South Touraine with the family

From 2 to 6 years old

Get your little ones on board a horse-drawn carriage for a 45-minute ride in Loches and Beaulieu-lès-Loches! Pony trekking should also go down a treat and is available in many of the riding centres in the South Touraine.

Visit La Duterie Farm in Beaumont-Village where the family can discover daily life on a working countryside farm. Children will also love the petting farm Cactus & Agaves educational farm with approximately 200 animals from around the world. The mini farm, Ani'Maurice in Neuilly-le-Brignon, allows the family to discover a variety of farm animals and to taste yoghurt made on the premises.

Enjoy a local goat's cheese tasting session at either the Limouzin Frères Farm or at the organic goat farm, Cabri au Lait goat farm, where the children can also feed the goats. When it comes to dessert, discover the secrets of lollipop making as well as other confectionery at Hallard's in Loches.

From 7 to 11 years old

Together discover the Royal City of Loches. Enjoy a virtual visit of the keep through augmented reality. Spaces that have been modified or lost over the years are brought back to life, taking the visitor on a spectacular 3D journey to the Middle Ages, using a HistoPad©.

Bridoré with with its keep dating back to the days of the knights and Betz-le-Château with its underground hideaways full of mystery are two of the many beautiful châteaux in Southern Touraine that offer fascinating guided tours.

Encourage your budding young detectives to join a treasure hunt in Loches where the clues are hidden across the town! Then move on to Montrésor in search of treasure. Download the free "South Touraine Explorer" app, chase after trolls in South Touraine whilst discovering the wonderful villages of Descartes and Le Grand-Pressigny at the same time. Use the same free app in the  Tours-Preuilly Forest to find your way out of the maze.

Apprentice archaeologists can travel back in time in the Claise valley, which has been populated for at least 200,000 years! They will discover the Museum of Prehistory where they may be able to take part in an archaeological workshop, learn how to craft flint tools, or make fire without matches.

Lansyer Museum, , located in the heart of Loches, helps visitors understand the techniques used by a landscape artists during the 19th century. Children can make their own oil paints, paint with a knife or appreciate artwork through hands-on games.

Combine a stroll with a drawing activity by heading to the Pas aux Anes Lake in the lovely Loches Forest.  At various spots along randocroquis® trail it is possible to stop and recreate drawings on the themes of water, forest, and heritage using the observation panels as drawing tables!

Enjoy another moment together at the Papilio Workshop workshop in Petit-Pressigny learning about mosaic techniques.

For an indulgent family experience visit the world of Cadeau et Chocolat in Manthelan and discover the art of chocolate making hands-on. 

Enjoy a stroll with the family through Loches Forest and admire the numerous centuries-old oak trees throughout the forest, or discover the incredible site of the Chartreuse du Liget (former Carthusian monastery).

In summertime, walk around the lake in Chemillé-sur-Indrois before diving into the water for a swim.

The Prairies du Roy interpretation trail in Loches is an opportunity to discover the fauna and flora typical to wetlands. In the Louroux Lake, an ornithological station has been set up around the lake to observe nesting and migratory birds. 

And, finally why not introduce your children to fishing on one of the "family" approved sites across the Southern Touraine?

From 12 to 16 years old

Start off with an invigorating trip through the forest on an off-road electric scooter. Laughter and fresh air guaranteed! For the more sporty-minded, head to Clic'Lac, , the treetop adventure park and fly high over the lake on a giant zip line. Find out just how nimble you are as you test your skills on the various courses suspended 12 m above the ground. To cool down, take the Indre or the Creuse in a canoe or or on a stand-up paddle.  

A great way to discover the South Touraine is on a bicycle. The Greenway, which weaves its way along the river Claise from Descartes to Tournon-Saint-Pierre has a wealth of hidden treasures to discover, such as, charming villages, castles, public gardens and so much more. 

Naturéo water park in Loches has a 25m indoor pool for lane swimming, a leisure pool, large paddling pool for young children, water slides, and an innovative natural outdoor pool that doesn’t use chlorine products or UV filters. There is also a beach volleyball court, making this an ideal choice for a family day out.