European countries such as France make an amazing camping holiday for the family. Here’s the top 10 things to do in the Bourgogne region with kids.
If you’re planning to take your family camping in France, then the Bourgogne-Franche Comte region has a lot to offer you. From Besan on to Montbeliard, from Belfort to Dole, there are some beautiful old cities to visit, and a whole host of days out, attractions and activities to keep the little ones happy.
If you’re thinking of visiting the Franche Comte region, we offer a great choice of campsites to discover right here on Campsited.
10 Best Things to Do in the Bourgogne Region with Kids
Read on for our top 10 picks for the best things to do in the Bourgogne Region with Kids.
1. Make a Splash at the Water Park
Dole is one of the four main cities of the Franche Comte region, and was its capital until 1674. It is the birthplace of Louis Pasteur, one of the most famous names in Franche-Comte history, and has many beautiful 17th and 18th-century buildings. None of which is going to keep the kids happy!
Fortunately, just a few miles south of Dole is Aquaparc Isis, a waterpark that is guaranteed to provide hours of fun. There is a 7-metre high slide, and even an Olympic size swimming pool, but as well as the slides and pools, the site also offers paintball and tennis if you prefer to stay dry. And if you stay at Flower Camping Les 3 Ours, the water park will be one of your closest attractions.
2. Take a Tour of the Touroparc Zoo
You might not expect to discover elephants, lions and giraffes in the Burgundy region, but if you take a visit to Romaneche-Thorins you can find all of those and more at the Touroparc Zoo. There are over 140 different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles to see, including spectacular white tigers, hippos and a variety of monkeys and apes. As well as the zoo there are also some traditional funfair rides including a carousel, trains and a monorail, so there is plenty here to keep kids and adults occupied for several hours. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s even a waterpark on the site too offering several slides to suit all ages.
3. Kayaking in the Gorges De La Loue
If you like the water, but prefer staying above the surface, then kayaking might be just the thing. Running through Ornans, the Loue Valley is a beautiful place through which to paddle. Akila Gorges de la Loue offers not only kayaking, but also dragon boat racing, electric cycling, rock climbing, caving, white water rafting and canyoning.
There is also an acrobatic park with rope bridges, trapezes, cable bridges and zip wires and it claims to be the highest tower course in the whole of France. With activities ranging from the sedate to the white-knuckle, you’ll find something to please every member of your family, whilst having plenty of opportunities to make many, many jokes about going to the Loue!
4. Have an Adventure High in the Forest
How do you make a nice walk in the forest even more exciting? By doing it up in the treetops of course! The Acropark at Le Ballon D’Alsace is a forest trail with a difference. You must traverse a series of treetop activities such as zip wires and rope bridges, allowing you to see the forest from a brand new point of view.
There is a huge 150 metre long zip wire and an even more enormous 900 meter motorised zip wire which you hang beneath in a comfortable seat as you soar across the landscape. There is also the option to learn how to walk a tightrope, although thankfully this is only a foot or so off the ground and not in the treetops! And for those of you without a head for heights, you can still have fun at ground level by taking part in a spot of zorbing.
5. Take Your Family Camping in France and Travel Back in Time
If you want to learn about Franche Compte history, then it makes sense to start at the very beginning, with a visit to the land of the dinosaurs at Cardo Land. The tour begins with a short film about the history of the park, and its creator, Cardo himself.
There is a museum with real fossils on display, and the park itself contains more than 80 sculptures of dinosaurs and prehistoric man, which are accompanied by 800 different sound effects. The tour finishes with a fabulous light and sound show in a mysterious cave. There is also an archeological dig for the smaller family members. There is even a show with a moving and roaring velociraptor. It’s as close as you will get to Jurassic Park outside of the movies.
6. Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls – Stroll Among Them
Seeing one waterfall is a wonderful experience, but seeing 31 waterfalls is on a whole different level. The Cascades du Herrison offers you exactly that; by taking a 3 hour hike you can visit no less than 31 beautiful waterfalls in this listed natural heritage site. There is a visitor’s centre at the base of one of the many waterfalls, with information on the valley, the waterfalls and legends that are attached to them. There are three exhibition rooms and also a short film about the site.
A family pass is available for only eight euros. This is considered one of the must-see attractions in the whole of the Franche Comte region and something you will not want to miss.
7. Take a Tour of a Theme Park – on a Steam Train
Based in Le Creusot in the Burgundy region of France, Parc Des Combes has one attraction that even Alton Towers can’t rival: a steam train that travels right throughout the park. You’ll also get spectacular views and see bridges, gorges and waterfalls along the route. As for the park itself, it boasts rides to suit all ages, from the thrills and spills of the Boomerang rollercoaster and knee-shaking Vertingo, to the more sedate hot air balloon ride and river of barrels.
There’s even a summer toboggan run, a 10m high zip line, and the 40m high Canad’R ride. And if rides aren’t your thing, why not have a go at the chocolate egg hunt? There are also hiking routes, mountain biking trails, and some spectacular viewpoints.
8. A Beautiful Beach Miles from the Sea
If you’re missing the sea, not to worry. Plage du Grand Lac de Clairvaux is a beach on the shores of the Grand Lac in the Jura department. The lake is a beautiful turquoise green and is a popular site for bathers, but there is also the option to try canoeing, windsurfing, riding a pedalo or even some fishing.
There are diving platforms and a small playground to keep the kids entertained. During the summer months, there are lifeguards in attendance, and the water remains shallow for a good distance from the shoreline which makes it the ideal place to take the whole family. The beach itself is golden sand so if you don’t fancy the water you can always relax in the sun.
9. Take a Walk Through the Prehistoric Franche Comte Region
If the 80 dinosaurs of Cardo Land weren’t enough to satisfy all your dinosaur cravings, there are more than a hundred to be found at Dino-Zoo in Charbonnieres-Les Sapins. A two and a half kilometre stroll through the thirty-acre park surrounded by beautiful forest will take you past scenes of human prehistory as well as many, many dinosaurs.
There is plenty of audio interaction too and some of the dinosaurs will even move! You can learn how to do cave painting, try out the hunting weapons used by early man, or even learn how to start a fire the truly old-fashioned way. There is also a Dino Race ride and a 4D sensory movie about evolution. It’s the perfect day out for younger kids whilst being educational for the older ones too.
10. Some of the Best Views in Franche Comte Are to Be Found Below Ground
Not far from the picturesque town of Besan you can find the Grottes D’Osselle, or Osselle Cave. The cave boasts extraordinary rock formations that have formed over thousands of years, and appear in a range of stunning colours, from green, red and blue to grey and orange, all thanks to their different mineral content.
The cave has flat floors and concrete walkways so is perfectly suitable for the whole family to explore. In the 1970s, an amazing discovery was made in the caves; the skeletons of 15 giant bears who lived in the cave over 50,000 years ago were found. Thankfully it is very unlikely that you will find any giant bears still living in the caves on your visit!
Booking campsites in the Bourgogne Region
If you intend to take your family camping in France, then you really should consider the Bourgogne-Franche Comte region. As you can see, there are a wide range things to do in the Bourgogne Region with Kids to satisfy the needs of the whole family.
If you’re itching to start planning your trip, then why not check out the great Franche Comte campsites we have available on Campsited, book yours today and start checking on the best things to do in the Bourgogne Region with Kids during your camping trip.
