3. Parc d’Attraction Walygator
Address 55000 (Meuse). Ossuaire de Douaumont: 55100 Fleury-Devant-Douaumont; www.verdun-douaumont.com. Tranchée des Baïonnettes, Fort de Douaumont & Fort de Vaux: www.en.verdun-tourisme.com. Le Mémorial de Verdun: 1 Ave du Corps Européen, 55100 Fleury-Devant-Douaumont; 0329843534; www.memorial-de-verdun.fr
Train from Nancy, Metz & Châlons-en-Champagne; TGV from Paris or Strasbourg to the TGV Meuse station, then shuttle bus to Verdun. In summer, there is a hop-on-hop-off tour bus that covers the main battlefield sights. It leaves from the tourist office in Verdun.
Visitor information Pl de la Nation, 55106 Verdun; 0329841418; www.verdun-tourisme.com
Open Ossuaire de Douaumont: daily (Feb: school hols only); closed Jan. Le Mémorial de Verdun: closed for renovation until 2015. Forts: check tourist website for details.
Prices Ossuaire de Douaumont: free; tower and 20-min film in English & other languages €14–24; under 8s free. Le Mémorial de Verdun: €18–30; under 8s free. Forts: €12–24; under 8s free
Skipping the queue Buy the Battlefield Museum Pass that allows access to the main battlefield sights – Ossuaire de Douaumont, Le Mémorial de Verdun, Fort de Douaumont and Fort de Vaux. Contact the tourist office for details.
Guided tours The tour bus offers tours in English, French, German & Dutch; tickets valid for 24 hours
Age range 6 plus
Allow A day
Café Les Pélerins is the only café in the battlefield area.
Toilets At the Ossuaire de Douaumont.
Festival Des Flammes à la Lumière, 300 French and German volunteers perform a son-et-lumière re-enactment of the events of the battle (Jun & Jul)
Good family value? An important historic place to visit, but the ticket prices mount up to a considerable sum.
Address 54000 (Meurthe-et-Moselle). Fermont: 9 Rue Albert Lebrun, 54260 Longuyon; ligne-maginot-fort-de-fermont.asso.fr. Hackenberg: Route du Hackenberg, 57920 Veckring; maginot-hackenberg.com. Simserhof: Rue André Maginot, Le Légeret, 57410 Siersthal; www.simserhof.fr. Four à Chaux: 67510 Lembach; www.lignemaginot.fr
Car The forts are best reached by car. There is no public transport to or between the forts.
Visitor information Fermont: ot-longuyon.pagesperso-orange.fr; Hackenberg: www.ot-thionville.com; Simserhof: www.ot-paysdebitche.com
Open Fermont: Apr–Oct. Hackenberg and Four à Chaux: year round. Simserhof: mid-Nov–mid-Mar. Days vary, check websites. Guided tours take 2–3 hours. Wear warm clothes as it gets cold in the underground tunnels.
Address 57000 (Moselle). Voie Romaine, 57280 Maizières-les-Metz; 0387307007; www.walygatorparc.com. Zoo d’Amnéville: 1 Rue du Tigre, 57360 Amnéville; 0387702560; www.zoo-amneville.com
Train from Metz Ville
Visitor information 2 Pl d’Armes, 57007 Metz; 0387555376; tourisme.mairie-metz.fr
Open Jul–Aug: daily (until 10pm Sat); Apr–May & Sep–Oct: Sat–Sun and school hols; Jun: Fri–Sun. Zoo d’Amnéville: daily
Address 57000 (Moselle). Musée de la Cour d’Or: 2 Rue du Haut Poirier, 57007; 0387201320
Train TGV from Paris, Nancy, Strasbourg and Verdun
Visitor information 2 Pl d’Armes, 57007; 0387555376; tourisme.mairie-metz.fr
Open Musée de la Cour d’Or: Wed–Mon
Address 54000 (Meurthe-et-Moselle). Musée de l’Ecole de Nancy: 36–38 Rue Sergent Blandan, 0383401486; www.ecole-de-nancy.com. Musée des Beaux-Arts: 3 Pl Stanislas, 54000; 0383379650; mban.nancy.fr
Train TGV-Lorraine from Paris; from Verdun, change at Conflans-Jarny or at Hagondange
Visitor information 14 Pl Stanislas, 54000; 0383352241; www.ot-nancy.fr
Open Musée de l’Ecole de Nancy & Musée des Beaux-Arts: Wed–Mon
Address 68000 (Colmar). Musée d’Unterlinden: 1 Rue d’Unterlinden; www.musee-unterlinden.com. Musée du Jouet: 40 Rue Vauban; www.museejouet.com. Collégiale de St-Martin: Pl de la Cathédrale. Musée Bartholdi: 30 Rue des Marchands; www.musee-bartholdi.com. Maison Pfister: Rue des Mercière. Musée d’Histoire Naturelle et d’Ethnographie: 11 Rue Turenne; www.museumcolmar.org
Train TGV from Paris (direct links or change at Strasbourg)
Visitor information 4 Rue d’Unterlinden, 68000; 0389206892; www.ot-colmar.fr
Open Musée d’Unterlinden: May–Oct: 9am–6pm daily; Nov–Apr: 9am–noon & 2–5pm Wed–Mon. Musée du Jouet: Jan–Jun & Oct–Nov: 10am–noon & 2–6pm Wed–Mon; Jul–Aug: 10am–7pm daily; Sep: 10am–noon and 2–6pm daily; Dec: 10am–6pm daily. Musée Bartholdi: Mar–Dec: 10am–noon & 2–6pm Wed–Mon. Musée d’Histoire Naturelle et d’Ethnographie: 10am–noon & 2–6pm Wed–Mon, closed 25 Dec–31 Jan
Prices Musée d’Unterlinden: €17–33; under 12s free. Musée du Jouet: €9.50–19; under 8s free. Musée Bartholdi: €9.50–19; under 12s free. Musée d’Histoire Naturelle et d’Ethnographie: €10–20; under 7s free
Skipping the queue A popular destination throughout the year, particularly in summer hols, during Easter and Dec, so arrive early.
Guided tours Contact the tourist office for details.
Age range All ages
Activities Follow self-guided tours on map from the tourist office.
Allow At least half a day
Toilets At the tourist office
Good family value? Colmar can be enjoyed for free just wandering the streets, but hotels and restaurants are pricey.
Address 68000 (Haut-Rhin) & 67000 (Bas-Rhin). Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg: Lièpvre, on N59, 67600; 0388825060; haut-koenigsbourg.fr
Car from Colmar or bus from Sélestat railway station
Visitor information Eguisheim: 22A Grand Rue, 68420; 0389234033; www.ot-eguisheim.fr. Riquewihr: 2 Rue de la 1ère Armée, 68340; 0389732323. Ribeauvillé: 1 Grand’Rue, 68153; 0389732323; www.ribeauville-riquewihr.com
Open Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg: daily
Address 68000 (Haut-Rhin). Chemin Grosswald, 68190 Ungersheim; 0389744474; www.ecomusee-alsace.fr
Train to Mulhouse, then Soléa bus 54. Best reached by car
Visitor information Hôtel de Ville, Pl de la Réunion, 68100 Mulhouse; 0389354848; www.tourisme-mulhouse.com
Open 2 Apr–2 Nov: daily
Address 68100 (Haut-Rhin). Cité du Train: 2 Rue Alfred Glehn; 0389428333; www.citedutrain.com. Cité de l’Automobile: 15 Rue de l’Épée; 0389332323; www.collection-schlumpf.com. Musée Historique: Hôtel de Ville, Pl de la Réunion; 0389337817; www.musees-mulhouse.fr
Train TGV from Colmar, Strasbourg, Dijon & Paris
Visitor information Hôtel de Ville, Pl de la Réunion, 68100; 0389354848; www.tourisme-mulhouse.com
Open Cité du Train & Cité de l’Automobile: daily, closed 25 Dec. Musée Historique: Wed–Mon
Address 67014 (Bas-Rhin). Cathédrale Notre-Dame: Pl de la Cathédrale, 67082; www.cathedrale-strasbourg.fr. Palais de Rohan: 2 Pl du Château, 67000; 0388885068. Musée Alsacien: 23–25 Quai St-Nicolas, 67000; 0388525001. Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain: 1 Pl Hans Jean Arp, 67000; 0388233131; www.musees-strasbourg.org
Train TGV from Paris
Visitor information 17 Pl de la Cathédrale, 67082; 0388522828; www.otstrasbourg.fr
Open Palais de Rohan & Musée Alsacien: closed Tue. Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain: closed Mon
Address 51100 (Marne). Pl du Cardinal Luçon; 0326475534; www.cathedrale-reims.com
Train TGV from Paris to Reims, then bus or tram from station
Visitor information 2 Rue Guillaume de Machault, 51100; 0326774500; www.reims-tourisme.com
Open 7:30am–7:30pm daily
Price Free
Skipping the queue Go at the beginning or end of the day to avoid crowds.
Guided tours Audio guides of the main historical sites in English and other languages. Pick them up at the visitor information office next door.
Age range 3 plus
Allow 30–45 mins
Café In the Palais du Tau next door (summer only)
Toilets Beside the visitor information office
Good family value? The cathedral’s high point is its sheer magnitude. On a bright day, the stained glass lights up the interior like a kaleidoscope.
Address 51200 (Marne). Moët et Chandon: 20 Ave de Champagne; 0326512020; www.moet.com. Mercier: 68–70 Ave de Champagne; www.champagnemercier.fr. De Castellane: 63 Ave de Champagne; www.castellane.com
Train from Reims and Paris
Visitor information 7 Ave de Champagne, 51200; www.ot-epernay.fr
Open Moët et Chandon: end-Mar–mid-Nov: daily; rest of the year: Mon–Fri. Mercier: mid-Mar–mid-Nov: daily. De Castellane: Apr–Dec: daily
Address 10000 (Aube). Musée d’Art Moderne: 14 Pl St-Pierre; 0325762680. Musée de l’Outil et de la Pensée Ouvrière: 7 Rue de la Trinité; 0325732826; www.maison-de-l-outil.com
Train from Paris to Reims, then bus 14 to Troyes
Visitor information 16 Blvd Carnot, 10000; 0325826270; www.tourisme-troyes.com
Open Musée d’Art Moderne: May–Sep: Tue–Sun; Oct–Apr: daily. Musée de l’Outil et de la Pensée Ouvrière: daily
Address 10210 (Aube). Fromagerie de Mussy: 30 Route de Maisons Lès Chaource; www.fromageriedemussy.com. Musée du Fromage: 17 Pl de l’Eglise; 0325401067
Bus 6 from Troyes (www.courriersdelaube.fr)
Visitor information: 2 Pl de l’Echiquier, 10210; 0325409722; www.tourisme-en-chaourcois.com
Open Fromagerie de Mussy: closed Wed & Sun. Musée du Fromage: closed Tue
Address 52200 (Haute-Marne). Petit Train Touristique: 0325876767; www.tourisme-langres.com
Train from Paris and intercity link from Reims
Visitor information Pl Bel Air, 52200; 0325876767; www.tourisme-langres.com
Address 08200 (Ardennes). Cours Clos du Château, 08200 Sedan; www.chateau-fort-sedan.fr
Train TGV from Paris & Reims.
Bus RDTA from Charleville-Mezières
Visitor information 6 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, 08208; 0324277300; www.sedan.fr
Open Jul & Aug: 10am–6pm daily; Apr–Jun, Sep & school hols: 10am–noon & 1:30–5pm daily; Oct–Mar: 10am–noon & 1:30–5pm Tue–Sun, closed Christmas & 1 Jan
Price €26–36; under 6s free
Skipping the queue There is hardly any queue
Guided tours Audio tours available in English, French, Dutch and German
Age range 4 plus. Note that there are several stone staircases and rough paths.
Activities The château offers a self-guided tour, using audio guides that can be loaded on to a portable phone. The tour starts from the castle courtyard.
Allow At least 1 hour and 30 mins
Café A small café on site next to the shop
Shop La Boutique, close to the central courtyard, has all kinds of medieval-themed toys, games, souvenirs, books and figurines.
Toilets In the main castle courtyard and also at the tourist office opposite the castle
Festival Festival Medieval de Sedan, with participants dressed as soldiers, lords and ladies, as well as mythical monsters (May)
Good family value? This is an unforgettable castle, for its sheer size, and the trail through its labyrinthine interior is great fun to explore.
Address 62000 (Pas de Calais) Blvd Ste-Beuve, 62203 Boulogne-sur-Mer; 0321309999
Train TGV from Paris to Calais-Fréthun, then line 1 from town centre to Nausicaá
Visitor information Parvis de Nausicaá, 62203; 0321108810; www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com
Open Jul–Aug: 9:30am–7:30pm daily; Sep–Jun: 9:30am–6:30pm daily; closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan am & last three weeks in Jan
Price €50–60; under 3s free. Students and concessions €13. Group ticket holders get discount at shops and snack bars.
Skipping the queue Buy a ticket two hours before closing time, when the aquarium is less busy. Use the ticket until midday the following day. The NausicaaPass (www.nausicaa.fr) can be bought online to avoid queues and for discount, but must be stamped.
Guided tours Audio guides available in French, English and Dutch. Limited places for “Behind the Scenes” guided tours (10am & 3pm); book in advance
Age range All ages
Activities Look out for the daily schedule of presentations and activities, such as feeding the sea lions and feeding the fish of the Tropical Lagoon Village section.
Allow At least 3 hours. Ticket holders can leave the building and return any time during the day.
Café The Tropical Lagoon Bar and Au Bistrot du Port on site
Shop The on-site shop, close to the main entrance, sells a variety of aquatic-themed toys, posters, books, ornaments and clothes.
Toilets Near the entrance and also near the Tropical Lagoon Bar.
Good family value? Educating and entertaining, Nausicaá appeals to all ages and makes for a fine family day out.
Address 62500 (Nord-Pas-de-Calais). Ascenseur à Bateaux: Rue Denis Papin, 62510; 0321885900. Arc International: Zone Industrielle, RN 43, 62510; 0321127474; www.arc-intl.com. La Coupole: Rue de Mont-à-Car, D210, 62570 Helfaut; www.lacoupole-france.com. Maison du Papier: Rue Bernard Chochoy, 62380; 0321954525
Train from Boulogne and Lille
Visitor information 4 Rue du Lion d’Or, 62500; 0321980851; www.tourisme-saintomer.com
Open Ascenseur à Bateaux: Apr–Sep: daily. Arc International: Mon–Sat. La Coupole: daily. Maison du Papier: Apr–Aug: Tue–Fri (Jul & Aug: also Sat & Sun)
Address 59000 (Nord). Palais des Beaux-Arts: Pl de la République; 0320067800; www.pba-lille.fr. Musée d’Histoire Naturelle et de Géologie: 19 Rue de Bruxelles; 0328553080; www.mairie-lille.fr. Hôtel de Ville: Pl des Héros; 0320495000
Train TGV from Paris
Visitor information Pl Rihour, 59000; 0333595794 00; www.lilletourism.com
Open Palais des Beaux-Arts: closed Tue. Musée d’Histoire Naturelle et de Géologie: closed Tue & Sat. Hôtel de Ville: Tue–Sun
Address 62000 (Pas-de-Calais). Musée des Beaux-Arts: 22 Rue Paul Doumer; 0321712643. Carrière Wellington: Rue Delétoile; 0321512695; www.carriere-wellington.com Hôtel de Ville: Pl des Héros; 0321512695
Train from Boulogne, Paris & Lille
Visitor information Hôtel de Ville, Pl des Héros, 62000; 0321512695; www.ot-arras.fr
Open Musée des Beaux-Arts: closed Tue. Carrière Wellington: late Jan–Dec: daily. Hôtel de Ville: daily
Address 62170 (Pas-de-Calais). Citadelle: Rue Carnot; 0321061083
Train from Arras and Boulogne
Visitor information 21 Rue Carnot, 62170; 0321060427; www.tourisme-montreuillois.com
Open Citadelle: Wed–Mon
Address 80230 (Somme). Parc du Marquenterre: 25 bis Chemin des Garennes, 80120; 0322256899, www.marcanterra.fr. Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme: Ave Gare, 80550 Le Crotoy; 0322269696; www.chemin-fer-baie-somme.asso.fr
Car from Abberville
Visitor information St-Valery: 2 Pl Guillaume le Conquérant, 80230; 0322609350. Le Crotoy: 1 Rue Carnot, 80550; 0322270525; www.visit-somme.com
Open Parc du Marquenterre: timings vary throughout the year. Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme: Apr–Oct (trains depart late morning)
Festival Fête de la Mer, sea festival with traditional costumes and parades in St-Valery (Aug)
Address 80260 (Somme).
Car from Amiens to Naours
Visitor information 5 Rue des Carrières, 80260; 0322937178; www.grottesdenaours.com
Open Feb–mid-Dec: daily; (45-min English audio guides available)
Price €36–46; under 4s free
Address 80300, 80200 (Somme). Parc-Mémorial de Beaumont Hamel: D55, 62580; 0321506868. Historial de la Grande Guerre: Château de Péronne, 80201; 0322831418; www.historial.org
Car from Amiens to the battlefields
Visitor information Albert: 9 Rue Gambetta, 80300; 0322751642. Péronne: 16 Pl André Audinot, 80200; 0322844238; www.visit-somme.com
Open Parc-Mémorial de Beaumont Hamel: year round. Historial de la Grande Guerre: daily, closed mid-Dec–mid-Jan
Address 80000 (Somme). Musée de la Picardie: 48 Rue de la République; 0322971400; tinyurl.com/68hykm5. Maison de Jules Verne: 2 Rue Charles Dubois; 0322454575; www.jules-verve.net
Train from Paris, Calais, Boulogne and Lille
Visitor information 40 Parvis Notre Dame, 80000; 0322716050; www.amiens-tourisme.com
Open Musée de Picardie: Tue & Fri–Sat (till 9pm Thu). Maison de Jules Verne: mid-Apr–mid-Oct: daily; rest of the year: closed Tue
Festival Fête au Bord de l’Eau, a medieval festival in the historic St-Leu quarter (Sep)
Address 60000 (Oise). 60128 Plailly; 0826466626; www.parcasterix.fr
Train RER B3 from Paris to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle, from where a shuttle bus leaves every 30 mins, 9:30am–6:30pm. Joint train and entry tickets are available.
Bus Direct shuttle bus from Paris (€70–80 return)
Open Apr–Aug & some winter school hols: 10am–6pm Mon–Fri, 9:30am–6pm Sat & Sun; Sep–Oct: 10am–6pm Sat & Sun; late night opening for Gaulish nights in Jul & Aug. Check website for timings.
Price €157–167; under 3s free. Check website for special offers.
Skipping the queue Buy tickets online and avoid Sunday as it gets too crowded.
Age range 7 plus
Allow A day
Toilets On the left by the entrance, on the left of the village and by the circus big top
Good family value? Kids have to love the stories of Asterix to get the best out of the trip. Cut costs by bringing a picnic.
Address 60500 (Oise). Musée Condé: Château de Chantilly; 0344626262; www.chateaudechantilly.com. Musée Vivant du Cheval: 7 Rue Connétable; 0344577551; www.museevivantducheval.fr
Train from Paris; RER from Châtelet Les Halles, Paris
Visitor information 60 Ave du Maréchal Joffre, 60500; 0344673737 37; www.chantilly-tourisme.com
Open Musée Condé & Musée Vivant du Cheval: Wed–Mon
Festival Prix du Jockey Club, the main flat-racing meeting (Jun)
Address 60200 (Oise). Château de Compiègne: Pl du Général de Gaulle; 0344384702; www.musee-chateau-compiegne.fr. Musée de la Figurine Historique: 28 Pl de l’Hôtel de Ville; 0344407255; www.musee-figurine.fr. Musée de l’Armistice: Route de Soissons; 0344851418
Train from Paris and Amiens
Visitor information Pl de l’Hôtel de Ville, 60200; 0344400100; www.compiegne-tourisme.fr
Open Château de Compiègne: Wed–Mon. Musée de la Figurine Historique: closed Mon. Musée de l’Armistice: daily; winter: closed Tue
Address 60350 (Oise). Rue Viollet-Le-Duc; 0344427272; www.pierrefonds.monuments-nationaux.fr
Train from Compiègne, then bus 27 (best reached by car)
Visitor information Pl de l’Hôtel de Ville, 60350; 0344428144; www.pierrefonds-tourisme.net
Open May–Aug: daily; Sep–Apr Tue–Sun
Price €15; under 18s free
Address 02000 (Aisne). Cathédrale de Notre-Dame: 8 Rue Cloître; 0323202654
Train from Paris, Amiens & Reims
Visitor information Hôtel Dieu, Pl du Parvis Gautier de Mortagne, 02000; 0323202862; www.tourisme-paysdelaon.com