Summer 2025. Where to go out in Franche-Comté this summer with your children: 8 must-do ideas for families

Your kids will love exploring wild animals. In Franche-Comté, the best place to go is to visit the Polar Park in the Val de Mouthe. A former alpine farm at an altitude of 1,200 meters in the Risoux forest, many wild species now live there, including reindeer, yaks, deer, and even European bison.

In Doubs, the Besançon Citadel Museum and its aquarium are also worth a visit, as is the Mamirolle Llama Farm. In Haute-Saône, the Fougerolles-Saint-Valbert Animal Park , with its many deer, mouflons, and llamas, is a must-see.

In case of extreme heat, swimming is still the best way to please the youngest. In Franche-Comté, this is good, it is one of the assets of the region: the lakes, ponds, leisure centers where it is possible to swim are legion. Of the thirty or so open places , we obviously recommend those that have lifeguards. This is the case in Doubs, at the Osselle-Routelle swimming area and at the Paquis pond in Brognard. For Haute-Saône, you can enjoy the Vesoul-Vaivre lake or the Ballastières leisure center in Champagney (lifeguarded until July 28) .

In the Territoire de Belfort, you can count on the Malsaucy pond in Sermamagny. In the Jura, don't forget the charming lakes of Chalain, Vouglans, and Clairvaux.

Bored with just swimming? Then try one of the many water activities. We recommend pedal boating at Lake Saint-Point in Malbuisson (Doubs) or paddleboarding in Marnay (Haute-Saône). Numerous canoeing and kayaking routes are also available, on the Doubs (departures from Avanne-Aveney, Montgesoye, and Goumois), or in the Ognon Valley (such as Voray-sur-l'Ognon or Villersexel in Haute-Saône).

For more excitement, you can also try wakeboarding or water skiing: introductory sessions take place at the Dambenois lake, between the Doubs and the Territoire de Belfort.

True gems of nature, the Frasne-Bouverans peat bogs have been developed with respect for the environment. A nature reserve since 1986, their formation, which extends over more than 290 hectares, dates back to 25,000 BC, at the time of the last glacial period.

Nature reigns supreme here, making it the perfect place for beautiful family walks. A trail has been designed with different routes that allow you to spot many varieties of butterflies, dragonflies, toads, and more.

There is no better time than summer and the intense heat to explore the caves of your region , since they allow you to take shelter while maintaining a temperature of around 11°C all year round! With its kilometer of developed galleries, the Baume-les-Messieurs cave is one of the most spectacular in Europe. With its numerous underground rooms, rivers and lakes, all highlighted by lighting effects, they are a unique place for a change of scenery.

But let's not forget the many other caves that dot the region: the Osselle cave in Doubs (one of the longest in France!), or the chapel cave in Remonot, also in Doubs. It is still a place of worship today. In the Jura, the Moidons caves near Arbois will finally reopen on July 26, two years after suffering a fire.

Finally, there's the inevitable Poudrey chasm in Etalans, which hosted the Olympic flame last year. A 127-step shaft awaits you to reach it!

It's not free, there will be people, but your children will definitely enjoy it. In the region, the Isis Aquapark in Dole, in the Jura, meets all the criteria of choice: a large slide (7m high, 66m long), a 12-meter long pentagliss, relaxation pools, fast river, whirlpools... Just like the Ludolac , in Vaivre-et-Montoille (70), which will be open from ^July 1 to August 31.

On the German border, the aquatic world of Rulantica - a few hundred meters from Europa-Park - also promises a refreshing and crazy day, with saunas, pool bars, 50 slides including one of its latest: Vikingløp, 8 tracks over 1,500 meters!

Several gems of Franche-Comté's heritage are coming to life this summer, offering an enticing family program. At the Besançon citadel, an escape game for 8- to 12-year-olds and their families invites participants to defend Vauban's fortress. Activities are also offered for younger visitors, such as the "Builder" workshops for ages 4 and up on Sundays, or "Zookeeper for a Day" for ages 6 and up.

At the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, a new program is in progress to celebrate the site's 250th anniversary. The Nights of the Saltworks, from 7 p.m. to midnight, offer the opportunity to picnic on site, visit the floodlit gardens, and embark on an exhibition dedicated to comic book hero Corto Maltese, the sailor with his incredible adventures.

Lying under the stars, a cushion under your head and your picnic basket within reach, an open-air cinema is a completely different experience from a movie theater. And the good news is: there's bound to be a screening near you this summer.

At least forty towns and cities are offering screenings. Classic films, comedies, animated films... We've detailed the program in our dedicated article .