Amiens labyrinth: Northern France with Kids
Day One: Bayeux Tapestry
In northern France, drive first from Paris to Bayeux to see the Bayeux Tapestry. There are good audioguides for both adults and kids. Going through all the panels of the tapestry is as interesting as reading comic strips!
Norman conquest
The Vikings
Paris for Kids
All our medieval Europe articles
Day Two: Mont St. Michel
If you have time, the next day check out Mont St. Michel. It’s a great Romanesque monastery on an island! It can be very crowded in the summer, so that’s better for the winter if you can manage it.
What is a monastery?
Day Three: Caen castle
Moat and drawbridge at Caen
The next day, check out nearby Caen. Caen has a great castle with a moat and drawbridge, and plenty of room to play. There’s even a jungle gym inside the castle grounds. Leave time in the afternoon to see the Abbaye aux Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames, two beautiful Romanesque churches.
Caen castle
William and Matilda
Abbaye aux Hommes
Abbaye aux Dames
The place where the British burned Joan of Arc alive in Rouen
Day Four: WWII Cemeteries
Spend the next morning seeing the amazing Normandy cemeteries from World War II.
World War II
The rise of Germany
Then recover from all the sadness and spend the afternoon on the beach!
History of swimming
Façade of Amiens cathedral in France
Day Five: Joan of Arc
The next day, begin a tour of the great cathedrals of northern France. Drive to Rouen and see where the British burned Joan of Arc.
Joan of Arc project
Hundred Years’ War
Rouen cathedral
What is a cathedral?
Day 6: Amiens and Laon
From Rouen, make a loop to Amiens, then to Laon.
Amiens Cathedral
Laon – once a cathedral
Day 7: Reims and Paris
Reims transept
And from there drive to Reims cathedral, where the kings of France were crowned, and back down south to Paris.
Reims cathedral
You’ll want at least two or three days to see all these cathedrals, but it’s so interesting how each one is slightly different from the others.
Cross the Channel to London
Visiting Northern France with kids? Check out these books:
