In the vein of the Au Bonheur des Mômes festival, La Source is a delight for children and adults alike!
© T. Vattard - Mairie Le Grand-Bornand /
© T. Vattard - Le-Grand-Bornand-Tourisme
10am. We arrive at opening time for a whole day packed with new discoveries. The children can’t wait. Neither can we. The lobby is dominated by the moving model of a cow. It was created from mountain bric-a-brac items supplied by residents of Le Grand Bornand, by Pascal Bettex, an artist from Vaud who speciaises in kinetic machines and the most unlikely gear systems. This cow symbolises the alpine pastures but it also reflects the very essence of La Source: a fun and quirky venue created for sharing all that these pastures have to offer, while sparking the imaginations of children and adults alike. We press on the button. The cow begins her unique choreography. This promises to be a fabulous day!
© T. Vattard - Le-Grand-Bornand-Tourisme
© T. Vattard - Le-Grand-Bornand-Tourisme
We wander around this farm of Le Grand Bornand amid a mix of traditions and modern creations.. Through beautiful photos and ancient objects, we learn what life was like for the mountain farmers. We have fun looking for the two swans and the little cat hidden in the decoration of the Bo’Bar, an original creation by the Théâtre de la Toupine. Afterwards, we visit the play tree. The tree is cut into thematic logs. Charly and Alma have an amusing time learning about mountain life: woodcutting, the costumes and schools of yesteryear, local cozna (cuisine) but also hiking and winter activities…
We lie down on the mats at the creativity area. We play a few games. We build a wooden chalet. Then Charly and Alma cross the void to reach the suggestion box where felt pens and paper invite them to unleash their imagination. We leave a short message before going back outside to explore. It’s still hot! We choose a few books from the book hives and make ourselves comfortable in the deckchairs on the grass.
But the longing for new adventures is stronger. And all these fabulous facilities just beckon us to go and explore! Between manually-propelled rides, a marmot tunnel, games of skill and recreational activities, the children drift between discoveries and surprises to the sound of a giant cuckoo. All these activities created from natural materials like wood and recycled items are an inspiration to return to the roots. Magical moments of pure happiness made for sharing.
It’s 4pm. Time to go back to the Bo’Bar. We sample the delicious cookies made on the premises and sip at a cold drink.
We round off the day with a visit to the educational farm and organic garden. We touch, smell and make guesses… The vegetable gardens and farm animals (goats, pigs, rabbits, ducks, hens, guineafowl etc.) trigger lots of questions and opportunities to learn more. For the really curious, workshops are organised all summer long with Amaury, the farm manager.
Other experiences and shows take place throughout the summer. Remember to check the programme on the website of La Source. And don’t hesitate to visit this wonderful park. For us it has been a fabulous discovery! We’ll be back very soon.
