All Saints' Day vacations for the whole family!

HERITAGE: FAMILY HISTORY LESSONS!

The châteaux of the Loire Valley “in play mode”!

Whether you're a young knight in sneakers or a sleeping princess, an archaeologist in short pants or a millennial in search of adventure, the emblematic monuments of the Loire Valley offer a vast playground for your vacations!

Castle investigations: unravel the mysteries of the paintings at Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, take on the role of a private detective in the dungeon of La Cité Royale in Loches, or rack your brains at the Forteresse Royale in Chinon, with escape games suitable for ages 5 to 99!

Practical info:

• Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20: “Monument jeu d'enfant” at the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau - activities included in the admission ticket - information and booking on azay-le-rideau.fr
• Thursday October 24 to Thursday October 31: “Investigation in the dungeon of Loches” at the Cité Royale de Loches - activity included in the admission ticket - information and booking on citeroyaleloches.fr
• Every day: escape games at the Forteresse Royale de Chinon - entertainment included with admission - information and booking on forteressechinon.fr
  

Need some greenery? At the Château de Villandry, you can lose yourself in the (real) garden maze, learn to recognize aromatic plants or count pumpkins!

See all the castles in one visit: it's possible with the Parc des Mini-Châteaux in Amboise! Children can ride through the park on the backs of mechanical horses, discovering the park's 41 miniature castles.

Discover all the secrets of Marmoutier Abbey
Free for children under 12, this tour retraces the history of the Marmoutier Abbey district of Tours. An unusual activity to learn more about the city from an early age!

Visit Tours in “unusual” mode by tuk-tuk and Petit Train
Hop aboard a Petit Train or tuk-tuk for 40 to 45 minutes of unusual sightseeing in Tours! Whether during the day or after dark, you'll discover the highlights of Tours with these guided tours.

HALLOWEEN: ACTIVITIES FOR FUN AND THRILLS!

Halloween at Château du Rivau

Carved pumpkins and dungeons go hand in hand at Château du Rivau! For Halloween, children can dress up in costume, go trick-or-treating in the gardens, discover storytelling or play treasure hunts in search of the “Peacock-Garous”.

Practical info

• Wednesday October 30 to Saturday November 2 at Château du Rivau - 9, rue du château, Lémeré.
• Reduced-rate adult tickets available HERE and children aged 5 to 18 HERE
• Information and booking (depending on activity) on chateaudurivau.fr
• PRM access (contact the château on 02 47 95 77 47 for further information)

Priory reading tour for budding witches and wizards

In the heart of Ronsard's home, the witches of Saint-Cosme accompany children on a strange discovery of the priory, punctuated by chilling readings.

Practical info

• Thursday, October 31 at 3pm at Prieuré Saint-Cosme - rue Ronsard, La Riche
• 8.50 € / adult - 7.50 € / - 18 years old and 2.50 € / - 7 years old - From 4 to 10 years old
• Information and booking (compulsory) on 02 47 37 32 70 or demeureronsard@departement-touraine.fr
• Further information on prieure-ronsard.fr
• Tourism & Handicap label

Workshop on gourds and taste

It's impossible to imagine autumn without pumpkins! In the Villa Rabelais gourmet library, little hands and parents alike can decorate pumpkins, enjoy a read-aloud, take part in fun activities around cucurbits and taste them at the end of the activity.

Practical info

• Saturday, October 26, 3:00 - 4:30 pm at Villa Rabelais - 116, boulevard Béranger, Tours
• 5 € parent/child duo
• Information and booking (mandatory) on villa-rabelais.fr

Halloween costume ball at Château de Jallanges

A vampiric welcome, a “mummy cabaret” show and “Frankenstein” fireworks... the family-friendly edition of the Château de Jallanges costume ball is sure to thrill you on Friday, November 1!

IN THE HEART OF NATURE

100% green workshops and creations at La Gloriette

There's no need to go far afield for a breath of fresh air! From the center of Tours, hop on the streetcar to Vaucanson and head for the Parc de la Gloriette in 15mn only. In addition to several hectares of natural spaces, the site offers numerous activities around the environment and well-being for families: terrarium-making, listening to the stag's bellow, parent/child yoga sessions...

Practical info :

• Detailed program on tours-tourisme.fr and tours-metropole.fr
• 61, avenue Pont Cher, Tours

Family hikes around Tours

Tours Metropole offers 48 hiking trails, from 1.5 km to 23 km. Vineyards, hillsides, rivers, forests, streams... the choice is wide! There's something for everyone, depending on their mood and physical condition, and all trails are signposted.

Practical info :

• Paper maps of the trails are available from the Tours Tourist Office at 78-82, rue Bernard Palissy in Tours and from Accueil Vélo Rando at 31, boulevard Heurteloup in Tours.
• Interactive map available at: tours-metropole.fr/rando

TO THE SHOW!

Is the weather gloomy? Head for theaters, cinemas and libraries to fill up on culture and leisure activities!

For starters, a trip to the theater, at the Comédie de Tours or Théâtre Olympia, is a must for young audiences, with programs and hands-on workshops. Then it's on to the big screen, with screenings and workshops at Cinémas Studio for budding cinephiles, and “Ciné Relax” (co-organized by ADAPEI 37) for adapted audiences.

And don't forget the Tours library, which offers creative workshops, themed film screenings, shows and even video-game sessions for teenagers!