The French autumn holidays are coming (17 October to 2 November 2026). With forests turning red and castles and farms to visit, the Pays de Bray is a great playground for children, even when the pool is closed. Here are our five ideas, plus a few tips for the gîte itself.
Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, Martainville castle houses the Museum of Norman Traditions and Arts: furniture, tableware, kitchen and dairy tools, and a whole floor devoted to Norman costumes. Children love hunting for everyday objects from the past, and the park lets them burn off energy between rooms. Ideal on a grey day.
Vascœuil castle and park is both an art and history centre and a large park, with more than 50 original sculptures by big names such as Braque, Cocteau, Dalí and Volti. For children it is an open-air treasure hunt: find the funniest, the tallest, the strangest. Perfect on a fine autumn day.
Nothing beats direct contact with animals. The Val de Bures goat dairy and educational farm in Bellencombre is a goat farm offering cheese-making and bread-baking workshops in a 17th-century oven. Another address to know: the eco-gîte Le Coq à l'Âne in Beaubec-la-Rosière, where you can meet donkeys and sheep, also listed by the Forges-les-Eaux tourist office in its family selection. Book ahead and check opening days, as they change in autumn.
October and November are the best months for forest walks. The Bois de l'Épinay in Forges-les-Eaux is easy to explore with children; the tourist office, which holds the Famille Plus label, also offers a "Randojeu" designed for younger visitors and a family programme in its "Rendez-vous Découverte". A simple game is enough: a list of treasures to collect (leaves in three colours, a pine cone, a feather) and off you go. Dogs are welcome.
A little further away, Clères park is home to around 1,500 animals, about a thousand of them living in semi-freedom: red pandas, pink flamingos, wallabies… Drawing and painting workshops are offered to children. Allow a full day and check the autumn opening hours before you set off.
The heated pool is open from May to September, but the gîte has plenty to offer in the shoulder season. The large lounge with its fireplace is perfect for board games, the upstairs landing has toys for children and books, and the enclosed garden lets you enjoy the chicken coop and the view of the ponies. When the weather allows, play pétanque, table tennis or tennis on the private court. In the evening, the open kitchen (oven, induction hob, dishwasher) is great for cooking together: crêpes, gratins, apple tarts. Pets are welcome and the garden is fully enclosed, which reassures parents of little ones. Discover the gîte.
Always check opening days and times before heading out: they vary in autumn and during school holidays. Pack boots, a waterproof jacket and spare clothes. The autumn holidays are a popular period, so check availability early. For more ideas, see our Around the Estate page and the article Autumn in the Pays de Bray: cider, cheese and forests.
The museum at Martainville castle is a good option, and at the gîte the lounge with its fireplace, board games, and the toys and books on the landing easily fill an afternoon.
The heated pool is open from May to September only.
Yes, pets are welcome at the estate, in an enclosed garden.
On our Around the Estate page and on the website of the Forges-les-Eaux tourist office, which holds the Famille Plus label.
A family stay at Domaine Majorelle? Check availability or write to us.