Familiar to many from the BBC’s Merlin, Château de Pierrefonds (near Paris) is the perfect place to break your journey south – and the surrounding former royal hunting forest a fantastic spot for stretching your legs.
Merlin's Castle
Sample the Mâchicoulis in Pierrefonds
Pierrefonds is a classic little French town with swan-shaped pedaloes on its lake, mini-golf and relaxed places to eat as a family. Sample mâchicoulis (caramel with almonds) at the Boulanger Pâtissier Bigot, or grab fresh croissants and baguettes from one of several bakeries for picnics by the lake or in the forest.
Monkey Around
There’s nowhere better to burn off energy – and excess calories! – than the Forêt de Compiègne, with bike hire for all the family (including trailers) from Picardie Forêt Verte (read an article about a family cycle route in the forest of Compiègne). Safe waymarked routes, one from Pierrefonds, take you past fishing lakes and to Grimp à L’Arb’ with its treetop adventure courses for various ages. Older children may like to cycle to the Clairière de l’Armistice, to see where World War I came to an end.