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

Your kids will love exploring wild animals. In Lorraine, they're well served. Start with the Amnéville Zoo , which houses 200 different species from 5 continents across 18 hectares. Nestled in 120 hectares of unspoiled nature, the Sainte-Croix Animal Park, at the crossroads of the Moselle, Vosges, Meurthe-et-Moselle, and Alsace regions, will allow you to better discover European wildlife (wolves, bears, bison, deer, etc.).
In the Vosges, La Bresse offers two sites: the Llama Mountains and the Brabant Goat Farm. And let's not forget the aquariums, since Nancy and Amnéville have very famous ones.
In hot weather, swimming remains the best way to keep the little ones entertained. Of the thirty or so locations open in Lorraine, we recommend the Favières base in Meurthe-et-Moselle. In Meuse, Lake Madine and its water park , as well as the Lac Vert leisure center in Doulcon. In Moselle, the Mutche, Hanau , and Mittersheim ponds. In the Vosges, the Moselotte Lake leisure center, Lake Gérardmer , and the Domaine des Lacs base in Thaon-les-Vosges are ideal for taking a dip.
We also don't forget the artificial beaches set up in large cities like Metz and Nancy.
Bored with just swimming? Then try one of the many water sports. We recommend pedal boating in Messein (Meurthe-et-Moselle) or Gérardmer (Vosges), or paddleboarding in Pierre-Percée (Vosges).
There are also numerous canoeing and kayaking routes available, on the Meuse (departures from Saint-Mihiel in particular), the Saar (such as Grosbliederstroff) or the Moselle (departures from Saint-Nabord in the Vosges). Finally, you can try your hand at water skiing in Pont-à-Mousson, with the Prémontrés Abbey as a backdrop.
They're best known for their many apple varieties. But the Laquenexy Fruit Gardens, in Moselle, are home to a thousand and one floral wonders. Within their 15-hectare orchard, some twenty themed gardens have been created. A boon for young children, who can explore, as well as for adults who want to take beautiful photos. All summer long, the Fruit Gardens organize courses and workshops.
Near Nancy, the lush Villers Botanical Garden is worth a visit. A few weeks ago, the titanic penis bloomed. This rare phenomenon attracted many curious visitors.

The first edition of Enenvol
After the Mondial Air Ballons, the Chambley-Bussières aerodrome will host a new major event from July 25 to August 3, 2025 : the Enenvol hot air balloon rally.
The program is packed with highlights in the air (mass balloon launches, first flights, etc.) and on the ground (concerts, flea markets, a funfair, a corn maze, signings by prominent figures, etc.). Hundreds of pilots and thousands of visitors are expected.
There's no better time than summer and the intense heat to explore the region's caves, as they provide shelter while maintaining a temperature of around 10 to 15°C all year round! In Moselle, the Saint-Léon cave - the largest cave in the Vosges mountains - is accessible after a ten-minute walk through the forest. The surrounding area is perfect for a picnic.
The Meuse also has numerous chasms, particularly in the Saulx Valley. In Meurthe-et-Moselle, Pierre-la-Treiche, with 39 listed caves, is the commune with the largest number of caves in the department.
It costs money, it'll be crowded, but your kids are sure to love it. Aqua Mundo at Centers Parcs Les Trois Forêts in Hattigny (Moselle) is a sure bet, with its large slide (12m high, 190m long) and its gentle river.
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 the Vikingløp: 8 lanes over 1,500 meters! There are also thermal water pools with their leisure areas, like in Amnéville or Nancy.
Another sure bet that always works. In Lorraine, there's Walygator, near Metz. For the little ones, Fraispertuis, in the Vosges, is a must-see, but we can also mention Pokeyland, just below Metz, with its water jump. If you're willing to make a detour across the German border, Europa-Park, one of the largest amusement parks in Europe, is sure to delight the whole family.
If you like thrills but want to stay in nature, choose treetop adventure parks: France Aventures in Amnéville, TipiPark in Velaine-en-Haye near Nancy, Fort Pélissier in Blainville-sur-Madon (54), Aventure Parc in Pierre-Percée or Bol d'Air in La Bresse.
Evening outings are also a great way to enjoy the cool air. Luckily, Metz and Nancy are offering their traditional light shows. In Metz, the sound and light show will transform Saint-Etienne Cathedral into a spaceship every weekend until August 30th , as part of the Constellations festival . In Nancy, the new sound and light show at Place Stanislas will project the monumental video mapping "La Belle Saison" 2025 by Jérémie Bellot every evening, set to music by André Manoukian and Ena Eno.
Finally, at the end of July and beginning of August, Europe's largest First World War show takes place in Verdun with "From Flames to Light." A visual and audio immersion into the heart of the fighting, with huge 3D projections inside a trench, in the middle of the battle. Because even during the holidays, a little history doesn't hurt.
A new addition near Nancy, in the heart of the majestic Château de Fléville, an extraordinary journey comes to life. Until July 23, the immersive show Terra Loreina transforms history into a dazzling fresco.
L'Est Républicain