Camping with children in Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur

Wonderful wide landscapes dotted with purple lavender or vines, forest-covered mountains with idyllic valleys and the clear Mediterranean Sea with its gentle lapping waves. In this dreamlike destination, parents and children can enjoy the countless swimming opportunities, explore nature by bike and take advantage of the leisure activities for young and old at the campsite.

Destinations

At Esterel Caravanning, holidaymakers can count on plenty of leisure activities for young and old, a comfortable pitch and a view of the Esterel mountains. Children up to the age of ten can let off steam in the indoor swimming pool with paddling pool. Older children can look forward to the extensive water park with slides and other play facilities. Nearby is Agay Bay, where you can splash and swim in the sea water. In high season, there is a daily entertainment programme as well as a baby, children's and teenagers' club. Other activities include a skating rink, squash court, table tennis, guided hikes and much more. Families in particular who want a certain level of luxury when camping with children in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur choose a caravan pitch with a private sanitary unit, personal fridge and whirlpool. For even more well-being, you can treat yourself to a massage directly on site. Camping La Baume - La Palmeraie is also a true family paradise. There are six swimming pools here, three of which are heated and two of which are covered. An extensive water playground with slides and many other colourful attractions will make children's hearts beat faster. In high season, there are free daily entertainment programmes and a mini club. While the children are professionally looked after and kept busy at the campsite, parents can enjoy some time for themselves: you can relax in the whirlpool, book a massage or work out in the fitness room. In the evening, the adults can head to one of the two bars or the on-site disco.

Top tips

• Fancy a region like the Wild West? To the north of Nice, take the winding roads to the idyllic village of Guillaumes. This is located on the edge of the impressive Mercantour National Park and is therefore ideal for nature-loving families.
• When camping with children in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, we also recommend the island of Porquerolles. Wild flamingos can be observed on the crossing to this region - a highlight for the whole family. The beautiful beaches with turquoise-blue, clear bays are perfect for snorkelling. Here, parents can keep an eye out for starfish and octopus with the little ones.
• Another real insider tip is the Verdon Gorge - the largest gorge in Europe. The section between the municipality of Castellane and the Lac de Sainte-Croix is particularly worth seeing. Children will also be impressed by the steep slopes.

Activities and excursions

In addition to the inviting campsites in the southern French region, the maritime surroundings also offer numerous excursion options for young and old.

City trips for the whole family

If the adults would like to spend a day or two of their camping holiday sightseeing in one of the multifaceted cities in the south of France, they can rest assured that the children won't miss out either. In the capital Marseille or in the popular harbour city of Nice, there are plenty of excursion destinations that are not only interesting for the grown-ups, but also for the little ones. In Marseille, families should definitely make a detour to the child- and youth-friendly Préau des Accoules museum. Another destination is the La Girafe theatre, which regularly puts on puppet shows, while in Nice, the botanical gardens and the Phoenix Parc Floral de Nice zoo with its exotic plants and rare animals are well worth a visit. The Promenade du Paillon is also popular with families, as there is a splendid playground with slides, a merry-go-round and much more - all free of charge.

Adventure excursion to herds of cattle and horses

Between the town of Arles and the sea lies the Camargue National Park, where Brigitte and Jean-Claude Blanc's farm is located. Not only is rice grown here, but bulls and horses are also bred. The life of the herds can be learnt about and observed at first hand. The Blanc family's farmhouse is one of the oldest in Camargue, so you can also savour a traditional meal in the old wine cellar.

A boat trip on the Mediterranean

Many child-friendly campsites in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur are located on or near the beach, which is why seaside activities are particularly popular. A guided boat trip takes you to bays, caves and quiet coastlines. The impressive limestone cliffs of the Esterel massif are also scrutinised. You can swim and snorkel at one of the quiet seaside spots.

Events

When camping in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, it's great to take part in interesting events. Many events are also exciting for children.

January

• Monte Carlo Rally: Sports-loving families won't want to miss this event in Monaco.

February - March

• Fête du Citron: artistic sculptures made from citrus fruits and talented musicians mesmerise young and old for twenty days at the festival in Menton.

May

• Pilgrimage: A procession of Sinti and Roma takes place in Saintes Maries de la Mer.

December

• Christmas village: Place Masséna in Nice hosts a magical Christmas market throughout December with delicious food, a skating rink and many other entertainment programmes.