Château de Chargé is pleased to welcome our younger guests. On site, children can have fun in the swimming pool and play with the many toys and games provided both indoors and outdoors. There are a number of attractions catering for children of all ages in the area and we keep our file regularly up to date with everything from quad biking to cycle hire, zoos to theme parks.
Here is a snapshot of ideas :
- Sur Le Piste de l'Enfant Roy : Many of the region's Chateaux have a special series of entertainments during the school holidays including games, mazes and challenges designed to allow children to understand what life would have been like for children living in ages past.
- Velo Rail : a stretch of disused railway has recently been rendered useable again to riders on the Velo Rail. Each Rail Bike takes up to four people including two peddalling and lets you explore a stretch of track from St Lazare to La Roche Clermault taking in the view along the way.
- Zoo de Doué : about 50 minutes' drive through Saumur to Doué will bring you to this rare breeds zoo housing rhinos, giraffes, monkeys and many more besides. The restaurant overlooks the giraffe enclosure so it's worth getting a table on the terasse on a sunny day!
- Messing about on the river : the Vienne flows through the centre of Chinon and there are numerous companies that provide organised hire for water activities including boating, kayaking, fishing.
- Cinema : for the latest releases you'll have to head to Tours, about 40 minutes' drive, but the local cinema in Chinon has a varied family programme.
- Mini Châteaux : miniature reproductions of the famous Loire Valley châteaux set in beautiful gardens, includes a maze, costmued guides and opportunities for children to experience the lives and costumes of the era.
- Aquarium du Val de Loire : an aquarium experience with something for all ages : part is dedicated to the species found in the Loire river including a touching pool and a 30 metre walk through tunnel. There are also more exotic species including sharks and tropical tanks.
- Theme Parks : Parc de la Vallee at Massais boasts over 30 attractions including water rides and water slides, while Futuroscope at Poitiers (1 hr by car) has plenty to entertain the big kids as well as the small ones.