The Luberon with children

Canoeing the Sorgue

The classic Luberon family outing. Kayak Vert at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse runs a two-hour descent of the clear green Sorgue in two, three or four-seater canoes, with a shuttle back. It is open daily from mid-May to the last weekend of September. Children must be at least six and able to swim 25 metres, and booking is essential in summer.

The spring at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

A short, flat walk from the village takes you to the foot of a huge cliff where the Sorgue rises from the biggest spring in France. It is at its most dramatic in spring, when the water surges for a few weeks. Combine the village with canoeing or the paper mill.

Étang de la Bonde

Our favourite place to swim outside the villa: a lake ringed with pines at Cabrières-d’Aigues, with a lifeguarded beach from 1 July to 31 August, picnic spots and a seasonal snack bar. Parking is paid in summer; arrive early at weekends.

Lac de Sainte-Croix

A turquoise lake at the mouth of the Verdon gorges, worth a whole day. At Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Surf Center rents pedalos with slides, which children love, with life jackets included.

Water parks and theme parks

At Monteux, Parc Spirou is a theme park for younger children and teenagers.

Sentier des Ocres, Roussillon

Two loops of 30 to 50 minutes through red and orange cliffs, right beside the village. There are more than 350 steps, so it is not suitable for pushchairs beyond the start. The trail closes in heavy rain, picnics are not allowed, and white trainers will never be the same again.

Colorado Provençal, Rustrel

Bigger and wilder than Roussillon. The blue Sahara loop (2.1 km, about 40 minutes) is easy for young children; the orange Belvédères loop (3.9 km, nearly two hours) has roots and stream crossings. From May to August, morning parking must be booked on the official site.

Mines de Bruoux, Gargas

A one-hour guided walk through vast ochre galleries up to 15 metres high, part of 40 km of tunnels. It is cold underground, so bring jumpers even in August. The mines open from March to the end of October, suit pushchairs, and must be booked by phone.

Grottes de Thouzon, Le Thor

The only natural cave open to visitors in Provence, with stalactites along an old underground riverbed. Tours last about 45 minutes and it is 13 °C all year. Open daily from April to early November; pushchairs cannot go in, so bring a carrier.

Château d’Ansouis

A castle that is still a family home, shown on guided tours by the owners, with terraced gardens and views over the Aigues valley. Tours run on set afternoons from April to October, last about two hours, and must be booked; payment is on the spot, not by card.

Château La Coste

A wine estate with more than forty large artworks along a 4 km art and architecture walk. Children treat it as a treasure hunt. Allow two to three hours and bring water and hats.

Zoo de La Barben

A large wildlife park below a castle, open every day of the year, with feeding sessions, play areas, shade and picnic spots. Allow at least four hours.

Passerelles des Cîmes, Lagnes

Tree courses three kilometres from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, with a harness-free zone from 18 months, courses from age four and a big zone from nine. Open daily in July and August and at weekends in spring and autumn.

Donkey walks, Maubec

Les Oreilles du Luberon hire out friendly donkeys for a one-hour taster, a half day or a full day, with or without a guide. Details on Provence Guide.

Down to Bonnieux

The easiest walk of all starts just outside the house, on the trail opposite the road you drive up: seven minutes down to the village for an ice cream, the bakery or the Friday market, with the valley views all the way.

Forêt des Cèdres, above Bonnieux

The cedar forest on the ridge above the village stays shaded and cool in summer. The botanical trail takes 30 to 90 minutes and is our first walk with little ones. See our walks guide for more.

Village des Bories, Gordes

A hamlet of dry-stone huts just outside Gordes, open all year and free for under-12s. Paths are uneven, so a baby carrier is better than a pushchair.

Observatoire SIRENE, Lagarde-d’Apt

On the dark plateau above Apt, the observatory runs discovery evenings with constellations, the Moon and planets through big telescopes, plus daytime visits to look safely at the Sun. Booking only; free for under-sixes. The evenings are long and late, so they suit older children best.

Carrières des Lumières, Les Baux

Art projected on the walls of a vast old quarry. The programme changes each year, and younger children love it. Book ahead on wet days.

Paper mill, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

At the Moulin à papier Vallis Clausa a water wheel still drives the machinery and you may see the papermaker at work. Entry is free, and the shop sells paper pressed with flowers.

Cooking and craft at home

A rainy morning is a good excuse to cook together. Several local chefs give classes in holiday homes, and near Aix Vic is in the kitchen runs cooking and baking classes for adults and children.

When it is 35 °C

• Early: the Sentier des Ocres or the Colorado Provençal as soon as they open, before the heat builds
• Late morning: underground at the Mines de Bruoux, jumpers on
• Lunch and the afternoon: back at the villa, with a siesta in the air-conditioned bedrooms and the pool
• Evening: a seven-minute stroll down to Bonnieux for the view as the sun goes down

When it rains

• Morning: the Grottes de Thouzon, which are 13 °C whatever the weather
• Lunch: the snack bar at the caves, or a café in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
• Afternoon: the paper mill at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, or the Carrières des Lumières for a longer outing
• Avoid: the ochre trails, which are slippery or closed in rain

Pool safety first

The pool is not fenced or gated. It has a safety cover, which must be closed whenever the pool is not in use, but the cover does not make the pool safe and is no substitute for watching. Children must be supervised by an adult 100% of the time near the pool and anywhere outside. There are also steps down from the terrace to the pool, so take care on the way.

A house on one level

Most of the villa is on a single level, with just a couple of small steps from the kitchen into the lounge, with no stairs to climb indoors. Outside there are steps down from the terrace to the pool, and the house is not adapted for wheelchairs.

A wing of your own

The house is in two parts. On one side, behind its own hallway door, the king-size bedroom sits right next to the room with two small double beds, so a family can be together and close by. The main bedroom, with its emperor bed and en-suite bathroom, is on the other side of the house, and quieter.

Night lights

We know how it is with children in a new place. Plug-in night lights are ready for you to dot around in the evening, so you do not need to leave the main lights on overnight.

The orchard and herbs

Children can pick figs, cherries, apricots, peaches and grapes in season, and discover the herb garden by smell: rosemary, thyme, sage. Please pick from the ground only: no ladders or climbing trees.

Games for every age

Hide and seek across 7,000 m² of grounds, pétanque on the gravel at the front, darts for adults and older children, and board games for quieter evenings. Chess is a family favourite of ours.

When the sun goes down

Stroll seven minutes down to Bonnieux for an ice cream and the view as the lights come on across the valley. Back at the villa, look up from the deck: on clear nights the sky is dark enough to see the Milky Way. The deck is raised, so keep children well back from the edge.