Would your child fancy jumping from a
Roman aqueduct, exploring prehistoric
caves and seeing bright purple fields? These
are just some of the attractions of historic
Provence, says
Laetitia Chanèac-Knight.
Bonjour
Provence
P
rovence is not a hard sell
for adults. There’s the fine
Côtes du Rhone wines,
the Provençal cooking and
the incredible landscapes that offer
endless opportunities for walking,
trekking or cycling. Adults will
also appreciate the charm of the
region, which has kept a strong
identity, but with a decidedly relaxed
atmosphere. The accommodation is
also appealing, with everything from
village boutique hotels and renovated
old farms with pools, to shady
camping grounds under pinewood
forests. But with so much on offer for
adults, what’s in it for the children?
Luckily, Provence has a ton of
activities to guarantee a mellow and
fun family holiday for all, from the
oldest to the youngest traveller. Here
are just a few of my family’s favourite
Provençal pastimes.
The markets
The weekly markets that are held in
all towns and villages in the region
are lively places to explore and stock
up on holiday staples such as bread,
cheese and fruit. Adventurous kids
will love trying the local produce
offered by friendly stallholders. If
your children are very young, don’t
worry about negotiating the market
with a pram – French people will
always give way to you and will
often try to chat to you about babies.
For older children, each market has
plenty of opportunities to spend
pocket money on hair accessories,
jewellery or quirky toys. When you
want a rest, you can stop in a café
on the village square and quench
your thirst with a “citron pressé”
(fresh lemon drink) or indulge in
an Orangina, the famous French
soft drink with a zest. Markets also
offer plenty of freshly cooked foods,
from roast chickens to hams and
ribs, or even specialties from our
Mediterranean neighbours, such
as paella or couscous. Don’t leave
the market without buying two or
three mouth-watering melons from
Cavaillon, the most fragrant and
sweet melons you will ever taste. My
kids can’t get enough of them and
they make a simple but delicious
lunch with cured ham or barbecued
sausages.
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