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Randonnee Petit Marcel Cineaste En Herbe@al Oti Pays Daubagne
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Aurore Legrand @OTIAubagne

Family activities, events and walks

Winter holidays in Pays d'Aubagne

In winter, Aubagne reveals a different, cooler but just as inspiring face. The hills may be ideal for hiking and guided walks, but cultural activities and indoor pursuits are well and truly in season. This is also the time to take advantage of the events and activities scheduled during the 2026 school holidays. Discover Provence’s heritage, local know-how and art of living. A natural and cultural destination to enjoy all year round!

Published on 28 January 2026

Ideas for outings: What to do during the 2026 winter holidays?

in Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Étoile

That’s it, the holidays are here! The first leg of the year is under way and it’s time for a well-deserved break. Here in Aubagne, you don’t need snow or the seaside to enjoy winter holidays.

Between Provence, the sun-drenched hills and the characterful villages, there’s always plenty to do. And the least we can say is that you won’t be bored. Whether you’re looking to keep young and old busy, or to share a moment of escapism with friends, we’ve got all the ideas you need to make them a success!

Events calendar

During the holidays, the Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile is alive with shows, workshops, entertainment and festive events. Theatre, exhibitions, events, intimate concerts and more: the diary has it all.

To make sure you don’t miss out on anything in the events calendar, remember to select the dates of your stay or the dates of the school holidays.

Discover the diary

Activities and outings for all the family

Winter holidays for all ages

In Aubagne and the surrounding area, families are never short of ideas. The winter holidays are the perfect time to spend together, away from the hectic pace of everyday life.

From games and child-friendly walks to discovering the work of Marcel Pagnol, it’s all about having fun and discovering the area.

Workshops, meetings and walks

Meet Thérèse Neveu, our beautiful santon-maker

From February 17 to March 3, come and discover the work of Thérèse Neveu through a guided tour narrated by her great-granddaughter, Sylvie Neveu-Prigent. Thérèse Neveu was the first woman to santonise everyday people, and she devoted her life to the art of santon-making in her former workshop at Le Petit Monde, Aubagne.

Musical tales for the whole family

On Wednesdays 18 and 25 February, come and share a warm family moment with your little ones thanks to the gentle melody of musical tales. This lively audio workshop is the perfect opportunity to spend some fun, soothing time together. Your host, Maria, will immerse you in a magical atmosphere with her instruments and storytelling skills.

Workshop: the senses, an adventure for curious youngsters

On Thursdays 19 and 26 February, use your senses with an early-learning workshop for young children and families. It’s a unique and fun way for toddlers to explore the world around them.

Donkey rides at Font de Mai

During the winter holidays, on Wednesdays and weekends, François offers donkey rides for children or walks with a donkey along the Garlaban paths. These unaccompanied walks are a great way for the whole family to get away from it all!

Treasure hunts and escape games

Lili trail game at the foot of Garlaban

Recharge your batteries at Domaine de la Font de Mai and help preserve the friendship between Marcel and Lili des Bellons with the Lili au pied de Garlaban treasure hunt! Armed with a map and Mond des Parpaillouns’ notebook, set off in search of the traps set by Lili and discover the tracks of the animals that came close. It’s a fun, immersive nature adventure for all the family, and you can do it on your own!

Where has Marcel’s statue gone?

This free family treasure hunt will take you on a journey in the footsteps of Marcel Pagnol. To do this, we need a team of detectives to help us find the statue of Marcel Pagnol that a thief has stolen. Stroll the streets of Aubagne and decipher the riddles to find precious clues.

Escape game at the Pénitents Noirs

On Thursdays 19 and 26 February, enjoy a free escape game in Aubagne’s historic Pénitents Noirs. The aim of the mission? Uncover the mysteries of the chapel’s construction. For ages 14 and up.

Outdoors and nature: getting moving even in winter

Guided walks

Walks and a breath of fresh Provencal air

Who said winter was all about staying warm? Around Aubagne, nature is omnipresent and particularly pleasant at this time of year. So what better way to explore than on a guided walk?

Between the garrigue, pine trees and colourful villages, winter reveals a different face of Provence, a gentler, more authentic face. Perfect for recharging your batteries:

Half-day hike withPetit Marcel, budding film-maker in Aubagne
Day hike Source des Nayes – Forêt du Défens in Saint-Zacharie
Day hike Chemin du blé – Moulin de Cuges – Trou du vent in Cuges-les-Pins
Wild plant discovery walk at Font de Mai in Aubagne

There’s no shortage of outdoor activities in the Pays d’Aubagne. You can also go cycling, mountain biking, gravelling or even trail running. The area offers a playground of breathtaking panoramas!

Skiing just outside the city

To round off the holidays in style, the Tourist Office is offering a final day of skiing in March. Following on from the success of our last outings in January, we look forward to seeing you on Saturday 14 March for a ski trip to the Pra Loup resort. This is your chance to enjoy some last warm mountain moments before spring.
Bookings required and subject to availability.

Cultural activities: when winter becomes inspiring

The reopening of the Pagnol museums

The winter holidays are also the perfect time to explore the region’s cultural attractions. In Aubagne, from Tuesday 3 February, the Petit Monde museums and the Maison Natale de Marcel Pagnol will be reopening their doors. An opportunity to discover or rediscover these places steeped in history. Every Saturday, there will be guided and private tours of the Petit Monde at 11.30am and the Maison Natale at 2pm.

To stay in the world of santons, you can visit the Maryse Di Landro museum in Aubagne. With over 400 santons on display, this museum plunges you into many different worlds, including that of Provence.

Guided tours

Guided tours of the Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile provide an opportunity to immerse yourself in the soul of Provence, sheltered from the mistral wind. From Tuesday 10 February in Aubagne, explore the places that Marcel Pagnol loved with the Marcel Pagnol mini-tour from Aubagne to La Treille. From Thursday 12 February, travel to the heart of Marcel’s picturesque and poetic world, with the Aubagne in Marcel’s eyes tour. If you want to know everything there is to know about pottery-making, take a free guided tour of À la rencontre des maîtres de l’argile. Finally, starting on 8 March, take a guided tour of Aubagne‘s female history.

Craft activities

If you like to make your own creations, you’re on the right track! In Aubagne on Saturday 14 February, explore the world of books with a Japanese bookbinding workshop. You’ll learn how to make a hardback cover using the paper of your choice. For fans of local products, two workshops are on offer at Maison Ferroni: making your own gin every Thursday and pastis every Friday. Discover the recipes and how to make them. From 18 years upwards.

Last but not least, the region is bursting with expertise, and pottery is one of them! So what better way to learn than from craftspeople. Véronique Sanchez welcomes you to make your most beautiful creations: an introduction to modelling or discovering the art of throwing. With these workshops, pottery will hold no secrets for you!

Indoor sports activities

plan B when it rains

Get moving, let off steam and have fun in the warmth

Even if the sun is often out, there’s always the chance of a gloomy day. The good news is that Pays d’Aubagne is full of indoor sporting activities.

In Aubagne, the Climb Up climbing gym welcomes you every day of the week with a bouldering and rope climbing area. Who will reach the top first? For young and old alike, Kids Motor Park & Ninja Run and Karting Indoor Provence invite you to challenge yourselves as a team, while having fun. L’Antre 2 Lames lets you test your dexterity, all in a friendly atmosphere. Finally, if you’re a breaststroke enthusiast, the Alain Bernard swimming pool has plenty of pools for you to enjoy. It’s a great place to exercise, have fun and keep smiling, whatever the weather!

Now you know what you have to do. Have a great holiday!

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