France is always an enticing destination for families with children, and Languedoc is no different. Kids are welcome in most restaurants and at tourist attractions, many at children’s prices and with targeted tours and activities.
The long sandy beaches lining Languedoc’s Mediterranean coast are ideal for all ages, from toddlers clutching buckets and spades, to older children paddling on pedalos. A string of water-sports kiosks offer high-octane activities for adventurous types.
For older kids, forests are strung with treetop canopy trails and ziplines, while wild gorges beg to be discovered by canoe, and craggy mountains call for off-road hiking and biking. Camargue has wild white horses and flocks of flamingos to grab the interest of animal lovers.
The Pyrenees are prime walking areas for teenagers and older children. Ask in tourist offices for information on easy, well-signposted family walks, or contact a local guide. Many festivals are geared towards children, from the joutes nautiques (nautical jousts) in Sète to the summer fiera at Château Comtal’s amphitheatre in Carcassonne.
We recommend hiring a car so you can easily travel around the region’s national parks, beaches and towns. There are plenty of family-friendly villas in Languedoc or holiday homes to rent, which offer more space and flexibility for families with kids, plus you can often cook at home for fussy eaters.
Consider one of the Languedoc villas with pools in the summer to keep older children entertained during downtime.

The Pyrenees