Have fun, learn something new and get together – Touraine offers a vast playground for unforgettable experiences to share with the whole family. Discover the selection from the Tours Val de Loire Tourist Office!
Saint Cosme Priory - ©Stevens Frémont
Egg hunting is a tradition we love (especially when we find them!). Many venues across Touraine are opening their doors to you – don’t miss:
Domaine de Candé - © Stevens Frémont
For budding animal lovers and botanists, three workshops are sure to catch your eye!
Saint Cosme Priory - © JC Coutand ADT Touraine
The Prieuré Saint Cosme, a haven of peace just a few kilometres from the town centre. Here, you can make a macramé lantern to add a bohemian touch to your home (indoors or outdoors). Suitable for ages 10 and over, and open to adults too!
Practical information: Rue Ronsard, La Riche – Mondays 13 and 20 April – Prices: €10, concessions €9
Cité Rétro-Mécanique - Musée Maurice Dufresne - ©JC Coutand ADT Touraine
For children aged 6–10, the Cité Rétro-Mécanique in Azay-le-Rideau is running a ‘solar car building’ workshop. Over the course of an hour, they will build a cardboard solar car to take part in a friendly race.
Practical information: 17 route de Marnay, La Cité Rétro-Mécanique, 37190 Azay-le-Rideau, France – Wednesdays 8, 15, 22 and 29 April at 3pm – Price: €8 per child
Treasure hunt - © JC Coutand ADT Touraine
Clémentine, a local from Tours and cultural facilitator, invites you to join a 2½-hour treasure hunt, suitable for children aged 5 and over, to discover the city in a fun way. Put your phones away – everything is done using a physical game kit that must be booked in advance.
Practical information: Every weekend from 11 April. Tuesday to Sunday during the spring, summer and autumn holidays. Price: hire from €40 for 2 players, then an additional €7 per player. For more information: vadrouilleriesetcie.fr
Guided tour of Old Tours in costume
Hear ye, hear ye! Step back in time with an immersive guided tour led by Noémie, a tour guide who, dressed in period costume, plays the role of the daughter of a former militiaman who set off on the Crusades in the early 13th century. With her, you’ll explore the old Martinopole district of Tours and challenge preconceptions about the role of women in medieval society. A historical and entertaining tour suitable for all ages.
Montbazon Fortress - © David Darrault
Many châteaux in the Loire Valley offer programmes tailored to young visitors and beautiful grounds to explore. Special mention for:
Touraine Aquarium - ©JC Coutand ADT Touraine
Setting off from the Museum of Fine Arts (a chance to say hello to Fritz the elephant!), this 45-minute carriage ride takes you from the city’s historic districts to the banks of the Loire and offers three different routes.
€1.80 per person – Free for Fil Bleu subscribers – Tuesday to Sunday, May to September – Departure from the Museum of Fine Arts, 18 Place François Sicard, Tours
The holidays are the perfect time to take a break and visit a farm to learn more about this world. Le Vazereau and the Cabri-au-lait, for example, reveal the secrets of their goat’s cheese to the general public. In the south of the department, head to Ani’Maurice, where over a hundred animals have found a home.
In the heart of the Loire Valley, near Amboise and Chenonceaux, hop aboard the little train at the Beaumarchais Reserve for a journey right up close to the animals. Deer, wild boar, fallow deer, mouflon and even bison await you! Extend the experience at the Auberge by enjoying a lunch featuring local produce, 100% homemade.
Beaumarchais Reserve in Autrèche - €9.80 per adult and €8.30 per child, free for under-4s - Information and timetables at reserve-de-beaumarchais.com - Accessible to people with reduced mobility
Did you know you can go sled dogging in wine country? Latitude Nordique invites you to try your hand at cani-karting or cani-hiking with Siberian huskies, and even to meet and interact with the pack – after a briefing, of course. Unforgettable memories guaranteed!
In Braslou, 1 hour from Tours - latitudenordique.fr
Spend a few hours admiring over 5,000 marine animals and don’t miss Nemo in the tropical zone or the white sharks in the immersive tunnel! To round off the experience, try the ‘caretaker for a day’ workshop (for ages 6 and over) to learn how to look after the animals with a professional caretaker, or opt for a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium (booking required).
Les Hauts Boeufs, Lussault-Sur-Loire - aquariumdetouraine.com
Lulu Parc - ©Alex Oz
This spring, Touraine invites you to combine nature with fun:
BattleKart
Bouncy castles, ball pits and slides await young adventurers at Youpimom’ or Kizou Aventures. In the centre of Tours, Virtual Xperience offers virtual reality escape games set in various worlds, from Egyptian pyramids to Notre-Dame de Paris, as well as 360° exploration tours of the ocean to raise environmental awareness among the youngest visitors.
Older children can become warriors of the future at EVA, the first e-sports venue where teenagers can enjoy a thrilling experience in a 400 m² virtual reality space (ages 12 and over). For all ages, head to Arkose where the intrepid can try their hand at bouldering, or Battlekart where you’ll race around a go-kart track immersed in the world of the famous plumber Mario.
For all ages, go wild on the trampolines at New Jump! Featuring play areas, basketball hoops and giant foam pits, this indoor park lets you let off steam without fear of injury.
Museum of Fine Arts - ©JC Coutand ADT Touraine
In the heart of the city, the CCC OD (Olivier Debré Centre for Contemporary Creation) opens the doors to contemporary art in all its diversity through games, workshops and hands-on activities tailored to young visitors. Storytelling and creative workshops, as well as fun-filled tours, are run by the centre’s guides all year round.
Take a journey back in time with the family across the four floors of the Museum of Fine Arts! Until 1 June, the exhibition ‘In the Time of Camille Claudel: Being a Sculptor in Paris’ offers a programme designed to appeal to a wide audience, including art through music for toddlers, immersive experiences in Claudel’s studio for 8–11-year-olds, and talks exploring the artist’s thinking.
At the Musée du Compagnonnage, young and old alike are invited to discover the craftsmanship of the Compagnons du Devoir through a collection of over 400 masterpieces on display and regular activities centred on the collections.
At the Natural History Museum, young explorers will immerse themselves in the flora and fauna from all corners of the world by observing stuffed animals and fossils. Not to be missed: the temporary exhibition ‘Drôles de bêtes’, running until 3 January 2027.
A little further on, the Grand Pressigny Museum of Prehistory traces the evolution of humankind and its ways of life over 200,000 years. It’s a real paradise for budding young archaeologists, who are sure to be amazed by the life-size mammoth and can step back in time through introductory sessions on Neolithic pottery or the making of musical instruments.
Practical information: All the workshops mentioned require booking. Entry to the museums in Tours is included in the Tours City Pass.
Bar à Mômes - ©JC Coutand ADT Touraine
Hybrid venues, terraces with play areas or cafés designed for everyone: five places where children are treated like royalty… and parents can truly relax!
Just a stone’s throw from Place Plumereau, this café offers a cultural programme dedicated to young audiences. Parent-child music workshops, world dance, storytelling, theatre… every month, new surprises await you!
Tuesday to Saturday - 59, Rue du Commerce
On the banks of the Loire, in the heart of the city, this unique open-air café puts children first. Games, entertainment and a secure play area are provided for them, whilst parents soak up the summer atmosphere. A cheerful and relaxed spot, perfect for making the most of family days out.
Wednesday to Sunday - Quai de la Loire, at the foot of the Wilson Bridge
Here, café and play area are one and the same. Designed with families in mind, the space offers activities tailored to little ones whilst parents gather round for a homemade snack. The bonus? An indoor play area with separate rooms for toddlers (0–4 years) and even a sandpit on the terrace!
Tuesday to Saturday - 25, rue des Déportés
Its two city-centre locations offer trendy, vibrant spaces where you can settle in and paint on ceramics whilst enjoying a hot chocolate and a pastry. The concept? Choose your item (cup, plate, plant pot, etc.), decorate it on the spot and collect it four weeks later. An ideal activity to keep your teenagers occupied!
Le Zeste Créatif, open Friday to Sunday, 45 Rue de la Scellerie
Le Zeste Beach & Brunch, open Wednesday to Sunday, 39 ter Boulevard Heurteloup
Halfway between a community space and a creative haven, Casa Tutti brings together activities for children, parents and adults: yoga, belly dancing, English lessons, fitness classes… all in a warm and inclusive atmosphere. Planning an event? The venue is also available to hire for birthday parties or workshops.
Monday to Sunday depending on the programme – 1, rue du Maréchal Lyautey











