One of the best-kept secrets on the Côte d’Azur is the sensational, and hugely original, Bois des Lutins, well-known to locals but luckily for us, not often mentioned in the tourist guides.  And even luckier for us is that it’s only 10 minutes from Lou Messugo.  It may just be the best adventure playground ever

best adventure park | Lou Messugo

The Bois des Lutins, (Pixie or Elf Wood) is a charmingly low-tech fun park for all ages (billed from 2-102 years) mainly consisting of rope walkways linking treehouses high in the trees.

best adventure park rope walk

There are enormous bouncy castles, zip wires and giant net trampolines, along with traditional wooden games, swings, slides, hammocks, “hamster wheels”, toboggans and tunnels to crawl through, all in a natural forest setting.

hampster wheels at adventure park

The theme of elves and pixies runs throughout the park with trees named after different characters and magical little creatures hidden high in the branches to search for. Some trees blow bubbles, some play music or squirt water and most have a story to tell, in French, naturally.

best adventure park fairy squirting water

We went yesterday with cousins, in a group ranging from 10 months to 14 years and a handful of enthusiastic adults and we all had a blast.  It’s getting harder and harder to find a place that entertains both our 8 year old and teenager but this place still hits the spot.

kid flying out of slide

Even the baby enjoyed watching her siblings and cousins muck around in the fresh air.  It’s late October and we were verging on too warm in jeans and long sleeves, such is the lovely autumn weather at the moment.

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The Bois des Lutins actively encourages picnics with plenty of tables all around the park, though there is a simple snack bar for drinks, ice-creams and sandwiches if you don’t want to bring your own food.

toboggan at adventure park

There are also several drinking-water fountains making it unnecessary to lug around heavy bottles of water, another little touch hugely appreciated by pack-horse parents!

rope walks at adventure park

We’ve been many times over the years, in hot summers and cooler seasons but as the majority of the activities are in the trees it’s shady and not too warm in the summer and can even be a place to go in light rain.  I recommend this adventure activity park to all my gîte guests with families and without a single exception, they’ve all loved it.

elf at best adventure park

Recently some even went twice in a one week stay!  If you’re planning a holiday on the Côte d’Azur with children you won’t regret spending a day at the Bois des Lutins, honest! You’ll love it!  And in the words of my 5 year old nephew from England, every time he comes to France from now on he wants to visit the magical pixie wood.  Every time!

adventure park in the trees

And in the words of my 5 year old nephew from England, every time he comes to France from now on he wants to visit the magical pixie wood.  Every time!

bois-des-lutins-villeneuve-loubet

What do you reckon? The best adventure playground ever?

kids-fun-park-bois-des-lutins

Further Reading

Wildlife Reserves, Animal Parks and Zoos on the Côte d’Azur

Free Family Fun in Nice

Birthday Parties in France and What Not to do

Please PIN for later

adventure playground

 

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