Family adventure at Parc Asterix near Paris and a visit to Camelot
Near Paris, treat the kids and create shared memories at the Parc Asterix with family and adrenaline rides, then discover a fairytale medieval castle and explore a spellbinding forest by bike.
Fun at Parc Asterix
Parc Asterix, in Northern France, is handy for those travelling to or from the ferry / Eurotunnel port of Calais and has also its own exit off the A1 Paris–Lille.
Parc Asterix is unlike any other theme park in the world – therein lie both its strength and its charm. Based mainly on the famous Astérix stories but also embracing historic cultures – the Romans, ancient Greeks, Vikings and Egyptians – it assures visitors a dose of history along with their belly laughs… Don’t miss the shows, which include a fabulous Gauls versus Romans ‘Match’ in the Arena, featuring a hilarious dance-off.
Despite its Gallic theme, Parc Astérix is accessible to all, with English spoken by staff throughout, together with buggy parks, highchairs and kids’ menus for young families.
The best eatery is the outlandish, fruit-and-vegetable themed Restaurant du Lac serving the Gallic and Roman likes of wild boar brochettes and Julius Caesar salad.
Stay overnight to make the most of the park: it has three hotels each with a unique atmosphere in the heart of the forest, a 5-minute walk from the attractions. The latest offers total immersion in the city of Lutèce (the Roman city where Paris now stands) from the Astérix comic book series. “The Quais de Lutèce hotel [a 4-star property] is centred on several majestic buildings that surround a reconstruction of the Seine,” reveals Guy Vassel, Deputy General Manager of Parc Astérix. “At the centre is a cheerful and colourful city, to the west is a rural area where craftsmen used their skills, and to the east is the era’s industrious and hard-working river transport.
Dungeons, dragons – and deer... A visit to Camelot
A short drive away, the Château de Pierrefonds, which doubled as Camelot in the BBC’s Merlin, is another great place to take kids for some learning dressed up as a thrilling day out – it comes complete with grotesque gargoyles, sculptures of medieval monsters, old dungeons to explore and even life-size model of catapults in the grounds.
Market days: The main market in Pierrefonds is on Friday mornings and there is also a traditional country market on the first Sunday of the month.
The Forêt de Compiègne is an ideal spot for outdoors activities for children
There’s plenty to entertain the family in Pierrefonds itself, including swan pedaloes on the lake and a safe waymarked cycling route taking you into the heart of the stunning Compiègne forest with its wonderful wildlife.
Convenient but also fun and atmospheric accommodation in wooden structures in a green setting in the middle of the forest right beside the park. Added bonus: VIP access to the park in the morning, half an hour before it opens to the public. Direct bus service from Paris.
