Anyone been to France by train for a family holiday?

[SmallestInTheClass]

We'd like to go to France this summer, and to take the train. I realise this may take longer and be more expensive than the car/ferry/flights, but want to be eco friendly and avoid a long drive. DC are 11 and 13 and relatively outdoorsy. Any ideas on where to go with the following:
Easy access by train, or we would be willing to hire a car at the train station to drive an hour or so to open up options
Pool and either a lake/river/sea for swimming
A bit of a town to explore (we are not into museums and formal sightseeing, some would like more of somewhere to mooch about, get an ice cream/coffee, browse the shops)
Not too hot in August
Self catering, or catered with simple food, we're definitely not fine-dining types
We'll probably get a travel agent to package the train travel and accommodation together so it's all covered by insurance, but don't know where to start!

We’ve got Eurostar to the alps for skiing and to Avignon in the summer, it’s a great way to travel! I’d probably do Eurostar to Paris then tgv next time for more flexibility. We hired a car from
Avignon which was really straightforward. From there you could go to the Ardèche for adventures.

We have got the train to Bordeaux in the past and hired a car there (cheaper at train station than the airport). We then drive on a couple of hours to rural SW France where you can easily find a house to rent. We don't tend to stay in towns but have always found places with pools, near to swimming lakes, and also near to interesting things to do. Driving is a must round there, though, and we've never stayed anywhere you can just mooch about and get an ice cream without getting in a car. Also, it's hot. But maybe try the west coast for somewhere less boiling and with more towns.

We did Eurostar to Paris then TGV to Avignon and hired a car with 2 kids under 10. Stayed in a villa with pool not in small town not far from Avignon. It was brilliant and I'd highly recommend it. French trains are fab, and there was loads to do in the area. Enjoy!

Thanks all, will take a look at Avignon and surrounding areas...

We went to Ile de Re by train and had the most magical time. Kids were 10 and 12. Eurostar to Paris and then train to La Rochelle, v simple and quick. 30 min taxi ride over the bridge and you don't need a car at all when you're there as everyone rides around on bikes and it's just heaven! We really loved it there, can't wait to go back.

I remember Avignon being very hot in August. You can get the train direct to Biarritz from Paris in summer - Atlantic coast so not too hot. There are mobile home campsites (e.g. Yelloh), great beaches and good bus services. Biarritz is an interesting town to mooch around and has beaches in the town itself. Bayonne is also nearby on public transport and is very nice.

You might like Annecy - shouldn’t be too hot and you’d have the lake and town.

I'd recommend an Interrail pass. Your 11 year old is entitled to a free one! It will cover one day's travel in/ out of the UK outbound, and one inbound, which could be a massive saving.

Avignon and the Provence area is very hot in August. We used to do that when you could get trains direct from London. I would recommend it as there are some beautiful towns in the vicinity, and hotels with aircon, but if you don't like the heat, it's not for you.

Maybe somewhere further North. Lille is lively (not sure about swimming in the river though. Dijon and Besançon are both great places, and may not get quite so hot.

Yes we went to Paris for a few days then down to Perpignan where we hired a car. Then flew back from there.

We've been by train to and through France numerous times. It's bliss once you're over the Channel. Years ago we went overnight in a sleeper with our kids through France to San Sebastian in Spain, we traveled on to Pamplona (Spanish trains incredibly cheap, comfortable, frequent) back to Toulouse, up the eastern side of France to Dijon and back home. Our kids loved it.
Last October we went to Bordeaux by train. Seamless journey through Paris, plenty of room, clean trains, wonderful food plentiful and available.
In the spring, we went to Burgundy, similar experiences, it's all so easy and cheap. It's not difficult to book yourself online. The comparison with train travel in the UK is stunning, a proper, well developed, well financed, state run rail network, and of course people use it instead of driving everywhere.