Family-friendly ideas for Easter 2017 on the French Riviera

Easter, or Pâques, sees a whole host of April activities for the ‘vacances de printemps’ or Easter school holidays that start on the French Riviera after class on Friday 7 April with kids returning to school on Monday 24 April.

Family holiday activities for Easter on the French Riviera

There is plenty to do during the Easter school holidays with restaurants having Easter breakfasts, farms having egg hunts and many businesses hosting creative workshops for egg decorating or chocolate-making.

As well as themed Easter activities, kids of any age can enjoy playing on the beach as the weather is usually favorable or a trip to the Lérins Islands before the crowds arrive on the mainland in summer.

Take a family trip to a hilltop village and visit the local markets; stall holders often give polite children a sample of something tasty like a piece of cheese or gâteau, and many markets have buskers and street performers. There’s usually stalls selling things such as key rings, sweet pastries, hair ties or vintage die-cast cars for spending pocket money.

Easter Egg Hunts and Other Easter activities on the French Riviera

The French love chocolate, so expect everything and anything chocolate including supermarkets selling all the foil-wrapped eggs and chocolatiers with beautiful window displays!  However, there are lots of activities that don’t revolve around chocolate only.

Cannes

Wednesday 19 April: Musée de la Castre is hosting an Easter art workshop for kids aged 5-7 years.  Details at:  http://www.cannes.com/fr/culture/musee-de-la-castre/ateliers/annee-2017/avril/le-lapin-de-paques.html

Eze

Saturday 08 April:  Easter egg hunt at Parc de la revere

Grasse

Monday 04 to Friday 15 April:  At CandyPlay Choco in Plan de Grasse, there is 2 weeks of creative (morning) and gourmet (afternoon) workshops.

Sunday 16 April:  From 10am to midday, a free treasure hunt for kids with a chocolate gift at the end!  Held at the Museum of Art and History (MAHP), Les Jardins du MIP and the Musée International de la Parfumerie (MIP).

Easter 2017 treasure hunt at the museums of Grasse/Mouans Sartoux

La Colle-sur-Loup

Saturday 08 April and Saturday 15 April:  Gourmandises de Paques from 9 am to 1 pm.  Note: The egg hunt is €3 per child.

Easter 2017 in La Colle-sur-Loup

Levens

Monday 17 April:  Easter egg hunt at 3pm at the Hill

Monaco / Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer have a whole programme of Easter delights from 15-17 April including Easter menus and family-friendly activities.  For the full list, go to ‘Easter 2017 with Monte-Carlo SBM.’

Mouans Sartoux

Sunday 16 April:  From 10am to midday, a free treasure hunt for kids with a chocolate gift at the end!  Held at the MIP Gardens (JMIP).

Nice

Saturday 15th to Monday 17 April:  At Parc Phoenix, there will be 2 egg hunts: 1 for children up to 6 years old, and one for 6-12 year olds. Toddlers are provided with a basket and must find eggs hidden under the straw which they exchange for chocolate eggs on the stand at the exit of the park.  Kids aged from 6 years, have a treasure hunt with animal and floral clues that lead to big numbered eggs where they can win chocolate eggs.  Park entrance fee unchanged.

Monday 17 April: Have a continental breakfast from 9am-11.30am with the Easter bunny at Hard Rock Café Nice with an Egg Hunt, a creative workshop, a puppet show and the chance to find a Golden Ticket to win a free birthday party.  Reservations essential, more details at this link ‘Easter 2017 at Hard Rock Café Nice’.

Breakfast with Bunny for Easter 2017

Parc Alpha Loup

Sunday 16 April:  Easter activities including egg hunt, L’Atelier de l’Apprenti Chocolatier for kids 5 years and older to make chocolate goodies with 3 workshops available from 11am to 12:30pm / 1.30pm to 3pm / 3pm to 4.30pm. More info:  http://www.alpha-loup.com/english/actu-eggs-hunt-amp-chocolat-workshop-actualites-46.html

Saint Blaise

Saturday 15 April:  Easter egg hunt at the old mill at 2pm

Easter 2017 in Saint Blaise

Saint Cézaire-sur-Siagne

Monday 17 April: From 10am to 6pm, discover the farm at the Chèvrerie du Bois d’Amon with an egg hunt starting at 11am and animal feeding throughout the day

Saint-Laurent-du-Var

Lou Pitchoun Parc has games and Easter workshops during school holidays; on the 15th April they have 2 egg hunts at 3pm and 5pm.

Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey

Saturday 15 April:  Easter egg hunt at the Chapelle St Luce at 2.30pm

Tourrette-Levens

Saturday 15 April:  Easter egg hunt at the Château at 4.30pm

Easter 2017 in Tourrette-Levens

Valbonne

Sunday 02 April:  From 10am-6pm, Urbaine and friends are hosting a Happy Easter Fair with goodies for sale including Easter eggs, prosecco, chocolate, cupcakes, tea, wine, jewellery, coffee, juices, wraps, homeware, fashion and stationery.   Event address:  Mas De Valbonne 357 Chemin du Parrou 06560 Valbonne

 

Valdeblore / Saint-Martin-Vésubie

Sunday 16 April:  2 Easter egg hunts in St-Martin-Vésubie

Villeneuve Loubet

16 and 17 April:  The Village des Fous will have egg catapults every hour at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm – catch the eggs in the air or find them when they land on the ground!  Egg hunt is included in admission price to the park.  Note:  This event is unconfirmed.

Easter activities elsewhere in France

If you’re visiting France at Easter there are regional events happening everywhere, check with the local Tourism Office for a schedule of what’s happening in the city or town you plan to visit.  Here are a few Easter 2017 events beyond the French Riviera:

Arles hosts an Easter Festival (Feria de Pâques) from 14-17 April 2017 with the opening of the French bullfighting season.  There are bullfights in the Arena and lots of activities.

The Feria de Pâques in Arles is an annual festival held at Easter

France’s biggest Easter egg hunt is held at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Maincy an hour’s drive from Paris, with 35,000 eggs hidden in André Le Nôtre’s garden, egg decorating workshops and a musketeers show. Visit on Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, 10am-6pm.   Watch the video below for what to expect (video courtesy of Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte).

Provins, located 80km southeast of Paris is a UNESCO-listed town that will host an Easter egg hunt on 16th and 17th April 2017.  Families can enjoy the egg hunt, and afterwards explore the town which is remarkable for its 58 listed monuments and medieval architecture as well as falconry and knights shows.

Provins, a UNESCO-listed town will host Easter activities

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Easter in France – Joyeuses Pâques !

One of my favourite things about living in France is admiring (and tasting!) the creations of French pâtissiers and chocolatiers, and any holiday season – including Easter – is ripe for these masters to show their creativity and flair.

The shop windows look gorgeous, and are filled with edible delights all beautifully decorated or wrapped, such as chocolate eggs, bells, hens, bunnies and fish.

The French equivalent of the Easter Bunny is Easter Bells (les cloches de Pâques). To mourn the crucifixion of Christ, church bells are silent from Good Friday until Easter Sunday and it is said the bells ‘fly to the Vatican in Rome’ until Easter Sunday when they ‘return’ to celebrate the resurrection of Christ with chocolate eggs and treats for children.

Traditionally, many families attend religious services, have family meals on Easter Sunday and children hunt for chocolate eggs.  The term ‘Joyeuses Pâques’ simply means ‘Happy Easter’.

Easter Monday (lundi de Pâques), which is the day after Easter Sunday, is a bank holiday in France.

This morning, we wandered past all the lovely pâtisseries and couldn’t help but buy a few Easter treats?

Joyeuses Pâques !