Category: Passy & Environs

Agendas & Events, Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix Events, Cinemas, Combloux Events, Cordon Events, Geneva, Geneva Events, Le Chalet des Créateurs, Le Palais des Sports, Les Houches Events, Megève Events, Megève Médiathèque, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Passy Events, Rainy Days, Sallanches Events, Servoz Events, St Gervais Events, Theatre, Dance & Music, Vallorcine Events, Workshops & Stages

Les VACANCES de la TOUSSAINT au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond!)

If you are staying home 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (or visiting us) during the 🍂🍁🎃 Toussaint holidays (Saturday 19th October until Sunday 3rd November 2019), then you are in for a treat as there are plenty of family-friendly activities a-happening! Below, you will find some of the family and children’s festivals, 🎃 Halloween activities and more on offer 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond . . . And for a more … Continue reading Les VACANCES de la TOUSSAINT au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond!)

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Agendas & Events, Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix, Chamonix Events, Chamonix Valley, Les Houches, Les Houches Events, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Events, Rainy Days, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Events, Salle Léon Curral, Servoz, Servoz Events, St Gervais & Environs, St Gervais Events, Theatre, Dance & Music, Vallorcine, Vallorcine Events, Workshops & Stages

Festival « Les Petits Asticots » 19th > 25th October 2019 (Pays du Mont-Blanc)

The 18th edition of 🎭 Les Petits Asticots – the annual children’s festival 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, taking place during the 🍁 Toussaint school holidays – will be yet again offering families seven inspirational days of theatre, music, dance, circus and workshops from 19th > 25th October 2019! The MBFF family absolutely LOVE 🎭 Les Petits Asticots – not only are the shows of high quality, the festival is local and its … Continue reading Festival « Les Petits Asticots » 19th > 25th October 2019 (Pays du Mont-Blanc)

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Agendas & Events, Annecy & environs, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Chamonix Museums, Chamonix Valley Nature Reserves, Cluses & environs, Further France, Geneva, Geneva Museums, Haute-Savoie, La Réserve Naturelle de Passy, Lausanne, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Museums & Exhibitions, Rainy Days, Sallanches Museums, Switzerland, Weekend Escapes, Workshops & Stages

SCIENCE ACTIVITIES & MUSEUMS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

There are two 🧬 BIG SCIENCE EVENTS coming up 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond : 🧪 CERN Open Days – this weekend 14th & 15th September; 🧪 La Fête de la Science – from 5th until 13th October 2019; And this got me thinking about all of the 🧬 science events, activities, workshops, and museums that surround us 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc! What really put this little corner of … Continue reading SCIENCE ACTIVITIES & MUSEUMS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Aosta Valley, Arboretum de Ripaille, Arboretum National du Vallon de l’Aubonne, Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Castello Gamba (modern & contemporary art), Castles & Fortresses, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Evian, Geneva, Hiking & Strolling, Italy, Jaÿsinia Jardin Alpin in Samoëns, La Fondation Pierre Gianadda, La Maison du Salève, Le Jardin des 5 Sens, Le Jardin des Cimes, Le Parc Thermal, Le Parc Zoologique (Lyon), Les Jardins de l'Eau du Pré Curieux, Les Jardins Secrets Vaulx, Lyon, Maison de la Créativité, Martigny, Parc Animalier d’Introd, Parc aux Animaux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie, Parc de Loisirs du Pontet, Parc de Merlet Animal Park, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Parc La Grange, Parks, Woods & Gardens, Plateau d'Assy, Playgrounds & Softplay, Switzerland, Weekend Escapes, Yvoire, Zoo des Marécottes, Zoo la Garenne

AUTUMN PARKS & GARDENS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

🍁 Autumn is a lovely season to visit 🌳 parks and gardens: on the trees, a sharp palette rich in shades of gold, brown red, orange and yellow . . . underfoot, 🍂 a blanket of leaves crunching and sent fluttering when the children find a mound and run through them . . . a crisp, and often sunny day to accompany your exploits: playing and running, tree-climbing, LandArt, … Continue reading AUTUMN PARKS & GARDENS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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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 – creative activities, sport and relaxation for children au Pays du Mont-Blanc

🗓 WEDNESDAYS are in many of the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc communes, a day free from scholastic duties (for young children, at least!). A day to perhaps explore a new ⚽️ sport or 🎨 leisure activity, to relax at home or to head to garderie . . . Colour code for listings: Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz & environs) and Vallorcine Passy & environs Sallanches, Combloux, Cordon & Domancy St Gervais, … Continue reading LES MERCREDIS – creative activities, sport and relaxation for children au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Hiking & Strolling, Le Jardin des Cimes, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Plateau d'Assy

FAMILY HIKES: Jardin des Cimes to Refuge de Varan (Passy)

For a family hike, MBFF finds it a good idea to have a clear point of interest along the way: 💦 a waterfall, a glimpse of a glacier, a ride in 🚡 a télécabine or on a télésiège, 🦌 wildlife along the way . . . The hike that I am about to outline has VARIOUS points of interest – something for the whole family! I did a recce … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES: Jardin des Cimes to Refuge de Varan (Passy)

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Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Chamonix Valley, Combloux, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Cordon, Cordon Hikes & Strolls, Hiking & Strolling, Lacs des Ilettes, Les Contamines, Les Contamines & Environs, Les Houches, Les Houches Hikes & Strolls, Montenvers Train & Mer de Glace, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Praz-sur-Arly, Praz-sur-Arly Hikes & Strolls, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Servoz, St Gervais, St Gervais & Environs, Vallorcine

MBFF’s recommended family hikes au Pays du Mont-Blanc

With a now eight year old and a five year old in tow, the MBFF family is beginning to find its 🏔 hiking mojo (we hope). Here, below, you will find some of MBFF’s favourite (and tried and tested!) family hikes 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, with suggestions for buvettes and refuges: For general tips on hiking with small children see MBFF post . . . FAMILY HIKES – … Continue reading MBFF’s recommended family hikes au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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3D Nordic - Husky Dog Sledding & Canirando, Animal Antics, AQUATIS Aquarium & Vivarium, Élevage de Saint-Bernards,  Il Parco Villa Pallavicino (Stresa), Barryland - St-Bernard Museum, Chenil 3D Nordic, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Copponex, Domaine le Coulairon - Élevage de Rennes, Flumet, Kerzers, La Ferme aux Crocodiles (Pierrelatte), La Ferme de Chosal, La Ferme les Montagnards, La Réserve Naturelle de Passy, La Réserve Naturelle des Contamines, Lago Maggiore, Lausanne, Le Parc Zoologique (Lyon), Les Aigles du Léman (Sciez-sur-Léman), Les Marécottes, Lyon, Martigny Museums, Musée du Léman et Aquarium, Nyon, Papiliorama Butterfly Park, Parc Animalier d’Introd, Parc aux Animaux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie, Parc de Merlet Animal Park, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Parc des Oiseaux (Villars-les-Dombes), Parc du Chien Polaire, Safari de Peaugres, Tropicaland (Viry), Tropicarium de Servion, Vivarium de Meyrin Elapsoïdea, Zoo de Servion, Zoo des Marécottes, Zoo la Garenne

ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

We are 🐯 HUGE ANIMAL LOVERS here at MBFF  . . . and we are lucky to share our home with a couple of affectionate (and fairly tolerant!) 🐱🐱 felines. But perhaps some of you don’t have the home set-up to accommodate animal friends, or perhaps allergies are preventing you from doing so . . . Luckily – whether you live 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc or you are visiting – … Continue reading ANIMAL PARKS & AQUARIUMS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Agendas & Events, Annecy & environs, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Chamonix, Chamonix Valley, Combloux, Further France, Hiking & Strolling, Lakes & Swimming, Le Fayet, Megève & Environs, Passy & Environs, Sallanches & Environs, Servoz, St Gervais, St Gervais & Environs

SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (2019 ⇒ 2020)

There are plenty of 🚵‍♂️ SPORTS EVENTS for families and children au Pays du Mont-Blanc, and this article currently concentrates on those from autumn 2019 until winter 2020 – short runs, parcours for draisiennes, fun runs, obstacle races, colourful runs, charity events, husky dogsledding . . . In this updated article, you will first find: 🏊‍ a SPORTS EVENTS CALENDAR (I have included a few events that don’t … Continue reading SPORTS EVENTS for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (2019 ⇒ 2020)

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Babies & Toddlers, Hiking & Strolling, Lakes & Swimming, Passy, Passy & Environs, Plaine-Joux, Plateau d'Assy, Snowy Days

Le Lac Vert (PLAINE-JOUX)

The MBFF family members are regular visitors to 💦 Le Lac Vert in Plaine-Joux (Passy), and a visit last 🍂 autumn reminded me that I should write an article exclusively about this lovely alpine lake! A visit here is a great family day out: a short walk, with fun wooden walkways and some scrambling too, boulders to climb,🌲trees and 🏔 snowy mountain peaks reflected in the green waters of the lake, and … Continue reading Le Lac Vert (PLAINE-JOUX)

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Annecy & environs, Combloux Swimming, Geneva, Lac de Passy, Lac Léman, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Les Contamines Sport & Adventure, Plan d'Eau Biotope, Weekend Escapes

LAKES & WATERSPORTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc we are lucky to have 💦 several swimming lakes with stunning mountain views . . . while the perfect spot for strolling and biking in autumn and winter, come the balmy days of spring and summer, the water warms and the lakes start to get busy with bathers and ⛵️ watersport enthusiasts (at Lac de Passy and Lacs des Ilettes: windsurfing, paddle boarding, SUP yoga, … Continue reading LAKES & WATERSPORTS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Babies & Toddlers, Le Jardin des Cimes, Parks, Woods & Gardens, Passy & Environs, Plateau d'Assy, Workshops & Stages, Yoga & Spas

Le Jardin des Cimes (Plateau d’Assy)

🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes is a truly 🌷 magical garden at altitude, with breathtaking views of 🏔 the Mont Blanc Massif. 🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes (“ Garden of the Summits ”) has revitalised the area of Plateau d’Assy; not only are the gardens and ☕️ café a delight for locals and tourists alike, but jobs have been created and there are plenty of activities and 🌲workshops on offer for families and schools, … Continue reading Le Jardin des Cimes (Plateau d’Assy)

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Agendas & Events, Annecy & environs, Aosta Valley, Aosta Valley Castles, Arboretum de Ripaille, Arboretum National du Vallon de l’Aubonne, Aubonne, Chamonix, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Chamonix Parks & Gardens, Chamonix Valley, CJBG - Geneva's Botanical Gardens, Evian, Geneva, Hiking & Strolling, Italy, Jaÿsinia Jardin Alpin in Samoëns, Lago Maggiore, Le Jardin des 5 Sens, Le Jardin des Cimes, Les Houches, Les Houches Hikes & Strolls, Les Jardins de l'Eau du Pré Curieux, Les Jardins Secrets Vaulx, Morges, Parc La Grange, Parks, Woods & Gardens, Passy, Passy & Environs, Plateau d'Assy, Saillon, Salève & environs, Sallanches, Sallanches & Environs, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls, Samoëns, Switzerland, Thonon-les-Bains, Weekend Escapes, Yvoire

SPRING & SUMMER BLOSSOMS and FLOWERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

According to the 🌳 Marronier de la Treille’s first blossom (Geneva), yesterday – Tuesday 12th March 2019 – was the first official day of 🌺 spring! (see below for more explanations). 🌷 Springtime – when 🌱 crocuses first timidly reach out to the sun from their bed of grass, when the first 🌺 almond and cherry blossoms appear in their splendid hues of pink, when magnolia trees blossom in splendid glory, when spring flower … Continue reading SPRING & SUMMER BLOSSOMS and FLOWERS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Babies & Toddlers, Passy, Passy & Environs, Plaine-Joux, Plaine-Joux Skiing, Plaine-Joux Snow Shoeing, Plaine-Joux Sport & Adventure, Skiing, Workshops & Stages

Plaine-Joux Skiing (Passy)

While the children are young and learning how to ski, or if you have beginner skiers in your group, then ⛷ Plaine-Joux in Passy is the ideal ski station 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc for multiple reasons: ⛷ it’s a small, family-oriented ski resort; ⛷ there are 12km of wide, gentle, sunny pistes (green, blue and red) with stunning views of the Mont Blanc Massif; ⛷ this is an affordable ski resort, … Continue reading Plaine-Joux Skiing (Passy)

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Argentière Sledging, Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix Sledging, Combloux Sledging, Cordon Sledging, Crest-Voland, Hiking & Strolling, Les Contamines Sledging, Les Houches Sledging, Megève Sledging, Plaine-Joux Sledging, Praz-sur-Arly Sledging, Saint Nicolas de Véroce Sledging, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains sledging, Servoz Sledging, Sledging & Ice-Skating, Snowy Days, Vallorcine Sledging

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

❄️ DECEMBER SNOWFALL ❄ au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . often we have a snow flurry in October or November, but the snow of autumn 2018 is teasing us! When the ❄ first snow arrives, the delight and excitement is catching: 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) . … Continue reading PISTES de LUGE au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Gypaètes Barbus © Antoine Rezer Photography
"Made in", Agendas & Events, Animal Antics, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Events, Workshops & Stages

Bon Anniversaire, Gypaète Barbu! (© Antoine Rezer Photography)

The gypaète barbu celebrated two big birthdays in 2017: 30 years since its successful re-introduction into France (1987); and 20 years since the first gypaète was born in the Alps (1997); Some gypaète barbu facts: NAME – the gypaetus barbatus is what is known as an «Old World vulture»; ie it resides in Africa, Asia and Europe, as opposed to the Americas; SIZE – the gypaète barbu … Continue reading Bon Anniversaire, Gypaète Barbu! (© Antoine Rezer Photography)

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Babies & Toddlers, Biking, Scooting & Skating, Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Combloux, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Hiking & Strolling, Lac de Passy, Lac des Chavants, Lacs des Ilettes, Lakes & Swimming, Parcours d'Orientation Lac des Chavants, Passy, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Plaine-Joux, Sallanches, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: lakes in autumn au Pays du Mont-Blanc

After a visit to Japan during the magical time of 🍁 « autumn leaves », I never thought that autumn would inspire me in the same way again . . . But then I returned home to the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc, and was charmed all over again by the palette of red, ochre, gold and orange covering the trees, crunching under my feet and reflected in … Continue reading BUGGY WALKS & FAMILY STROLLS: lakes in autumn au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Chamonix Hikes & Strolls, Combloux Hikes & Strolls, Cordon Hikes & Strolls, Hiking & Strolling, Le Fayet Hikes & Strolls, Le Jardin des Cimes, Le Parc Thermal, Les Gorges de la Diosaz, Parc de Merlet Animal Park, Parks, Woods & Gardens, Passy Hikes & Strolls, Praz-sur-Arly Hikes & Strolls, Sallanches Hikes & Strolls

FAMILY HIKES – tips for hiking with small children

2019 update – this appears to be a very popular article on the MBFF website, so I have updated it with a few new suggestions for family walks! ⛰ Family hiking with small children is not 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 … Continue reading FAMILY HIKES – tips for hiking with small children

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Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix Playgrounds, Further France, Lac de Passy, Les Contamines Playgrounds, Passy, Playgrounds & Softplay, Rainy Days, Sallanches Playgrounds, Sallanches Softplay, Sallanches Softplay, Vallorcine Playgrounds, Vitam (Neydens)

SOFTPLAY, INDOOR PLAY & BOUNCY CASTLES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc, we are lucky to have a 🌈 softplay option in the industrial zone of Sallanches for those ☔️ RAINY DAYS all year round . . . and in the ☀️ summer months, plenty of bouncy castles spring up in lovely locations too . . . and further afield in the 🇫🇷 Arve Valley and beyond, there are some larger softplay and indoor play areas . . . … Continue reading SOFTPLAY, INDOOR PLAY & BOUNCY CASTLES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

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Biking, Scooting & Skating, Hiking & Strolling, Lac de Passy, Lakes & Swimming, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Hikes & Strolls

Lac de Passy

💦 Lac de Passy, officially referred to these days as a Base de Loisirs (due to the numerous leisure activities on offer), is the largest lake in the Pays du Mont-Blanc. Ideal for a 🏊‍♂️ swim and a splash during the summer months, it is also frequented by 🚵‍♀️ cyclists,🏃‍♀️joggers, buggy-walkers, 🎣 fishing enthusiasts, windsurfers, paddle-boarders and dog-walkers (NB 🐶 dogs are not permitted at the beach or criques ends of the lake during … Continue reading Lac de Passy

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Babies & Toddlers, Chamonix Playgroups, Passy Playgroups, Rainy Days, Sallanches Playgroups

BABY & TODDLER PLAYGROUPS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

What you’ll find in this post, is a list of baby & toddler playgroups au Pays du Mont-Blanc that you can just pop along to for FREE! For a much more detailed list of 🌈 Baby & Toddler Activities au Pays du Mont-Blanc, see separate post. Colour code for listings: Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz & Vallorcine) Passy & environs Sallanches, Combloux, Cordon & Domancy St Gervais, Le … Continue reading BABY & TODDLER PLAYGROUPS au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Chamonix Cinema Vox, Cinéma la Caméra, Cinemas, Les Houches Cinébus, Megève Cinema, Rainy Days, Sallanches Cinema

Cinemas au Pays du Mont-Blanc

🏔 Au Pays du Mont-Blanc, there is one large cinema complex in Sallanches – the 🎥 Ciné Mont-Blanc, and then a scattering of smaller screens, which have lots of personality!  During the summer months, many of the communes screen FREE outdoor films, so be sure to look at Tourist Office agendas for this lovely initiative. Chamonix Chamonix’s 🎥 Cinéma VOX is a bit of an institution. There are VO films … Continue reading Cinemas au Pays du Mont-Blanc

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Babies & Toddlers, Lac de Passy, Passy, Passy & Environs, Passy Playgrounds, Plateau d'Assy Playground, Playgrounds & Softplay

Passy Playgrounds

Jardin des Cimes in Plateau d’Assy This is not a conventional playground – and neither is it free (as you have to pay an entrance fee to enter the gardens) . . . but I’ve included it in this Passy Playgrounds post, as you can’t find many playgrounds with such an incredible view of 🏔 the Mont-Blanc massif . . . These wooden structures at 🌷 Le … Continue reading Passy Playgrounds

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