Centre-Val de Loire is the garden heart of France, home to the greatest concentration of Renaissance châteaux in the world, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a wine tradition spanning six major appellations along the Loire River.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Zoo de Beauval
Rated among the best zoos in Europe, Zoo de Beauval houses giant pandas Yuan Zi and Huan Huan, white tigers, hippos, gorillas, sea lions, koalas, and a spectacular tropical greenhouse with free-flying birds. A 28-hectare site with multiple themed areas including African savannah, North American prairie, and Asian habitats. Night visits in July–August. Walk-up queues in peak season can exceed 2 hours — online booking with timed entry is essential.
Duration: Full day (6–8 hours)
Price: Adults €37 (~$40), children 3–11 €29 (~$31), under 3 free. Pre-book at zoobeauval.com
Château de Chambord
The most iconic Loire château, with François I's famous double-helix staircase, a spectacular roof terrace of 365 chimneys and turrets, and a 5,400-hectare forested estate. Children enter free at any age. Rowing boats and bikes are available for hire at the château entrance for exploring the estate after the interior visit. The vast grounds and moat make an excellent family afternoon.
Duration: Half day to full day
Price: Adults €17 (~$18); under 18 free. Book timed entry at chambord.org
Clos Lucé and Leonardo da Vinci Park, Amboise
Leonardo da Vinci's final home contains a basement museum of 40 full-scale working models of his inventions — giant catapults, armoured vehicles, hydraulic pumps, flying machines, and self-propelled carts that children can interact with. The surrounding park has life-size outdoor machines and holographic tableaux set among mature gardens. One of France's best hands-on educational experiences for children aged 5–15.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Price: Adults €17.50 (~$19), children 6–15 €12 (~$13), under 6 free. Book at vinci-closluce.com
Château de Chenonceau
The most visited Loire château, stretching across the Cher river on a 60-metre gallery of arches. The richly furnished royal apartments, the rivalry between Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and the château's wartime use as a hospital bridge from occupied to free France all make compelling stories for older children. Formal French and Italian gardens, and boat hire on the Cher in summer.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Price: Adults €16 (~$17), children 7–18 €12.50 (~$14), under 7 free. Book at chenonceau.com
Parc des Mini-Châteaux, Amboise
Forty-two Loire châteaux at 1:25 scale set in 2 hectares of formal gardens with a miniature Loire river and working model trains. An excellent orientation before visiting the real châteaux; children hunt for favourite buildings while parents plan their itinerary. Musical evening shows with illuminations and fountains in July–August.
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Price: Adults €15 (~$16), children 4–14 €10 (~$11), under 4 free. Check mini-chateaux.com
Château de Cheverny — Tintin's Moulinsart
The real-world model for Tintin's Château de Moulinsart has a permanent exhibition with life-size Tintin characters and original Hergé artwork. The château maintains a pack of 90 Poitevin and English hunting hounds — the daily kennel feeding ceremony at 16:30 (and sometimes 11:00 in summer) is one of the Loire's best free family spectacles. Flat formal gardens and a boat-hire pond.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Price: Adults €13.50 (~$15), children 7–14 €9.50 (~$10), under 7 free. Book at chateau-cheverny.fr
Loire à Vélo Family Cycling (Amboise to Blois)
The Loire à Vélo network connects all the major châteaux on flat, signposted paths through vineyards, villages, and riverside meadows. The Amboise to Blois section (40 km) is the most scenic — passing Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire and its Festival des Jardins. Point-to-point hire with drop-off in Blois is available, so families do not need to retrace their route. Child seats, bike trailers, and e-bikes are available at hire points in Amboise and Blois.
Duration: Half day to full day
Price: Towpath free to use; bike hire €15–€25/day (~$16–$27); e-bikes €30–€45/day (~$33–$49) from Détours de Loire, 35 Rue Nationale, 37400 Amboise (Tel: +33 2 47 30 04 04)
Aquarium du Val de Loire, Lussault-sur-Loire
One of France's largest freshwater aquariums, with 10,000 fish of 300 species — European sturgeon up to 3 metres in length, giant arapaima, piranhas, electric eels, and a Loire river hall showcasing native species. Touch pools and regular feeding demonstrations. An excellent choice on a hot afternoon or rainy day, located 5 minutes by car from Amboise and directly on the Loire à Vélo route.
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Price: Adults €14 (~$15), children 3–14 €10 (~$11), under 3 free
Hot-Air Balloon over the Loire Valley
Dawn hot-air balloon flights above the Loire châteaux are among France's most magical family experiences — drifting silently over Chambord, Chaumont, and Chenonceau as the Loire mist lifts. France Montgolfières operates departures from Amboise, Chenonceau, and Chaumont-sur-Loire. Flights are weather-dependent and must be booked weeks in advance in July–August; cancellations are rescheduled at no charge.
Duration: 1-hour flight plus 30 minutes preparation and landing celebration with a glass of Loire wine
Price: €200–€250 per person (~$220–$270); family of 4 approximately €800–€1,000 (~$880–$1,100). Book at france-montgolfieres.com or call France Montgolfières +33 2 54 32 08 11
Réserve Zoologique de la Haute-Touche, Obterre
A 400-hectare zoological reserve managed by the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, specialising in large threatened species: European bison, Przewalski horses, giant African antelopes, aurochs, and tapirs in vast semi-wild enclosures. Visitors explore on foot or by tram on a 6 km circuit. Admission is a fraction of Zoo de Beauval's price and the experience of seeing animals in near-wild conditions is genuinely impressive.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Price: Adults €10 (~$11), children 4–12 €7 (~$7.60), under 4 free
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes
An 18th-century manor house with manicured gardens, spacious family suites, and direct Loire river views. A 5-minute walk from Clos Lucé and 10 minutes from Château d'Amboise. Children are welcome; the walled garden is ideal for post-château unwinding. Address: 34 Quai Charles Guinot, 37400 Amboise.
Where: Amboise
Novotel Tours Centre Gare
Reliable family chain hotel with indoor pool, family rooms sleeping four, and a children-eat-free breakfast policy. Central Tours location is excellent for Loire cycling, day trips to Chambord (55 km), Chenonceau (35 km), and Cheverny (60 km). Children under 16 stay free in parents' room. Address: Place du Général Leclerc, 37000 Tours.
Where: Tours
Camping La Citadelle, Amboise
Three-star campsite in Amboise with mobile home rentals, a children's play area, a pool, and easy access to the Loire à Vélo cycle path. Walking distance from Clos Lucé and Château d'Amboise. A practical, affordable family base for visiting the main Touraine châteaux. Address: Rue Chaptal, 37400 Amboise.
Where: Amboise
Château des Arpentis
A genuine 15th-century château-hôtel with outdoor pool, 4 hectares of grounds, and family suites. Located 5 km from Amboise in countryside. Children are welcome; the pool and gardens offer genuine relaxation after château visits. Address: 4 Rue d'Amboise, 37530 Limeray.
Where: Limeray (Amboise area)
ibis Blois Centre Château
Reliable, affordable family hotel in central Blois, walking distance from the Château Royal de Blois and the Loire. A practical base for Chambord (20 km), Cheverny (15 km), Beauval (50 km), and Chaumont-sur-Loire (20 km). Family rooms available. Address: 3 Rue Gallois, 41000 Blois.
Where: Blois
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Ask for le menu enfant at every brasserie and crêperie — it is almost always available for €8–€12 (starter or main + dessert + soft drink) even when not displayed on the board
Crêperies are the universal family dining choice in the Loire: galettes (savoury buckwheat crêpes) and sweet dessert crêpes are affordable, universally child-accepted, and found in every Loire town from Chartres to Sancerre
Tarte Tatin — the upside-down caramelised apple tart invented at the Hôtel Tatin in Lamotte-Beuvron (Sologne) — is the definitive Loire dessert and universally loved by children; order it warm with crème fraîche
Rillettes de Tours (slow-cooked pork spread) on a baguette is the best child-friendly Loire picnic ingredient; buy a jar from any charcuterie or market stall for €3–€5 (~$3.25–$5.50)
Saturday markets in Tours (Place du Grand Marché), Blois (Saturdays), and Amboise (Sunday mornings) are excellent for assembling Loire picnics: goat's cheese, rillettes, baguette, local strawberries, and pastries
Always request une carafe d'eau (free tap water) for children at restaurants — it avoids €3–€4 per soft drink and is always available by law in France
Pain au chocolat and croissants from a boulangerie (open from 7:00–7:30) are the ideal budget family breakfast at €1.20–€1.80 each — better quality and significantly cheaper than hotel breakfasts
Children generally eat free at French hotel breakfast buffets under age 12 — confirm the exact age limit when booking, as policies vary between chains
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Build downtime into every day — over-scheduled kids melt down faster than tired adults.
Carry snacks, water, and a small first-aid kit at all times.
Many attractions offer discounted family tickets — ask at the ticket window.