MBFF has now spent about 11 years discovering and testing 🌈 playgrounds au Pays du Mont-Blanc. We are fairly confident that we have tested most of them!

The following list highlights our personal favourites (this is clearly subjective!).

At certain points on our journey of discovery, we had to avoid certain playgrounds, as with two energetic boys three years apart in age, some playgrounds were somewhat challenging with just one pair of hands to rescue the little monkey who just had to follow his big brother to the top of climbing frames!

And over the years of testing these playgrounds, fabulous new ones have emerged (to our constant delight!) and some have been renovated.

---

Colour code for listings

Pays du Mont-Blanc

Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz & environs) and Vallorcine

Passy & environs

Sallanches, Combloux, Cordon & Domancy

St Gervais, Saint-Nicolas de Véroce, Bionnassay, Le Fayet & environs

Megève, Praz-sur-Arly & environs

Les Contamines & environs

🇫🇷 Further France 

🇨🇭 Switzerland 

---

CHAMONIX VALLEY

Le Paradis des Praz (Les Praz)

Nestled in 🌲 the woods of Les Praz, next to 💦 a gurgling stream for paddling, young children will love this playground! There is a sandpit for little ones and there are 🐴 pony rides and there is ☕️ a buvette on-site.

[ ⇒ read all about this magical spot in a separate MBFF article ]

La Moraine & the Mare aux Têtards (Argentière)

Also nestled in the woods, but this time in 🌲 the woods of La Moraine d’Argentière, this is another bucolic spot: 💦 a gurgling stream for paddling and 🐸 tadpole and 🦎 newt spotting (in season!), and a small playground . . .

You can spend the whole day with a picnic blanket here!

Nearby for food and drinks you’ll find the Crèmerie du Glacier and there is a parcours d’orientation in the woods.

[ ⇒ read all about this magical spot in a separate MBFF article ]

---

PASSY

Lac de Passy

💦 Lac de Passy is in effect a large playground all year round, but in the ☀️ summertime it truly turns into a giant playground with :

• 🏖 a giant sand-pit (ie the beach!);
• 🌳 an accrobranches ®;
• 🏰 bouncy castles;
• ⛳️ mini-golf & 🚣‍♂️ pedalos & electric boats to rent;
• 💦 wibit softplay on the water;
• a fitness track in the woods . . .

And, since summer 2018, there is a fabulous sand-based playground near the beach-end of the lake, and various other wooden climbing structures and a slide dotted around the lake too . . . (good to know: the sandy playground is more comfortable to use in the morning or in the evening, as it does not have any shade and in the ☀️ midday sun is HOT! /perfect to combine with an evening picnic!).

[ ⇒ read all about this 💦 Lac de Passy in a separate MBFF article ]

---

SALLANCHES & COMBLOUX

Aire de Jeux de Saint-Martin (Sallanches)

All of the playgrounds in Sallanches are well-equipped and good for all age-groups, but Saint-Martin playground stands out because of its excellent location right by the 💦 Arve river, and next to the historic 🌉 Pont Saint-Martin.

Its main attraction is the tall climbing frame with the tunnel slide, and there are also swings and other climbing options for older children and 🚂 a train for little ones. An added bonus is the plentiful FREE parking on-site! (we did have to avoid this playground for a while when little brother was very small, as he kept trying to follow big brother to the top of the tunnel climbing frame, and Mummy kept having to go to the rescue!).

It is also next to the ⚽️ football stadium, so a handy retreat when an older sibling is training! Also an ideal spot with a bike or draisienne.

good to know: a visit to this playground couples well with a visit to the 💦 Lacs des Ilettes or 💦 La Cascade de l’Arpenaz, as both are nearby;

address: Esplanade de St Martin, 74700, Sallanches;

Aire de Jeux de l’Eglise (Sallanches)

We are also big fans of the ⛪ church playground in Sallanches, as it has shade in the summer months and it is a great place to head after a visit to 🍏 Sallanches’ Saturday market or after a visit to the 🦌 Château des Rubins – Observatoire des Alpes or the 📚 Médiathèque Ange Abrate. There are 🚾 WCs in the car park opposite.

address: place du Commissaire Chesney, 74700, Sallanches;

🅿 parking: FREE parking opposite playground (this car park is often full, so around the corner is also the FREE Parking du Lévaud);

TWO of Combloux’s playgrounds are on our favourites list!

[ ⇒ for more details about the Combloux playgrounds, see separate MBFF article here ]

Adventure playground in Combloux

This playground is fabulous ! The location is wonderful: perched just above the 💦 Plan d’Eau Biotope, there is a commanding view of 🏔 Mont-Blanc from here.

The playground is aimed at the 3+ age group and is largely made out of wood and rope. It comprises:

• 🕸 a spider-web climbing frame and netted swing;
• balancing beams & leap-frog toadstalls;
• a tyrolienne . . .

address: chemin du Perret, 74920, Combloux; 

🅿 parking: there is FREE parking just above this playground;

Louparc (Combloux)

The newer kid in town, this playground opened a few years ago. It is located next to the 🚵‍♀️ pumptrack, 🛹 skatepark and 🏀 City Stade in Combloux, and there is now a new parcours freestyle for older kids too (very popular with local teenagers!) – the whole area is beautifully landscaped and you’ll have stunning views of 🏔 the Mont-Blanc Massif from here.

good to know: it is walking distance to the centre of town for picnic provisions (with a super little boulangerie just around the corner!)

address: chemin du Perret, 74920, Combloux;

🅿 parking: there is free parking just above this playground;

[ ⇒ for more information about Combloux’s playgrounds, see separate MBFF article here ]

---

SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC & LE FAYET

Jardin du Mont-Blanc (Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc

Saint-Gervais town centre has a delightful playground (renovated a few years ago) to keep your little ones active and happy. Located in the 🌳 Jardin du Mont-Blanc, the landscaping around the playground is itself lovely, with lots of grassy slopes, an old well and bandstand and some well-positioned benches to admire 🏔 the mountain views. The playground has as a theme 🚂 Le Tramway du Mont-Blanc, and children can play at driving their own tram! There is also a netted swing, a swing for tiny ones, a small trampoline, a climbing frame and a dameuse (snow plough)!

good to know: Saint-Gervais’ weekly market is on a Thursday morning, so this can make a good respite with children;

also good to know: MBFF enjoys meeting friends at this playground on summer evenings – playground time followed by 🍻 drinks over the road at the ephemeral terrace bar Esplanade 2KM3, followed by dinner (a favourite spot is restaurant La Galeta) ]

address: Jardin du Mont-Blanc, avenue du Mont Paccard, 74170, Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc;

🅿 parking: there is FREE parking in the multi-storey car park (the brightly painted 2KM3) just across the road from the playground;

Aire de Jeux du Parc Thermal in Le Fayet

🌳 Le Parc Thermal has a fairly newly-renovated playground, its theme being the 💦 thermal baths.

It is the perfect playground to come to with a toddler or baby (or both), as there is plenty to keep everyone occupied :

• lots of green grass for picnics and ball games, running and biking;
• a 🐟 fish pond with 🦆 ducks;
• and the wonderful 🚂 mini steam trains in the summer months;

There are paths for buggy walk and baby-carrier hikes and there is the 🖼 musée en plein air over the summer months. During the ☀️ hot summer months, you can find some respite here, with the cooler air coming off 💦 the Borrand river!

You’ll find plenty of free parking within the park!

[ ⇒ read more about Le Parc Thermal in a separate MBFF article ]

Parcours Ninja (Mont d’Arbois)

NEW for summer 2021 was the addition of the 🌈 the parcours ninja, a 70m long obstacle course with stunning views of Mont-Blanc! We discovered this playground on a family hike from Le Bettex up to Mont d’Arbois, and my boys LOVED it!

You can also take the Télécabine Mont-Arbois (paying).

---

MEGÈVE & PRAZ-sur-ARLY

Aire du Jeux Panoramique du Jaillet (Téléphérique du Jaillet, Megève, Les Portes du Mont-Blanc)

A new initiative for summer 2019, this aire de jeux set up at the top of the 🚡 Télécabine du Jaillet – a great way to encourage children to have a hike at altitude!

As well as the playground, you’ll be treated to a relaxation zone (wonderful for weary parents), superb view, the Lac du Jaillet for picnics . . .

[ ⇒ for more information about this superb playground, see separate MBFF article here ]

La Base de Loisirs des Belles in Praz-sur-Arly

Praz-sur-Arly has a 🌈 fantastic playground set within its Base de Loisirs des Belles!

As well as the playground, on-site you will also find:

• a 🛹 skatepark;
• 🏀 a multi-sports pitch,
• 🚵‍♀️ a VTT course down by the river (Ludik Parc);
• ⛳️ mini-golf (summertime) & 🧗‍♂️ a small climbing wall (summertime);
•  🎾 tennis courts;

There is also a small buvette with an outdoor terrace and indoor space too.

[ ⇒ for a more detailed MBFF article about the Base de Loisirs des Belles, see here ]

address: Plaine des Belles, 74120 Praz-sur-Arly; 

🅿 parking: FREE parking on-site;

---

LES CONTAMINES-MONTJOIE

There are 3 playgrounds in Les Contamines-Montjoie, and they are all superb !

Espace de Loisirs des Loyers

Both a summer and winter destination (⛸ an outdoor ice-skating rink is constructed for the winter ski season here), the recently renovated 🌈 Espace de Loisirs des Loyers (1600 m2) is located close to the centre of town in Les Contamines-Montjoie.

In addition to the playground, in the warmer months you will find: pétanque, a skate-park and its own 🚵‍♀️ pumptrack. The pumptrack and playground are located next to the lovely Sentier de Découverte, an annotated pathway along the river, where you can learn all about the history, patrimoine and nature of the fabulous Les Contamines-Montjoie . . .

🅿️ parking: you can either park at the car park found further along the route de Notre Dame de la Gorge or in the car park next to the tourist office; from either location you have a short 5 to 10 minutes walk;

Le Parc de Loisirs du Pontet 

🌈 Le Parc de Loisirs du Pontet has a wonderful playground, which was just recently renovated, within the leisure park.

As it is located right next to the small 🚣‍♂️ boating and fishing lake, you’ll need to watch small children closely, as they’ll be next to the water’s edge . . .

Nearby is the ☕️ café and restaurant Le Chalet du Lac (you are still able to keep an eye on older children from here!).

good to know: in the ☀️ summertime in the park, are the bouncy castles, trampolines and quads run by Nash Mountain Games;

[ ⇒ read all about the 🌈 Le Parc de Loisirs du Pontet here ]

Aire de Jeux de l’Etape

It’s either a hike up the mountain or the 🚡 Télécabine de la Gorge that will get you to this playground at altitude, and there is also a winter edition for when you’re out skiing !

What a splendid spot for a playground this is, and it was entirely RENOVATED for the summer 2020, replete now with watergames and a chill-out zone!

The new (mostly wooden) playground is located next to the 💦 little lake (where babies and toddlers can paddle . . . and older children can swim, rent a pedalo or small pedal boat) and ☕️ Hotel Restaurant Bar de l’Etape.

[ ⇒ read all about this magical spot in a separate MBFF article ]

---

🇨🇭 NEARBY SWISS PLAYGROUNDS

The following 3 playgrounds are not located 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, but rather in 🇨🇭 neighbouring witzerland! They are all fabulous and would be entirely possible for a day visit.

NEW! Place de jeux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie (Geneva, Switzerland)

Admittedly, MBFF has not yet been to this NEW playground in the Bois-de-la-Bâtie in Geneva . . . but I am keen to take the boys before they get too big! It looks fabulous, and there are pataugeoires and water games in the summer!

( thanks to Kid’ing in Geneva and Les Petits Genevois, and the Ville de Genève for the photos )

[ ⇒ more information about the aire de jeux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie in Geneva here ]

CJBG botanical gardens Geneva, Switzerland)

The 🌷 botanical gardens (Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de Genève – CJBG) in Geneva – as well as the beautiful trees, plants and greenhouses (and lots of green grass to run around or picnic!), this park has a wonderful wooden playground, a magical carrousel in the warmer months, and 🦌 a small animal park! There is also a restaurant &snack bar on-site.

[ ⇒ see here to read MBFF’s article about the 🌷 botanical gardens ]

Parc Pré Vert (Signal de Bougy, near Rolle, Switzerland)

Over on the other side of 💦 Lac Léman, there is a wonderful 110 hectare parc de loisirs : Le Parc Pré Vert at Signal de Bougy.

You’ll find activities for the whole family and for the whole day (note: certain sections take a winter break until the February holidays) :

• woodland & a huge accrobranches;
• buggy-friendly walks;
• 🌈 playgrounds;
• 🌈 le Kid’zland – an amusement park and a petit train;
• 🦆 an animal park;
• ☕️ a spacious family-friendly restaurant & 🍏 picnic areas;
• 🎨 workshops for children and 🎭 an outdoor theatre;
• ⛳️ mini-golf;
• and more . . .

. . . and all with 🏔 a splendid view of Lac Léman and snowy peaks!

website & FB page