Top 10 museums with children in Charente-Maritime

We often tend to associate museums with long and exhausting visits, not suitable for children, and this is a mistake. In Charente-Maritime in particular, museums offer fun activities, educational visits and workshops adored by little ones who spend the day having fun. With family or friends, take your children to one of the 10 museums that we are going to present to you in Charente-Maritime.

Top 10 museums with children in Charente-Maritime

1. Planet Exotica in Royan
2. The Miniature Museum to feel grown up!
3. The Gallo-Roman Museum of Fâ!
4. The Museum of Old Trades in Rochefort
5. The Paleosite, a dive into prehistory
6. The Regulus Caves, all in shells
7. The La Rochelle Aquarium, a must-see
8. The Arsenal of the Seas, ship's ahoy!
9. The Fortified Castle of Saint-Jean-d'Angle
10. The Rochefort Transporter Bridge, unique!

Planet Exotica, an immersion in an exotic universe in Royan

Just 10 minutes from the Grande Conche beach in Royan, take your children to an extraordinary world where an impressive collection of live reptiles will thrill young and old alike. Open year-round, it offers entertainment and fun activities in the Indian village, with a gold rush and an introduction to paleontology. Snakes, crocodiles, insects, and other animals are gathered in this Children's amusement park. Visit the dinosaur museum, admire the crocodile exhibition and discover exotic curiosities with your offspring who will surely be fascinated by all this new information.

The Miniature Museum, a unique place to visit with children

These are not Playmobil figures or dolls, but rather characters, villages and regions recreated in miniature by Élizabeth Lapierre, a woman with magic hands who bring her window displays to life. On the banks of the Charente in Saint-Savinien, she sculpts, polishes and paints figurines, furniture , establishments and situations that tell the story of life at the beginning of the 20th century. Her workshop is surprising because she uses cardboard calendars, crates, fabric, threads and paper to create her models, which are astonishingly detailed and realistic. Children are amazed by these miniatures, which are so realistic, and discover history in a different way. Older children can even participate in workshops to create the reflection of their imagination.

The Gallo-Roman Museum and Site of Fâ, an incredible archaeological site for a family outing

Step back in time on a 50-hectare area where ongoing excavations reveal life in the Gallo-Roman era. Between temples, baths, theaters, ports and warehouses, the finds are incredible and worth a detour for a family day out. Accessible to strollers and babies, the paths lead to various sections to target your information needs. The interactive and modern museum is ideal for showing children the tools and objects used at the time. With activities, guided tours, fun trails and excavation workshops, the youngest will not be bored. They are even offered a surprise at the end of the day if they have discovered the mystery word in their booklet.

The Museum of Old-Fashioned Trade, a reconstruction of the 1900s in Rochefort

You can't go wrong, everything comes from the 1900s ! It was Christine and Jean-François who had the crazy idea of opening this unusual museum. which makes so nostalgic. Passionate about this era reflecting the life of our grandparents, they scour flea markets and garage sales in search of objects, advertising items and furniture to reconstruct this period in a former 20th century warehouse on 4 levels. For 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, immerse your children in a world that already seems far away, a fun and educational way to show them that today's world was once different. With family or friends, escape into your memories and share them with the little ones.

The Paléosite, an interactive museum space ideal for children in Saint-Césaire

Come early to make the most of this unusual and fascinating site. Prehistory will be at the heart of your visit with life-size representations of Neanderthal habitats, animals, and camps. Do your children like to walk? Stroll through the 10-hectare park to see the mammoth cemetery and the Homo Sapiens village, a stroller-accessible trail for a peaceful family outing. Or maybe not, since two interactive rooms show you your face in prehistoric style ! Don't worry, the features aren't fixed, but they'll make the children laugh. And that's not all! A face-painting workshop and a gazebo are available for them to have fun and paint a reproduction of a cave wall as they wish. The little extra? The park is free for children under 6.

The Regulus Caves, a must-see place to take your children in Charente-Maritime

Open 7 days a week between April and November, the Grottes du Régulus is a troglodyte site dug into the limestone cliffs in the commune of Meschers. The originally natural holes were then enlarged by man to become a habitat in the 19th century. Geology, estuary, fishing and tourism, the place raises many questions that Minidik, a small shrimp and Lady Bubulle the dragonfly also ask. Throughout the visit, children are invited to help these animals find the answers, a fun and educational game rewarded by a draw and nice prizes to be won. Designed as a walking trail, the Rallye de la Cagouille allows children to discover the Grottes du Régulus while walking and having fun. This is the perfect family outing if you are near Royan.

The La Rochelle Aquarium, a must-see visit to dazzle your children in Charente-Maritime

Facing the old port, you can't miss this incredible building which brings together more than 12,000 marine animals . Designated as one of the largest private aquariums in Europe , it offers a dazzling 2-hour visit through different spaces according to their typicality. Speckled seahorses, octopuses, parrotfish, turtles and sharks, admire the ocean floor and let yourself be enchanted by the species of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the tropics. Children will love filling in the activity book to discover the marine world according to the ocean's color code. Information, illustrations and educational games, they will quickly have discovered all the secrets of the Aquarium La Rochelle. Children, babies or teenagers, everyone can enter this soothing universe.

L'Arsenal des mers, your children are the sailors for the day in Rochefort

Experience an extraordinary adventure on the banks of the Charente through a multitude of activities accessible to young and old alike. You will quickly be immersed in the atmosphere with a passionate storyteller dressed as Gilbert du Motier who tells you his story aboard the Hermione. The day continues with a visit to the Fabrique de l'Arsenal on an immersive tour, before joining the Corderie Royale. Built by Louis 14, this incredible factory is longer than the Eiffel Tower. Discover all the secrets of ropemaking with your children who will be delighted to participate in the educational workshops. The Maritime Museum tells the maritime history of Rochefort, but what attracts the youngest is especially the Accro-Mâts, an outdoor adventure park perfect for a family day out. In summer, extend the evening in front of the luminous and multi-sensory night show, the Oceania Lumina, which amazes children and parents every year.

The Château Fort de Saint-Jean-d'Angle, an immersion in the 12th century in Charente-Maritime

More than a visit, this medieval fortified castle offers you a real adventure. Visit the furnished castle, a listed historical monument, before transforming yourself into a knight. Puzzle games, archery stands and trebuchet shooting, the day promises to be lively with the children! Disguised in period costumes, you can enjoy the many activities on offer. Rediscover touch on a barefoot path for an amazing multi-sensory experience, visit the 5th century castle mound and pet the farmyard animals for an immediate dive into the Middle Ages. Have fun with friends or family for 3 hours with young and old in a medieval atmosphere on a 15-hectare park. Even strollers can ride on these large protected natural spaces.

The Rochefort transporter bridge, a dizzying experience in Charente-Maritime

This is a very unusual way to cross the Charente to get to Échillais, and the kids will love it ! Built between 1898 and 1900, this Rochefort Transporter Bridge is a maritime ingenuity, designed by Ferdinand Arnodin, to streamline traffic flow between Rochefort and Échillais. After closure and renovations, it reopened in 2020 to welcome cyclists and pedestrians on its steel structure. Every 10 to 15 minutes, the gondola transports young and old to the other side of the Charente, a fun and playful crossing that offers a magnificent panorama of the river. The more curious can visit the ferry house to understand the bridge's operation and mechanism. A virtual crossing is even available if you don't have the opportunity to do it in real life. All that's missing is the breeze in your hair; it's like being there.

It's certain that the children will sleep well after so many visits to museums. Be careful, they'll want to do it again because they had so much fun. We told you, visiting museums with children in Charente-Maritime is a pleasure.

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