TROTTIMAPLeisure parks
Ride the attractions at Papéa Parc
Papéa Parc · Yvré-l'Évêque (72)
On the banks of the Huisne just east of Le Mans, this wooded 24 hectare park lines up some forty rides, from the River Splash to the mine train and the pirate…
Things to do with kids in Le Mans
Le Mans, in the Sarthe department (Pays de la Loire), is a great base for families: Papéa Parc, just east of the city, has around forty rides, and Spaycific'Zoo in Spay is home to nearly 1,000 animals. Motor-mad kids can visit the M24 motor sport museum at the entrance to the 24 Hours circuit, then drive karts on the site from age 7. Here are 30 ideas picked from over 8,500 outings in the Trottimap app.
Leisure parks
Bounce on the trampolines at Jim and Jump
Jim and Jump · Le Mans (72)
In Le Mans, this 1,500 m² air-conditioned park welcomes children from 9 months to 12 years across three structures separated by age.
Pools, beaches and water
Spend summer at Domaine du Houssay
Base de loisirs du Domaine du Houssay · Spay (72)
South of Le Mans along the Sarthe, this leisure park opens in summer with lifeguarded swimming, water games and plenty of playgrounds.
Sport and adventure
Boulder without ropes at Vertical'Art
Vertical'Art Le Mans · Le Mans (72)
In this Le Mans bouldering gym you climb low walls above thick mats, with no harness or rope.
Leisure parks
Play without tokens at Game Joy
Game Joy Le Mans · Le Mans (72)
Here you pay for time, not coins: pinball, table football, basketball hoops, driving simulators and retro machines are all free to play.
Leisure parks
Bowl your first frames at Bowling du Mans
Bowling du Mans · Le Mans (72)
With twenty-six lanes in the south of town, this bowling centre keeps lanes fitted for young players from age three and shoe size 22.
Pools, beaches and water
Ride the slide at Les Atlantides
Centre aquatique Les Atlantides · Le Mans (72)
In the south of Le Mans, this large aquatic centre gives a whole hall to play, with a paddling pool, a bubble pool and an 80 metre slide.
Sport and adventure
Race electric karts at K1 Speed
K1 Speed Le Mans, karting électrique indoor · Le Mans (72)
Facing the Tertre Rouge bend on the edge of the 24 Hours circuit, this indoor track runs quiet, fume free electric karts on a layout with slopes.
Sport and adventure
Climb as a family at Climb Up
Climb Up Le Mans · Le Mans (72)
Near the circuit, this large gym combines roped walls, a bouldering area and auto belays that let you climb without a partner.
Museums and science
Travel back in time at Carré Plantagenêt
Musée Jean-Claude Boulard, Carré Plantagenêt · Le Mans (72)
At the foot of the Cité Plantagenêt, this archaeology museum tells the story of the Sarthe from prehistory to the end of the Middle Ages.
Parks and nature
Stroll through the Jardin des Plantes in Le Mans
Jardin des Plantes du Mans · Le Mans (72)
Designed by Alphand, creator of the Buttes-Chaumont, this central Le Mans garden pairs a French section with a rose garden and bandstand and an English section with winding paths.
Museums and science
Get close to the 24 Hours cars at M24
M24, Musée du Sport Automobile · Le Mans (72)
At the entrance to the 24 Hours circuit, this large museum gathers endurance cars, single seaters and rally machines across more than 8,000 square metres.
Museums and science
Step into the Egyptian tombs at Tessé
Musée de Tessé · Le Mans (72)
Next to the Tessé garden, this Le Mans art museum hides an underground gallery devoted to the Egypt of the pharaohs.
Parks and nature
Explore the farm at the Arche de la Nature
Arche de la Nature · Le Mans (72)
On the edge of Le Mans, 500 hectares of meadows, woods and Huisne riverbanks are open to families free of charge.
Sport and adventure
Lap the track at Karting des 24 Heures
Karting des 24 Heures · Le Mans (72)
In the heart of the 24 Hours circuit grounds, this karting centre has three tracks and a large terrace overlooking the racing.
Castles and heritage
Follow the quest at Épau Abbey
Abbaye royale de l'Épau · Yvré-l'Évêque (72)
On the edge of Le Mans, this Cistercian abbey founded in the thirteenth century by Queen Berengaria is visited around its cloister, the monks' buildings and the queen's tomb effigy.
Sport and adventure
Climb through the trees at Tépacap
Tépacap Le Mans · Le Mans (72)
On the edge of the Arche de la Nature, this adventure park offers twelve tree courses from age six and a Pitchouns area with nets and trampolines for three to six year…
Leisure parks
Take on the challenges at Prison Island
Prison Island Le Mans · Ruaudin (72)
Near the Bugatti circuit, this indoor adventure game sends teams from cell to cell through twenty-five challenges of skill, logic or speed.
Leisure parks
Burn off energy at Ludykid
Ludykid · Ruaudin (72)
Right next to the Antarès arena, this indoor park keeps toddlers, with their motor skills area and ball pit, apart from four to twelve year olds.
Sport and adventure
Skate all year at CityGlace
CityGlace, patinoire du Mans · Le Mans (72)
Near the Université tram terminus, the Le Mans ice rink has a full size rink where you can skate even in midsummer.
Leisure parks
Solve a mystery together at Escape Time
Escape Time Le Mans · Mulsanne (72)
South of Le Mans, this live escape game offers several themed rooms, from a mysterious manor to a shipwreck.
Leisure parks
Drive a video game kart at BattleKart
BattleKart Le Mans · Spay (72)
In Spay, south of Le Mans, electric karts race on a track where scenery and bonuses are projected onto the floor.
Pools, beaches and water
Try cable waterskiing at Spay
Wake Paradise, téléski nautique · Spay (72)
Ten minutes from Le Mans, a 600 metre cable pulls riders around a lake with no boat.
Leisure parks
Bounce at Let's Jump Trampoline Park
Let's Jump Trampoline Park · La Chapelle-Saint-Aubin (72)
North of Le Mans, this hall of more than 1,700 square metres lines up angled trampolines, a foam pit, a dunk hoop and a wall you can walk on.
Leisure parks
Climb and slide at Gulli Parc
Gulli Parc Le Mans · Saint-Saturnin (72)
In a business park north of Le Mans, this 1,200 square metre indoor park welcomes children from one to twelve.
Leisure parks
Go from karts to bowling at Speed Park
Speed Park Le Mans · Saint-Saturnin (72)
On the edge of Le Mans, this indoor complex puts a karting track, bowling lanes, a laser game and an arcade under one roof.
Animals and farms
Meet lemurs and wallabies at Spaycific'Zoo
Spaycific'Zoo · Spay (72)
On the edge of Le Mans, this family animal park houses nearly a thousand animals, including rarely seen species such as the dingo and the kinkajou.
Castles and heritage
Discover the mill on Île MoulinSart
Île MoulinSart · Fillé (72)
On an island in the Sarthe at Fillé, an old flour mill brought back to life shows how the wheel turns the millstones.
Pools, beaches and water
Speed down the slide at Sittellia
Sittellia, centre aqualudique · Montfort-le-Gesnois (72)
Between Le Mans and La Ferté-Bernard, this water leisure centre has a 55 metre slide, a lazy river and bubble benches.
Pools, beaches and water
Learn to swim at Les Bains d'Orée
Les Bains d'Orée · Écommoy (72)
South of Le Mans, the Écommoy community pool keeps a shallow leisure pool next to the lap pool, so children can play while older ones swim lengths.
Frequently asked questions
What can kids do in Le Mans when it rains?
Let's Jump trampoline park (open jump from age 5, a Kids Park from age 1), Gulli Parc in Saint-Saturnin, the CityGlace ice rink and the M24 motor sport museum are all indoors.
Can children drive karts in Le Mans?
Yes. Karting des 24 Heures, on the circuit site, lets children drive from age 7 and 1.30 m tall, on a track separate from adults. Book the session online to secure your time slot.
Is there a theme park near Le Mans?
Papéa Parc in Yvré-l'Évêque, on the banks of the Huisne just east of Le Mans, has around forty rides over 24 hectares, with rides sized for little ones and splash rides for older kids. It opens mainly from April to September.
See also
By theme
Things to do in Paris with kidsRainy day in Paris with kidsFree things to do in Paris with kidsDays out with a baby in Paris and Île-de-FranceMuseums for kids in ParisDays out with kids around Paris (Île-de-France)Rainy day with kids around ParisFree days out with kids around ParisZoos and wildlife parks in France with kidsTheme parks and leisure parks in France for kidsCastles to visit with kids in FranceCaves to visit with kids in France
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