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 24 years!). Over 4 days – this year from Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th August 2019 – every afternoon and evening (15h30 until 18h30) the pedestrian streets of Sallanches, as well as the quais, the Pré de Foire, the Place de … Continue reading Festival « Les Enfants d’Abord » (Sallanches)
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) . . . … Continue reading La Maison du Salève (Présilly)
The long 🏖 SCHOOL SUMMER HOLIDAYS are soon to arrive here 🏔 au Pays du Mont Blanc . . . some of us may be going away, some of us may be staying in the mountains, many of you may be visiting our majestic mountains, valleys and lakes! So here is a round-up of some of the activities on offer to children and families 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc over the ☀️ summer … Continue reading SUMMER HOLIDAYS 2019 – workshops & stages, guided visits, spectacles, animations & storytelling for children au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Nearly a year 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 . . . and the 2019 edition is nearly here! So, what do you need to know about this extraordinary family event? What are Les … Continue reading Les Grandes Médiévales d’Andilly
You have perhaps heard that saying ☔️ “ there’s no such thing as bad weather; just badly dressed people “ ? (I heard this several times on a couple of work trips to 🇮🇸 Iceland!) . . . 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 can no longer actually see … Continue reading RAINY DAYS au Pays du Mont-Blanc
When I had my first baby 8 years ago, I had just moved to a new town 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc . . . I was quite lonely and keen to find baby activities and playgroups in order to get out and about and socialise a bit! Progressively, I discovered the 🌈 playgroups that were available locally for parents and babies (not many!) . . . … Continue reading BABY & TODDLER activities au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
🎄«Montreux-Noël»🎄officially opened yesterday, 22nd November, and will run until the 24th December . . . so this is the ideal day for me to share with you MBFF’s experience at this fabulous Christmas event and market, and some astuces too . . . I had wanted to go to the🎄Marché de Noël de Montreux🎄(part of the🎄«Montreux-Noël»🎄celebrations) for a very long time, and we finally managed to … Continue reading « Montreux-Noël » (Switzerland)
🌻 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)
The 📚 Médiathèque «Ange Abrate» in Sallanches finally opened its doors to the public on a ☔️ rainy morning – Saturday 17th March 2018 – with a day of animations for the whole family . . . The new médiathèque is spacious, with a very open-plan, bright and modern style of architecture. The Section Adulte is located on the ground floor, where you will also find 15 mulitimedia spots, … Continue reading Médiathèque «Ange Abrate» in Sallanches
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 Salève, to … Continue reading MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond)
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)
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)
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 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 Enid … Continue reading La Maison de la Créativité (Conches, Geneva)
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 six inspirational days of theatre, music, dance, circus and workshops from 20th to 26th October! The MBFF team absolutely LOVE 🎭 Les Petits Asticots – not only are the shows of high quality, the festival is local and its timing during … Continue reading Festival « Les Petits Asticots » (Pays du Mont-Blanc)
🗓 WEDNESDAYS are once again – 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc – 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. To join ⚽️ local sports clubs, or to sign up for activities at the MJC Chamonix, FJEP Passy, MJC Saint-Gervais or Le Palais in Megève, you will largely need to … Continue reading LES MERCREDIS – sport, workshops & creative activities (and relaxation!) for children au Pays du Mont-Blanc
Did you know that there was a 📚 university in the Chamonix Valley? It’s called La Petite Université – Chamonix Mont-Blanc! Subjects on offer include: glaciology, permaculture, photography, life drawing, French & English lessons and much, much more! A little information about founder and vice-president Juliette Craplet Juliette Craplet, the founder and vice-president of 📚 La Petite Université, told me a little bit more about the inspiration behind … Continue reading La Petite Université (Chamonix Valley)
🎨 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); a workshop for local artists; A little history Charlotte Paget is the protagonist in this artistic … Continue reading Le Chalet des Créateurs (Saint-Gervais-les-Bains)
