Visiting the Château des ducs de Bretagne with children
The ramparts are the bit that works
Seven towers, 500 metres of wall, and a walk that goes up and round rather than through galleries. Children who will not last twenty minutes in a museum will do the whole circuit without complaining. It costs nothing, seven days a week, which means there is no wasted ticket if it goes badly. The museum is free for under-18s anyway, so you can try a room or two and leave without having paid for the privilege. What is in those rooms is on what to see inside.
The bike tour rules, in numbers
The e-bike tour has a minimum height of 1.5 m (4 ft 9 in) for riders. Children under 22 kg ride free in a child seat, and a trailer is free for children under 40 kg. Some departures need a minimum of three bookings, which is the one complaint that comes up in its reviews. It is two and a half hours along the 22 km green line, stopping at the castle, the mechanical Elephant and the LU Tower, and it is the highest-priced of the five tours here. Full rules on bike tours.
Outside July and August the museum is closed on Mondays and the ramparts are not, which makes Monday the cheap, easy, child-sized version of this visit: half an hour on the wall and out. The other versions are on the ways to visit page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Château des ducs de Bretagne free for children?
Under-18s get into the Musée d’histoire de Nantes free, and the courtyard, rampart walk and moat gardens are free for everyone. On the château’s guided visit, 7 to 17s pay a reduced rate and under-7s are free.
Is the castle good for kids?
The 500-metre rampart walk over seven towers is the part that holds their attention, and it takes about 30 minutes. Timings for the rest are on how long you need.
Can children join the e-bike tour?
Riders must be at least 1.5 m tall. Children under 22 kg ride free in a child seat and a trailer is free for children under 40 kg. Details on bike tours.