In a nutshell Brittany has the longest coastline in France and is most famous for its rugged beauty and ancient traditions. The region is a Gallic mirror of Cornwall, and even has its own Côte de Cornouaille which offers lots for young families who love the seaside, food and history. Brittany does food very well, and the [...] [...more]
Charente Maritime, a coastal departement (like a county) in the region of Poitou Charente, is the sunniest part of France’s west coast (according to the French Met office). So combine the sunshine with massive sandy beaches screened by forests of pine trees, and fun seaside towns, and you have the perfect mix for a top [...] [...more]
I am a big fan of Futuroscope, which is essentially an interactive Science-parc on the outskirts of Poitiers, about 90mins from our siblu parcs in Charente Maritime. Futuroscope is the second most visited theme parc in France (after Euro Disney) and yet, it seems to me, most British families know nothing about it. The parc is unlike [...] [...more]
I often see Dune du Pyla (or Pilat, as it is sometimes spelt), written about as some kind of natural monster, gobbling up towns and roads as it slowly lumbers onwards. On the siblu website we say it is “immense, with a life of its own in a scary Triffid-type way”, and Nigel Thompson, travel editor [...] [...more]
Our Les Charmettes holiday parc recently featured on national TV news in France as a business optimistically looking forward to 2010 after so much of the country’s west coast was hit by fierce storms earlier this year. Tempete Xynthia lashed the Vendée and Charente Maritime regions in February, causing damage to those parts it hit and, tragically, some [...] [...more]
Disneyland Paris remains France’s most popular theme park, but if you want something other than huge queues and fairytale castles, there are other attractions that offer a typically French slice of family fun. Science park Futuroscope and history-themed park Puy du Fou are both located on France’s west coast, where the big beaches, friendly seaside towns [...] [...more]
Do you think of France as a brilliant beach destination? I don’t think many people do, and yet the country has a diverse coastline which makes it one of Europe’s top three ‘Blue Flag’ beach destinations. The west coast is especially good for brilliant coaches with small secret coves, golden sands at the edge of rolling [...] [...more]
I’m putting together a guide to the top 10 beaches in France. I’ve seen them described as the best in Europe, but do they really get the praise they deserve? In the running so far are the Med hotspots at Valras Plage and Cap d’Agde, the huge beaches of St Jean-de-Monts and La Palmyre, the classy [...] [...more]
For many, Normandy will forever be linked to events from World War II, and there are poignant reminders throughout the region. But a heavy history shouldn’t take away from Normandy as a fascinating holiday destination, with golden prairies and wooded valleys, hidden fishing ports and 600km of coastline. From the ultra-modern Le Tréport to the Mont-Saint-Michel, [...] [...more]
‘Gardens of Colour’ is the theme of this year’s International Garden Festival, an annual event held at the Château Chaumont-sur-Loire, close to Domaine de Dugny. The festival runs from 29 April to 18 October and is a must-see for families visiting the Loire Valley. The stunning gardens of Chateau Chaumont are world famous and the [...] [...more]
A selection of photos from our flickr account
