Combine fun, history and nature in Northern France, where an amusement park and a fairytale castle are among the top French tourist attractions for families.
Only a short hop across the Channel, Northern France is among the best places around for family weekend breaks, offering the perfect chance for fun and relaxation as well as the opportunity to learn about French culture and to immerse yourselves in nature, soak up some fresh air and just breathe…
Spend precious family time together during a day out at a fantastic amusement park where attractions include historical shows, explore a truly breathtaking castle familiar from a popular TV fantasy-drama, and escape from daily routine with an energising bike ride and a rustic picnic in the heart of one of France’s largest and most scenic forests.
Theme-park fun near Paris: A Cowboys and Indians style adventure at the Mer de Sable
Only an hour or so north of Paris, the Mer de Sable sits in the midst of glorious natural surroundings on the threshold of the Forêt Domaniale d’Ermenonville. With attractions and immersive experiences across three worlds – Aux Temps des Pionniers re-creating the Wild West, the colourful La Jungle and a Mexican land – it’s perfect for all ages.
As well as fun and thrills, you can learn about world history as you undertake adventures such as flying through time aboard El Condor to the time of the Aztecs. Tots love the gentle rides such as the merry-go-round and Péroké, which takes you flying like a parakeet through the Jungle of the Chipakas. Meanwhile, older children enjoy riding the waters of the the Cheyenne River and the Rivière Sauvage, hopping aboard a wild Jeep safari and riding the Tiger Express rollercoaster. Other must-dos include watching the fabulous spectacles, which include beautifully choreographed Wild West horseback stunts and acrobatics, Apache dressage techniques, a dune train-attack and unique street performances.
Merlin's Castle at Pierrefonds: free entry for children
After a day at an amusement park, head to Pierrefonds, in this wonderfully quiet part of France. A visit to the Château de Pierrefonds – one of the most marvellous of France tourist attractions – provides the perfect contrast but is no less fun for all the family. Familiar to many from the BBC blockbuster Merlin, the castle is a true fairytale structure straight out of every child’s fantasy. Rebuilt by Viollet-le-Duc for Napoléon III, it boasts a moat and drawbridge, arrow-slits and eight soaring towers, each of which is dedicated to a different knight.
Kids are free to run around and explore, spotting the sculptures of medieval monsters and grimacing gargoyles (make sure to come prepared with paper, pens and modelling materials to reproduce them) and fighting imaginary dragons in the grounds, which are dotted with life-size models of catapults. Fans of Merlin also love identifying rooms where scenes were filmed. With older kids, don’t miss the spooky display of old statues in the former dungeons. Afterwards, head for the great-value ice-cream shop at Sundae right opposite the castle.
As well as offering fun in the form of swan-shaped pedaloes on its lake, mini-golf and an array of child-friendly places to eat, Pierrefonds is the ideal jumping-off point for family bike-rides in the adjoining Forêt de Compiègne – a vast swathe of gorgeous green space that was once a royal hunting ground and later played a pivotal role in World War I (the Armistice was signed here). Among France tourist attractions, it’s second to none.
Picardie Forêts Vertes provides bike hire for all the family (including trailers for those with very young children and electric bikes), while the forest’s safe way-marked routes – one of which starts out from Pierrefonds itself – take you past fishing lakes and to treetop adventure courses designed for different ages. Pack a picnic using ingredients you’ve picked up in one of Pierrefonds’ excellent bakeries to eat on the banks of the tranquil little lake of the Etang de Sainte-Périne.
