Château de Saint-Michel: castle ruins, forest and a parcours d’orientation (SERVOZ)

Are you aware that there are  castle ruins in  the Chamonix Valley ? You’ll find the ruins of the  Château de Saint-Michel, a 14th century fortress built under the orders of Béatrix de Savoie, dame de Faucigny, in Servoz. The  castle ruins sit on a hilltop (860m), surrounded by trees, and the only remaining vestiges are the tower and parts of the wall, now covered in vegetation (especially verdant in summertime!). The  castle was built … Continue reading Château de Saint-Michel: castle ruins, forest and a parcours d’orientation (SERVOZ)

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

We are lucky to have some 🖼 wonderful museums 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and in the Chamonix Valley, many housed in architectural gems (old, renovated and new). . . and as well as their permanent collections, they also offer 🎨 temporary exhibitions and workshops for children and families over the school holidays! ⇒ see also MBFF articles: 🖼 OUTDOOR ART EXHIBITIONS & EPHEMERAL OUTDOOR ART au Pays du … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

10 ideas for JEUX de PISTE and CHASSES au TRÉSOR au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

🗺 Outdoor games can be a great way to keep youngsters entertained while on a hike en famille, or used as an educational approach to learning about one of our mountain villages or towns here 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc. These 🗺 outdoor games take all sorts of different forms: 🦌 thematic trails to learn about the local patrimoine or nature & animals; 🗺 informative … Continue reading 10 ideas for JEUX de PISTE and CHASSES au TRÉSOR au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

Festival « Les Petits Asticots » 22nd ⇒ 28th October 2022 (Pays du Mont-Blanc & Chamonix Valley)

🎭 Les Petits Asticots – the fabulous annual children’s festival 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc & in the Chamonix Valley, which takes place during the 🍁 Toussaint school holidays – will be yet again offering families seven inspirational days of theatre, music, dance, circus and workshops from 22nd ⇒ 28th October 2022! This year is the 20th edition of the festival! The MBFF family absolutely LOVE 🎭 Les … Continue reading Festival « Les Petits Asticots » 22nd ⇒ 28th October 2022 (Pays du Mont-Blanc & Chamonix Valley)

25 of MBFF’s FAVOURITE FAMILY HIKES au Pays du Mont-Blanc

With a now 12 year old and a 9 year old in tow, the MBFF family is beginning to find its 🏔 hiking mojo (mostly!). Here, below, you will find some of our favourite (and tried and tested!) family hikes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, with suggestions for 🥤 buvettes and 🏚 refuges for a snack, lunch or overnight! [ ⇒ for 🏔 general tips on hiking with … Continue reading 25 of MBFF’s FAVOURITE FAMILY HIKES au Pays du Mont-Blanc

RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

You have perhaps heard that saying ☔️ “ there’s no such thing as bad weather; just badly dressed people “ ? Well, I heard this several times on a couple of work trips to 🇮🇸 Iceland . . . and that may well be, but even the strongest of resolves can be broken by 🌧 DAYS and DAYS of rainy weather in the mountains (especially when you … Continue reading RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

BABY-CHAM goes orienteering in the Chamonix Valley!

A couple of years ago, 🌈 Baby-Cham (the owner of the company and her little helpers) went to test out a couple of the (then) new 🧭 parcours d’orientation (orienteering routes) in the 🏔 Chamonix Valley. You may have seen some of the maps in your local tourist offices or on large panels on-site? The Chamonix Valley has developed 6 orienteering routes for you to enjoy, … Continue reading BABY-CHAM goes orienteering in the Chamonix Valley!

PUMPTRACKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

I shall be honest, I had never even heard of 🚵‍♀️ a pumptrack before we discovered the 🚵‍♀️ pumptrack in Combloux! So, what is 🚵‍♀️ a pumptrack? It is a circuit, with ups and downs and turns, on which the 🚵‍♂️ cyclist / 🛹 skater / 🛴 scooter can keep moving simply through “pumping” (no need for pedal action, once moving). Not just for cyclists (BMX, VTT), it … Continue reading PUMPTRACKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

PISTES de LUGE au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and nearby)

The ❄️ FIRST SNOWFALL au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . when the ❄ first snowflakes arrive, the excitement and delight run high for the whole family: walks knee-deep (or shoulder-deep for the little ones!) in the white fluffy stuff, ❄ snowball fights, ⛄️ making a snowman (or perhaps a snowcat or other snow animal) . . . and 🛷 SLEDGING FUN! [ note: due to the limited snow at … Continue reading PISTES de LUGE au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and nearby)

FAMILY HIKES – MBFF’s tips for hiking with small children

⛰ FAMILY HIKING with small children is not always a simple task! Well, perhaps it is for some families . . . perhaps your children were born hikers! But for many of us, getting our children to 🏔 LOVE hiking in the mountains is not a given. Both of my sons had periods around the age of 18 months when they decided that the backpack was no … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES – MBFF’s tips for hiking with small children

Les Gorges de la Diosaz (SERVOZ)

A visit to 💦 Les Gorges de la Diosaz natural site makes for a wonderful visit en famille, come 🌧 rain or ☀️ shine (we have visited during both weather scenarios here at MBFF!). You are in the shade for most of the walk, so this is a great option during ☀️ a summer heatwave, as well as on 🌧 a slightly drizzly day! It is quite the experience to walk along the … Continue reading Les Gorges de la Diosaz (SERVOZ)