Category: Museums & Exhibitions

Annecy & environs, Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Chamonix, Chamonix Valley, Cinemas, Combloux, Cordon, Further France, Hiking & Strolling, Lac Léman, Lakes & Swimming, Le Fayet, Les Contamines & Environs, Les Houches, Megève, Megève & Environs, Museums & Exhibitions, Parent Pampering, Parks, Woods & Gardens, Passy & Environs, Plaine-Joux, Plateau d'Assy, Playgrounds & Softplay, Praz-sur-Arly, Rainy Days, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Servoz, Sledging & Ice-Skating, St Gervais, St Gervais & Environs, Switzerland, Vallorcine, Weekend Escapes

SUMMER ACTIVITIES for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

I thought it might be useful to have at hand on one general list some of the activities available for families & children au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond) this summertime . . . so, if you reside au Pays du Mont-Blanc, or if you are visiting the Pays du Mont-Blanc this July & August, here are perhaps some fresh ideas for summer activities for families, come rain or shine . … Continue reading SUMMER ACTIVITIES for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Agendas & Events, Babies & Toddlers, Geneva, Geneva Events, Geneva Museums, MAH - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, MEG - Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Switzerland, Weekend Escapes

Geneva – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!

Throughout the year in Geneva (and also from October until May in Cluses & Annecy) many of the museums and their temporary exhibitions are FREE on the FIRST Sunday of the month!  In addition, the museums often put on some wonderful workshops/guided tours for children and families (also FREE) on this day.  See here for more details about this fantastic initiative! *NB – this initiative does not apply … Continue reading Geneva – FREE museums on first Sunday of the month!

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2KM3 Car Park, Agendas & Events, Annecy & environs, Annemasse & environs, Barryland - St-Bernard Museum, Chamonix Museums, Forte di Bard, Geneva Museums, La Fondation Pierre Gianadda, La Maison du Salève, Le Musée Montagnard Les Houches, MAH - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Maison de la Créativité, Martigny Museums, MEG - Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Parent Pampering, Rainy Days, Saint Nicolas de Véroce, Sallanches Museums, Weekend Escapes, Workshops & Stages

Museums & Exhibitions au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

We are lucky to have some wonderful museums au Pays du Mont-Blanc, many housed in architectural gems (old, new and renovated) . . . and as well as their permanent collections, they also offer temporary exhibitions and workshops for children and families over the school holidays! And if we venture further than the Pays du Mont-Blanc – to Cluses, to Annemasse, to la Maison du … Continue reading Museums & Exhibitions au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Agendas & Events, Aosta Valley, Forte di Bard, Italy, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Weekend Escapes

«Wildlife Photographer of the Year» (Forte di Bard)

It was quite by chance in the spring of 2014 that we discovered that we could enjoy the «Wildlife Photographer of the Year» exhibition fairly close to home, right near the Pays du Mont-Blanc!  I had always enjoyed visiting the London-based exhibition at the Natural History Museum (*NB «Wildlife Photographer of the Year» competition/exhibition is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London*), and was excited to find … Continue reading «Wildlife Photographer of the Year» (Forte di Bard)

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3D Nordic - Husky Dog Sledding & Canirando, Agendas & Events, Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Hiking & Strolling, Lac de Passy, Lac des Chavants, Lakes & Swimming, Le Jardin des Cimes, Le Paradis des Praz, Museums & Exhibitions, Parks, Woods & Gardens, Playgrounds & Softplay, Rainy Days, Sallanches Softplay, Theatre, Dance & Music

Baby & Toddler Activities au Pays du Mont-Blanc

When I had my first baby seven years ago, I had just moved to a new town in the Pays du Mont-Blanc, away from a network of friends . . . I rather short-sightedly thought that this would be the opportunity to make new discoveries, and to have new adventures.  In effect, it was . . . but at times I was also incredibly lonely, … Continue reading Baby & Toddler Activities au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Agendas & Events, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Museums, Workshops & Stages

Les P’tits Experts de la Nature workshops (Sallanches)

Every Wednesday afternoon during the French school holidays, the Centre de la Nature Montagnarde in Sallanches organises worshops for children aged 6 to 12 years called Les P’tits Experts de la Nature. Children are given a certificate booklet when they do their first workshop and they collect a stamp for each completed workshop.  During their 2-hour workshop, they become little “experts” in different fields of nature! My son … Continue reading Les P’tits Experts de la Nature workshops (Sallanches)

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Further France, Hiking & Strolling, La Maison du Salève, Museums & Exhibitions, Parks, Woods & Gardens, Workshops & Stages

La Maison du Salève (Présilly)

A visit to La Maison du Salève makes for a wonderful family day out . . . originally an 18th century farm from the Chartreuse de Pomier (La Ferme de Mikerne – see here for more history), the building has been renovated to host a cultural centre recounting the history of the Salève mountain and its environs (a permanent interactive exhibition) and temporary exhibitions . . . and … Continue reading La Maison du Salève (Présilly)

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Agendas & Events, Geneva Museums, Le Chalet des Créateurs, Le Jardin des Cimes, Les Houches Cinébus, MAH - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, MEG - Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Workshops & Stages

Les mercredis – workshops, sport & creative activities for children au Pays du Mont-Blanc

Each year, during the period just after La Rentrée – up and down the valley – there were plentiful events for children and parents to find out more about possible activities/sports to sign-up for, either on Wednesdays or on other days of the week; there are forums and portes ouvertes from: MJC Chamonix; FJEP Passy; MJC Saint-Gervais; various sports clubs au Pays du Mont-Blanc (Fêtes des Sports in … Continue reading Les mercredis – workshops, sport & creative activities for children au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Le Chalet des Créateurs, Museums & Exhibitions, Shopping & Crafts, St Gervais, St Gervais & Environs, Workshops & Stages

Le Chalet des Créateurs (Saint-Gervais-les-Bains)

Le Chalet des Créateurs in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is a fabulous venture, bringing together: a gallery showcasing local creative talent (45+ créateurs, with collections changing with each season); a boutique with unique hand-made, local goods/gifts to buy; a centre providing workshops for children and adults throughout the year (and especially during the school holidays); there are plans to set up workshps for local artists; A little history Charlotte Paget is the protagonist … Continue reading Le Chalet des Créateurs (Saint-Gervais-les-Bains)

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2KM3 Car Park, Agendas & Events, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, St Gervais, St Gervais & Environs

2KM3 – when a car park becomes ARTWORK! (Saint-Gervais)

A contingent of the MBFF team (the youngest member and myself) headed off last week on a voyage of art exploration and discovery . . . to the newly painted multi-storey car park in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains: 2KM3. This new art project really is a masterpiece: an alternative museum of street art, a FREE museum, a museum open every day of the year! Parking one’s car has … Continue reading 2KM3 – when a car park becomes ARTWORK! (Saint-Gervais)

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Aosta Valley, Forte di Bard, Italy, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Weekend Escapes

Forte di Bard (Italy)

The MBFF team are big fans of Italy for holidays!  As a destination from the Arve Valley, it is easy to get there through the Mont Blanc Tunnel and we can also book hotels and apartments last minute!  Italians LOVE children (and not just well-behaving children; ALL children!), the food is very family-friendly (and delicious!), and there is endless nature and culture to explore. We … Continue reading Forte di Bard (Italy)

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La Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Martigny, Martigny Museums, Museums & Exhibitions, Parent Pampering, Switzerland

La Fondation Pierre Gianadda (Martigny)

La Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny is one of my all time favourite museums!  There are some fantastic temporary exhibitions organised here (every 6 months the main exhibition is changed, and past exhibtions have included: Klee, Goya, Rodin, Giacometti, Moore, Modigliani, Claudel, Chagall, Braque, Dégas, Manet, Dufy, Miró, Gauguin, Bonnard, Van Gogh, Picasso, Morisot . . . ), the building itself is an architectural gem (to … Continue reading La Fondation Pierre Gianadda (Martigny)

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Le Musée Montagnard Les Houches, Les Houches, Les Houches Museums, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days

Le Musée Montagnard (Les Houches)

The Musée Montagnard is housed in one of the oldest 18th century houses in the centre of Les Houches and has been arranged to show three typical rooms of such a house: the pèle (bedroom/living room), the outa (kitchen) and the sarte (pantry).  The museum houses a rich collection of traditional furniture and objects, largely provided by M. Albert Laprade, the eminent architect-urbanist, who was keen to protect the heritage of … Continue reading Le Musée Montagnard (Les Houches)

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Babies & Toddlers, Barryland - St-Bernard Museum, Martigny, Martigny Museums, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days

Barryland – Musée et Chiens du Saint-Bernard (Martigny)

We first visited Barryland – Musée et Chiens du Saint-Bernard with a dog-loving and inquisitive 3 year old and a sleeping (mostly!) newborn baby in a pram . . . this visit coincided with the arrival of St-Bernard puppies! Last year we visited again and this visit coincided with another litter of cute puppies, but also with the most wonderful Easter Egg Hunt in the grounds next … Continue reading Barryland – Musée et Chiens du Saint-Bernard (Martigny)

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Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Sallanches, Sallanches Museums

Centre de la Nature Montagnarde (Sallanches)

Set in the historic 14th century Château des Rubins, just behind the Eglise Saint-Jacques in Sallanches, the Centre de la Nature Montagnarde is a museum dedicated to the Alps.   Set across 5 floors, an interactive journey transports visitors rom glaciology and geology, to some close encounters with the resident taxidermy (a wolf, a lynx and a bear, among others!).  As well as panels explaining … Continue reading Centre de la Nature Montagnarde (Sallanches)

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Chamonix, Chamonix Museums, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days

Chamonix Museums

Chamonix has a great selection of museums, and these museums often offer creative workshops or guided tours for children during the school holidays (the Tourist Office will have a list of those scheduled during your stay). In Chamonix town itself you will find; the Musée Alpin; the Espace Tairraz (Musée d’Alpinisme et des Cristaux); the Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine Janny Couttet (see below for … Continue reading Chamonix Museums

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Geneva, Geneva Museums, MEG - Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days

MEG – Musée d’Ethnographie de Genève

One of MBFF’s favourite museums in Geneva is the MEG (le Musée d’Ethnographie de Genève) . . . we watched as it was being built and we were excited when it opened its shiny new doors to the public! The adventure starts before you even enter the museum – the architecture is modern and audacious (designed by Graber Pulver Architekten AG) and there is a pretty landscaped garden (Hager … Continue reading MEG – Musée d’Ethnographie de Genève

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Geneva, Geneva Museums, MAH - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days

MAH – Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (Geneva)

One of the largest museums in Switzerland, the MAH – Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, displays over 650 000 sculptures, objects and paintings over 5 floors. Built in 1910 by the architect Marc Camoletti, the museum is located in the old town, and so is a short walk from plenty of other family delights. We thoroughly enjoyed our last visit here, concentrating on just a couple of … Continue reading MAH – Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (Geneva)

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Geneva, Geneva Museums, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days

Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Geneva)

Geneva’s Natural History Museum (Muséum Genève) has been our go-to museum on rainy days for the last 6 years!  We have, over the years, pushed a sleeping baby around the exhibits here, watched our toddlers crawl/run/topple over, and we have spent plenty of time running after them too! What a wonderful museum this is!  Set across 4 floors, the permanent exhibits include: local fauna, animals of the … Continue reading Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Geneva)

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