles. Each with its own storyline and investigation unique to the specific city. Right now, only two spots offer an English version of the game; Vaison-La-Romaine and Avignon. You can check their website to find the participating villages’ list.
The game cost €12, but I would have paid twice as much! This wasn’t some cheap printed PDF. The game came in an adorable cloth pouch and contained a detective booklet, an illustrated set of suspect cards, a historical town map, a personalized pencil, and a letter introducing the mission to the players. The additional contents of each game are different depending on where you play. In one town, we received a mirror required to solve different puzzles. And your kids even get a little button that designates them as investigators!
You can take the game at your own pace, but we found that with breaks for food and exploring, we spent about 3 hours playing. Once you complete the game, you discover the guilty suspect. And reveal a three-digit code. You then return to the tourist office and open a safe using the 3-digit code to see if you captured the correct suspect. If you solve it correctly, your kids will get a certificate as a souvenir! If the tourist office is closed when you are finished, you can always punch in the code online to see if you got the right answer.
Do You Need to be able to Read French to Play?
As mentioned above, the game is currently only available in English in two cities in Provence. The rest of the cities only have French versions available. We did two different investigations, one in Saint-Remy and one in Merindol. Both my brother and I took French immersion in school, but it’s been ages since we read French daily. So while we knew how to read some French, we mainly used Google Translate‘s Google Lens function to translate the live text. This worked absolutely perfectly! Albeit, maybe it took us a bit more time than if we had an English version.
If you happen to be in a town where they only have the French version, don’t let that put you off. If you have mobile data, you can definitely get by using Google Translate. But if you want to do the English version, that just gives you more direction of where to visit. If you have kids aged +6, this is an absolute must!
#7 Step Back in Time inside the Rocher Mistral
One of the most exciting and undiscovered things you can do with your kids is to take them to the Rocher Mistral. When I first found a brochure on this park, I was a bit skeptical. I hadn’t heard anything about it anywhere online and had been doing extensive research. Turns out, deep in the heart of Provence, is a historical park specifically for kids!
Rocher Mistral is located inside the thousand-year-old castle of La Barben. The ancient castle was only open for adult, historical guided tours for years. But in 2021, the castle was transformed into a children’s theme park where your kids can journey through time! One of the reasons I think this park is less popular with tourists is because the park is primarily geared towards French speakers. But for English-speaking customers, you can pick up specific flyers at the entrance to the park with all the information and maps in English! Each of the shows also has a sign in front explaining the story.
New for 2023, there are audio guides available in English and German on request! And even without understanding the language, the action speaks for itself for the most part. I would just avoid the Puppet show or Theatrical Stage Shows, are these are primarily speaking performances. Stick with the immersive experiences, stunt shows and exploration throughout the castle grounds.
There are three different kinds of admission tickets you can purchase. You can buy a ticket for a day visit or the nighttime show. There are also combination tickets that allow you to experience an entire day’s worth of activities.
The Shows
During the day, you can experience ancient revolts and booming cannon fire. From exhilarating stunt shows and sword fights to comedic performances and mesmerizing dance routines. The castle is an incredible hub of amusement!
As twilight descends upon the castle of La Barben, a magical hour dawns. Their 2023 immersive light show plunges you into a Napoleonic epic. At dusk, at the foot of the castle in the magnificent French-style gardens, stories and figures of the past come to life! The set design, sound and lighting effects are almost on par with Disneyland-like experiences.
Each performance or walkthrough is about 20 minutes long. Actors tell the stories of the castle and of Provence through these performances. All the actors speak French, but there are English cards outside the attractions that give you an overview of the performance you’ll see.
You can also tour various historical parts of the castle, including the castle apartments, the chapel and the old kitchen. Here you’ll find original artifacts, furniture and decor in the family for over 500 years!
What is there to Eat?
For those wanting to spend the day at the castle, they allow you to bring in your own food. But there is also a restaurant inside called the Auberge Daudet (reservations recommended) and a more casual marketplace called La Guinguette de Marius, where you can find many kid-friendly meals. The food is excellent quality and very reasonably priced.
There is also an adorable Provencal market selling products from local craftsmen in the marketplace. These producers are heirs to centuries-old know-how! There is also a small traditional French carousel which kids can ride for free. If you have some downtime, there is also a boules field where kids can try their hand at this Provencal game.
Hours & Admission
Location: Chemin de la Baou, La Barben, France
Hours: Open April-November. Check their website for the most up-to-date schedule of events. Close through the week during the off-season.
Admission: Day Ticket: Adults 25€ (advance purchase) / 28€ | Children 6-12 19€ (advance purchase) / 22€ | Children under 5 are FREE | Night Ticket: Adults 19€ (advance purchase) / 22€ | Children 6-12 15€ (advance purchase) / 18€ | Children under 5 are FREE | Day + Night Ticket: Adults 36€ (advance purchase) / 39€ | Children 6-12 26€ (advance purchase) / 29€ | Children under 5 are FREE
#9 Try out a Provencal Pastime
Pétanque, also known as boules, is probably the sport that Provence is best known for. In North America, we call it bocce. But this game is more leisurely and languid than exhausting. In every town, even the smallest village, you’ll find the Boulodrome. The boulodrome is a large, flat, sandy or gravelly area, usually under shady trees. It’s here where locals gather to play their daily round of boules. The game is fairly simple, making it perfect for kids to learn and play!
How to Play Boules
The game can be played one-on-one (called “tête-à-tête”), in teams of two players each (known as “doublets”), or in teams of three players each (called “triplets”). The game begins when a player from one team throws “the jack” (a smaller ball, usually in a different colour) to a desired location in the playing area. The aim of the game is to get your large metal balls (the boules) closest to the jack to score points. The same player who threw the jack throws their first metal ball. Attempting to get it as close to the jack as possible. The opposing team member then tries to throw their ball closer to the jack or to knock the opponent’s ball away.
The game continues with alternating throws between the teams until all the balls have been thrown. Points are awarded to the team with the ball closest to the jack. In some game variations, additional points can be scored for each ball of the same team closer to the jack than any of the opponent’s balls.
Where to Play Boules
If you’re staying in a holiday rental home, be sure to ask in advance if they have a boules or a Petanque set in the house that you can borrow throughout your stay. Some tourist offices also rent them out in larger cities. But if you head down to the local Boulodrome, you might also find that locals will happily invite you to play along with them, which is great fun! This kind of game can easily be played without a shared language. And it’s a fantastic way to meet your neighbours.
If you’d prefer to make a day of it, there are some great guided experiences around Provence where you can play boules with a professional! You will not only play the game but also learn all about the sport’s history and how to become a master of the sport! Food and drink (pastis for the adults) are served alongside the game, and a commemorative trophy will be offered to the winning team. It’s a great way to really get immersed into Provencal recreation.
#10 Take a Workshop inside the Musée de la Lavande
There is no more iconic flower (and scent) that links your travel memories to Provence more than lavender. Deep in the heart of the lavender country, you’ll find the Musée de la Lavande. This museum offers visitors a captivating journey into the history of lavender, its cultivation, and its various uses over the years. It also houses a small exhibition space that showcases lavender’s cultural significance in Provence. From the minute you arrive at the museum, you’ll be swallowed up by the soothing scent of lavender. Visiting the museum during the summertime is also a great way to give your kids the opportunity to get up close to this brilliant plant!
Lavender Workshops
And while adults might love the museum, some kids might be slightly less enthused. But, recently, the museum has introduced workshops for kids to help them get hands-on with using and understanding the power of lavender. All workshops require general admission into the museum, although kids under 10 are FREE.
The most accessible program for all ages is their personalized lavender sachet workshop. This activity is so much fun. Each child gets to choose their own fabric wrapping to create their sachet. Then they can create a personalized mix of aromatic herbs to fill the sachet. Of course, lavender is the star scent, but they can mix in others like mint, rosemary, thyme and basil. These are great for kids of all ages but more suited to younger children.
But what I was most excited about was the Lavender Scented watercolour workshop! The museum has its own watercolours that have been infused with lavender perfume! These were created exclusively by the Conservatoire des Ocres de Roussillon. You can spend up to an hour painting, and an artist is on hand to guide you through the process. Painting and artistry have such a strong connection to Provence, and being able to paint scented with the very essence of Provence is a truly magical experience.
Hours and Admission
The Museum is Open every day | Museum Admission: Adults €8 | Students €7 | Seniors €7 | Children & Young Adults (11-16 years-old) | Children under 10 are FREE
Watercolour Workshops: Tuesdays and Sundays from April to May and July to September Price: Additional €3 | Lavender Sachets Workshop: Every day except Friday, July to August Price: Additional €4
Travelling the world with kids opens their eyes to so many different experiences. But it also creates a world of new adventures for yourself as well! My travels around Provence were absolutely enhanced by going with the kids. Teaching the kids about French culture and traditions brought me so much joy. And it made my heart soar to see them becoming curious adventurers who can step out of their comfort zone, try new foods, learn new languages (or at least a few words) and create last memories to look back on for years.
Let me know if you’re planning a trip to Provence with your kids and any questions you might have!
Happy Travels, Adventurers
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