fun things to do with kids in the loire  france    
  Travel for Kids
france
   
     
    The Loire
Chateau de Chaumont
The Loire region is dotted with castles along the rivers, and it's no wonder, since the French and the English had a major tug of war over who controlled these lands, culminating in the Hundred Years' War. Here Joan of Arc lifted the seige of Orleans, the kings of France made their royal residences, and, oddly enough, Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years and was buried in Amboise. There's so much to see, kids will become castle experts from their visit to the Loire.
Eastern Loire
  Orleans – Joan of Arc
    The Sologne
    Chenonceaux Chateau de Chenonceau
    Amboise
    Tours
    More Loire Chateaux Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Rigny-Usse
Western Loire
  Fontevraud l'Abbaye – Eleanor of Aquitaine
    Saumur
    Doue-la-Fontaine
    Nantes and around
    Le Mans
    Loire River Excursions The Loire is a wonderful river for boating excursions. The river flows through a pastoral countryside, past limestone cliffs and storybook castles. Boat cruises are available from the Lac de Loire (across the river from Blois), in Tours, or Saumur.
family tours loire france

Knights in heavy armor once galloped around the Loire, but today you can pedal up to the castle gate on a lightweight sturdy bicycle. Biking through the Loire Valley is fun for everyone in the family, as you cycle along flowing rivers to fairy-tale castles. Book a tour that specializes in bike trips for families, and they'll provide all the gear for a great trip:

    Backroads
kids books loire france
     
Joan of Arc  
Joan of Arc
Diane Stanley

Joan of Arc – her youth in a country village, the great siege of Orleans (the English are sent packing), miraculous victories in the Loire. Richly illustrated in the style of medieval manuscripts. (Picture book)

 

     

Discover the lives of girls and women in the Middle Ages – girls were supposed to marry, how to behave in public ("do not scratch your head at the dinner table"), fashion and beauty (pale skin was most beautiful). Detailed historical illustrations. (Picture book)

 

 
Women and Girls in the Middle Ages
     
Life in a Castle  
Life in a Castle
Kay Eastwood

Find out what it was like to live in a castle – in war or peace, castles were busy, filled with hundreds of nobles, knights and servants, some guests were kept in the dungeon, feasts were held in the great hall (it was not polite to pick your teeth with a knife while at the table). (Picture book)

 

     

High-quality knight figure (comes with helmet, sword, shield, breast-plate) and a drawer full of goodies – sticker shield decorations (you can take them on and off), fun-facts booklet, map of castle sites, mini backgammon board (popular medieval game), plus a stained glass window in the box. (Activity pack)

 

 
Lift the Lid on Knights
     
Song for Eloise  
Song for Eloise
Leigh Sauerwein

12th century. At fifteen, Eloise is married off to an old baron, Robert of Rochefort, and goes to live in a mountain fortress. A dutiful wife, Eloise finds her soulmate in a traveling troubadour. Shimmering narrative, flowing rhythms of medieval life, like a finely woven tapestry. Fascinating teen read. (Chapter book)

 

     
The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House)
Mary Pope Osborne

The magic tree house drops Annie and Jack next to a medieval castle. The kids sneak into the castle, but when they're discovered, it's into the dungeon for them. Annie finds a secret passage, and a knight comes to rescue. (Easy reader)

 

 
The Knight at Dawn
     
Life in a Medieval Castle  
Life in a Medieval Castle
Michele Piumini, Cristina Mesturini

Wrap your hands around this delightful book, cut-out in a castle shape. Explore life in medieval castles – towers and walls, castle living quarters, knights and ladies, tournaments and sieges, armor and coats of arms, legends. Charming illustrations, and fun for younger kids. (Picture book)

 

(More children's books on other Loire and France pages)
travel for kids | france | the loire