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

THEATRES & SPECTACLES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

We are so lucky here 🗻 au Pays du Mont-Blanc to have such high quality 🎭 theatre on our doorstep !  I sometimes have to pinch myself as I’m watching acrobats flip across the stage, or listening to a well-known musician, when I realise I am a 5mins walk from home, and NOT in a big city like 🇫🇷 Lyon or 🇨🇭 Geneva ! And … Continue reading THEATRES & SPECTACLES au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

SKI INDOOR 4810 – perfect your skiing INDOORS! (PASSY)

During the 2019 Toussaint holidays, MBFF was invited to test out the ⛷ new indoor ski centre in Passy: Ski Indoor 4810! The boys were really excited to dig out their 🎿 ski boots, helmets and gloves ahead of the official ski season, and to try out something so novel! Being a pretty mediocre skier myself, I was somewhat more apprehensive, but I was certainly intrigued … Continue reading SKI INDOOR 4810 – perfect your skiing INDOORS! (PASSY)

BIENVENUE à La Ferme Les Montagnards (Ormaret, COMBLOUX)

🇫🇷 Français – J’ai tout d’abord entendu parler de la ferme pédagogique 🐮  La Ferme Les Montagnards, située dans le petit village d’Ormaret à Combloux, grace à la crèche et à la garderie de mes fils – les deux y sont allées en excursion et sont rentrés avec des histoires sur leur “journée à la ferme”. . . J’ai ensuite découvert la ferme moi-même avec mon fils … Continue reading BIENVENUE à La Ferme Les Montagnards (Ormaret, COMBLOUX)

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)

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

There are several 🧬 BIG SCIENCE EVENTS that occur regularly 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc and beyond, and we have the annual 🧪 La Fête de la Science in autumn ! 🧪 La Fête de la Science – in October (annual); 🧪 La Nuit des Sciences – every two years in Geneva; 🧪 CERN Open Days – every few years, the CERN opens to the public; This got me thinking … Continue reading SCIENCE MUSEUMS, EVENTS & ACTIVITIES for families au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)

La Petite Université (CHAMONIX VALLEY)

Did you know that there was a 📚 university in the Chamonix Valley ? It’s called 📚 La Petite Université – Chamonix Mont-Blanc and it is now entering its 4th year! What is La Petite Université ? 📚 La Petite Université is an association offering cultural courses and complementary talks, events, outings and 🎨 workshops to people in their leisure time. The aim is to make learning accessible to … Continue reading La Petite Université (CHAMONIX VALLEY)

Festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » (SALLANCES)

As residents of Sallanches, we have watched the 🎭 children’s festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » get bigger and better each year! (the festival has now been running for a quarter of a century, with a couple of years of absence due to Covid!). Over 4 days, every afternoon and evening (15h30 until 18h30) the pedestrian streets of Sallanches, as well as the quais, the Pré de … Continue reading Festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » (SALLANCES)

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 Maison du Salève (PRÉSILLY)

Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly (27th ⇒ 29th May and 3rd & 4th June 2023!)

A few years ago now, the MBFF tribe headed to the 🎪 Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly with some friends and their children. We had a fabulous day (the whole family concurred and all of the friends too!). It really was a memorable day . . . So, what do you need to know about this 🎪 extraordinary family event? What are Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly? 🎪 Les Grandes Médiévales … Continue reading Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly (27th ⇒ 29th May and 3rd & 4th June 2023!)

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

Jardin des Cimes (PLATEAU d’ASSY)

🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes is a truly 🌷 magical alpine garden, with breathtaking views of 🏔 the Mont-Blanc massif. These very special gardens have captured our imagination on each of our visits and our children are always eager to show them off to our visitors! 🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes never loses its charm and each season brings new surprises 🌻 Le Jardin des Cimes (“ Garden of … Continue reading Jardin des Cimes (PLATEAU d’ASSY)

Médiathèque Ange Abrate (SALLANCHES)

The 📚 Médiathèque Ange Abrate in Sallanches opened its doors to the public on a ☔️ rainy morning in March 2018 . . . The new médiathèque is spacious, with a very open-plan, bright and modern style of architecture. Section Adulte The Section Adulte is located on the ground floor, where you will also find 💻 15 mulitimedia spots, for users to connect to the internet … Continue reading Médiathèque Ange Abrate (SALLANCHES)

[ Geneva, Nyon, Cluses & Annecy ] – FREE museums on FIRST SUNDAY of the month!

Throughout the year in 🇨🇭 Geneva and Nyon, from September ⇒ May in 🇫🇷 Cluses, and from October ⇒ May in 🇫🇷 Annecy, several 🖼 museums & 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. The next FREE Sunday will be 🗓 Sunday 5th March … Continue reading [ Geneva, Nyon, Cluses & Annecy ] – FREE museums on FIRST SUNDAY of the month!

Plaine-Joux SKIING & WINTER SPORTS (PASSY)

” Des forfaits à la carte, des pistes pour tous les niveaux avec un ensoleillement et un panorama exceptionnel face à la chaîne du Mont Blanc avec une altitude de 1358 à 1740 mètres ” – the Passy Mont-Blanc Tourisme website says it all! This is why we LOVED this station when our boys were small and learning to ski ! In fact, 🗻 Plaine-Joux remains one … Continue reading Plaine-Joux SKIING & WINTER SPORTS (PASSY)

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

LA MAISON de la CRÉATIVITÉ (Conches, Geneva)

The MBFF family visited 🎨 La Maison de la Créativité in 🇨🇭 Conches (on the outskirts of Geneva), on a crisp, sunny day in 2016 . . . what a magical discovery, for children and adults alike! A beautiful house (Villa Calandrini) set in copious grounds and surrounded by 🌳 woodland, with views of ⛰ the Salève mountain, and it even has its very own Faraway Tree ® (reference to … Continue reading LA MAISON de la CRÉATIVITÉ (Conches, Geneva)

Le Chalet des Créateurs (SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC)

🎨 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 and gifts to buy; 🎨 a centre providing workshops for children and adults throughout the year (and especially during the school holidays); 🎨  workshop facilities for local artists; A little history Charlotte Paget is the protagonist in … Continue reading Le Chalet des Créateurs (SAINT-GERVAIS MONT-BLANC)