# Family holidays in Provence Verte and the Haut-Var: what to do with children? > In Provence, the best adventures can be experienced as a family. To fully enjoy these special shared moments, Lou Calen welcomes you. Source : https://www.loucalen.com/en/family-holidays-in-provence-verte-and-the-haut-var-what-to-do-with-children/ Mis à jour : 2026-09-07 **In Provence, the best adventures can be experienced as a family. Exploring the villages suspended between sky and pine forests, crystal-clear rivers and lakes, French castles worthy of a storybook… each day promises new delights. By bike, canoe, horseback, or in a museum, children will have as much fun as excitement and amazement. To fully enjoy these special shared moments, Lou Calen hotel welcomes you to Cotignac, a charming village reminiscent of a Provençal nativity scene, nestled in the centre of Provence Verte and the Haut-Var.** ## Lou Calen, the hotel that enchants young and old alike Lou Calen welcomes families to its lush three-hectare estate, where every corner enchants and invites discovery. Even before setting off to explore the Haut-Var and Provence Verte, your children will find plenty to marvel at and have fun with at the hotel: **On-site treasure hunt:** your little explorers can solve puzzles while discovering the secrets of local biodiversity and local history. **Creative workshops:** clay modelling, ochre painting, dried flower crowns… there are so many opportunities to let their imagination run wild and even take home a unique souvenir. **Family pool area:** a lagoon-style pool, perfect for splashing around safely after a day of adventures, while parents can kick back and relax. Here, young and old alike can simply enjoy the joy of being together in a unique Provençal setting. ![espace-piscine-famille](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/espace-piscine-famille.jpg) ![famille-couronne-de-fleurs](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-couronne-de-fleurs.jpg) ![famille-dessin](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-dessin.jpg) ![Atelier de sculpture à l'argile avec Sandra à Lou Calen, Cotignac - Apprentissage des techniques de modelage à l'argile de Provence](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-modelage-argile.jpg) ![famille-canoe](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-canoe.jpg) ![Lou Calen : hôtel à Cotignac dans le Var - Équitation en Provence Verte et Haut-Var](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/evenements-professionnels-lou-calen-activite-cheval.jpg) ![famille-bateau-verdon](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-bateau-verdon.jpg) ![famille-velo](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-velo.jpg) ![famille-kayak-sainte-croix](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-kayak-sainte-croix.jpg) ## Adventures in Provence: get out there, have fun, and be amazed The Provençal region is a huge playground for active families. Your children will love spending time outdoors and discovering nature in a new, fresh way. **Canoeing on the Argens river:** with [Natur’Evasion](https://naturevasion.com/), head out as a family on canoes along a peaceful river. Very accessible to children, the route is adventurous and quickly turns into a refreshing time filled with laughter and plenty of splashing! **Water sports at Lac Sainte-Croix:** pedaloes, electric boating, paddleboarding, or sailing… this is an enormous lake of turquoise waters where your children will have a blast while everyone enjoys the scenery. **Bike rides or electric mountain bike rides:** With rentals from [Coti’s Bike](https://www.instagram.com/cotisbike_cotignac83/) or [Natur’Evasion](https://naturevasion.com/), easily explore the hills and villages of Provence, even with young cyclists. **Horseback riding:** At the [centre équestre de la Renarde](https://www.centreequestredelarenarde.com/) and the [Écuries d’Édoras](https://ecuriesedoras.wixsite.com/ecurie-edoras), experience the joys of horseback riding with your family, in a safe and accessible setting. ## Journey through time: medieval castles and their legends What could be more captivating for a child than walking in the footsteps of knights and princesses? Provence Verte is full of historical sites that will pique their curiosity. In Cotignac, the [tuf-rock cliff](https://www.la-provence-verte.net/activites/patrimoine-cotignac-habitats-troglodytes-dans-le-rocher-de-tuf_1616.html) hides fascinating medieval troglodyte houses, while its watchtowers transport you to the time of the knights. The [château de Vins-sur-Caramy](https://www.chateaudevins.fr/) and its flower-lined arcades immerse young and old in a medieval courtyard atmosphere, ideal for inventing a thousand stories as you go. The [château de Saint-Martin-de-Pallières](https://chateausaintmartindepallieres.wordpress.com/) and its seven levels are full of mysteries: large rooms, hidden doors, secret staircases… enough to fuel every imagination. In Tourves, the remains of the [château de Valbelle](https://www.la-provence-verte.net/activites/patrimoine-tourves-chateau-de-valbelle_186.html) impress with their obelisks and stunning colonnades. This is a setting that transports children into a true fairytale. ![Le Rocher de Cotignac](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-cotignac.jpg) Le Rocher de Cotignac ![Château de Vins-sur-Caramy](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/chateau-de-Vins-sur-Caramy.jpg) Château de Vins-sur-Caramy ![Château de Valbelle](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chateau-de-Valbelle.jpg) Château de Valbelle ![Château de Saint-Martin-de-Pallières](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/chateau-de-Saint-Martin-de-Pallieres.jpg) Château de Saint-Martin-de-Pallières ![Musée de Préhistoire des gorges du Verdon](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-musee-prehistoire-verdon.jpg) Musée de Préhistoire des gorges du Verdon ![Musée des Gueules Rouges](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-musee-gueules-rouges.jpg) Musée des Gueules Rouges ![Centre d’art contemporain de Châteauvert](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-chateauvert.jpg) Centre d’art contemporain de Châteauvert ![Abbaye du Thoronet](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/famille-abbaye-thoronet.jpg) Abbaye du Thoronet ## Learning is fun: museums and tours Because on vacation, children love to be active as much as they love to discover, some museums and cultural sites can be visited as a family with a promise of no boredom! At the [Musée des Gueules Rouges](https://museesetcentresdart.caprovenceverte.fr/musee-des-gueules-rouges/) in Tourves, your children can don a special helmet and become miners for a visit, exploring reconstructed galleries and interactive screens. At the [Gorges du Verdon Museum of Prehistory](https://www.museeprehistoire.com/accueil), mammoths, sabre-toothed tigers, and other creatures await, while interactive consoles take all on a journey through time. The orienteering course and a visit to the [Baume-Bonne cave](https://www.museeprehistoire.com/mille-millenaires/la-grotte-pour-explorer/400-000-ans-dhistoire) add another taste of adventure. At the [Châteauvert Contemporary Art Centre](https://museesetcentresdart.caprovenceverte.fr/centre-dart-contemporain-de-chateauvert/), you’ll find creative workshops, storytelling tours, and an escape-game that introduces children to art in a fun and accessible way. At [Thoronet Abbey](https://www.le-thoronet.fr/es/visit/en-famille), game booklets and audio guides transform the visit into a medieval investigation full of mystery. ## Lou Calen, your family hub in Provence After a busy day, there’s nothing like returning to calm in a spacious and comfortable cocoon. The hotel offers numerous suites suitable for families, including the Family Suite, which perfectly meets the needs of larger tribes! These consist of: ○ Three bedrooms, including two large doubles and a more private one for the children. ○ A separate living room for family time. ○ A fully equipped kitchen, convenient for preparing simple meals if needed. ○ Three bathrooms, including one with a bathtub, steam shower, and Japanese toilet for true comfort. ○ A picturesque terrace with a gurgling fountain pool, perfect for relaxing into the gentle, Provençal atmosphere. This is a true haven where children can sleep peacefully after their daily adventures, and where parents can finally enjoy the tranquility of Provence. [Book a family holiday](https://www.secure-hotel-booking.com/d-edge/Lou-Calen/JRF6/en/) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-9](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-9.jpg) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-2](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-2.jpg) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-7](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-7.jpg) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-6](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-6.jpg) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-1](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-1.jpg) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-8](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-8.jpg) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-4](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-4.jpg) ![suite-famille-lou-calen-5](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-5.jpg) ![Lou Calen, hôtel à Cotignac dans le Var : suites et chambres avec terrasses privatives](https://www.loucalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/suite-famille-lou-calen-10.jpg)