Halloween 2023 at the Château de Gaillon

Gailloween

You've worked out what to do during the All Saints' holiday!

For the second ‘Gailloween’, the ancestral home of Cardinal Georges d’Amboise is once again hosting a rich programme of fun and (slightly) scary activities throughout the All Saints’ Day holidays.

Halloween 2023

The mysterious beast of Gaillon

Original visit for Halloween and animations for young and old: the Château de Gaillon in Normandy has decided to have plenty of surprises in store for young and old again this year during the holidays, from 21 October to 5 November 2023!

For in 1632, terror reigns over Gaillon. Not far away, towards Caen, the Beast of Cinglais is rampaging through the woods… At the castle, strange disappearances are taking place and very quickly, rumours of a mysterious and bloodthirsty beast are spreading. Beast hunts, murders and other monstrosities are on the cards!

For this new edition of Gailloween, grab your courage in both hands and come along for a walk in the woods!

Reservations:

Seine-Eure tourist office on 02 32 40 04 41

Gaillon castle office on 02 32 53 86 40.

For your information:
The château will be closed on Mondays 23 and 30 October and Wednesday 1 November.

A scary programme! But not too scary...

To enjoy the Halloween period in a real castle, even if it’s not Dracula’s, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Starting with the numerous activities that young and old alike can enjoy independently:

Enquiry – On the trail of the Beast of Gaillon …

The village of Gaillon was once the hunting ground of a dreadful beast! Some children, out mushroom picking, were attacked by a bloodthirsty monster. By some miracle, they managed to escape alive. Nevertheless, terror spread through the village. Archbishop François de Harlay commissioned the Grand Louvetier de France to track down the beast. Help him and lead the investigation on the trail of the beast. Will you be able to identify it? Time is running out!

no reservation required / open every day the pavilion is open.
Price: pavilion admission fee + €5 investigation kit.
Ages 7 and up.

Beast hunt: Did you say bat?

Curse! The castle has been invaded by bats! The archbishop is in a tizzy. On the eve of the traditional Gailloween, the archbishop sends the village children on a mission to find and round up all the bats. It’s not an easy task, as the bats are well hidden. With the help of a magic lamp, come and find the 16 bats.

No booking required / open every day.
Price: €2 for the hunting booklet + admission to the château
From 3 years old, for all the family.

Halloween lantern background — ©Halloween lantern|Marko Blazevicv - Unsplash

Hunt in the high gardens: “Let’s walk in the woods …”

Who doesn’t know this nursery rhyme? Strange things are happening in the park… Will you dare to venture there?

No booking required / open every day the park is open
Fee: €2 the hunting booklet does not entitle the holder to enter the château
From 3 years old, for all the family.

The Gailloween Wall

The Gailloween Wall returns for this second edition. We’re hoping to see your most ghastly graffiti there again this year! Wake up the devilish artist in you…

The Gailloweenesque moment

Immortalise your Gailloween experience in a more than scary setting. A must-see if you don’t want the witch to cast a spell on you!

No booking required / accessible every day it’s open.
Fee: free if you take it with your phone / €2 for a mini instant photo / €3 for a 10*15 instant photo.
Age: all audiences.

The cabinet of curiosities and scents

But what on earth are all these things … The archbishop invites you to visit his personal collection of strange objects and substances. Quite an obsession for someone who claims to be ordinary! Venture into this corridor of knick-knacks and awaken your senses! Can you smell these scents from elsewhere? Can you recognise them?

No reservation required / open every day the château is open.
Fee: Free, included in the château entrance fee.
All ages (but beware of sensitive souls.)

Supervised activities

Frightening tales!”

Let your imagination run wild as you listen to frightening stories…

Length: 30 minutes.
On reservation / min: 5 – max: 20 children.
Age: young audience.
Fee: €3 per child, one accompanying adult free, additional accompanying adult: admission fee payable if not paid.
Dates: Saturday 21, Sunday 22, Wednesday 25, Saturday 28, Sunday 29 October, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November at 3pm.
Tuesday 31 October: 2pm and 3.30pm (Sold out on 31)

The Witch’s Lair

Everyone is out to get rid of the Beast of Gaillon, even the witch! The beast has stolen her thunder, and she doesn’t like it one bit! The witch wants to reclaim her position, and to do so she’s trying to find a potion, an antidote to get rid of this parasite! Come and see what she’s up to …

Beware, on 31 October, the witch will be present … beware, she’s not always up to speed with what she’s concocting, so don’t be taken in!!

Time: 15 minutes without the witch / 20 minutes with the witch.

No booking required.

Age: all audiences.

Tariff: included in admission ticket.

Dates: 21, 22, 25, 28, 29 October, 4 and 5 November:10.15am / 11.15am / 2.15pm / 3.15pm / 4.15pm. On 26 and 27 October, 2 and 3 November: 10.15am / 11.15am / 12.15pm / 2.15pm / 3.15pm / 4.15pm. On 31 October: 9:45 / 10:45 / 11:45 / 14:15 / 15:15 / 16:15 (Sold out on 31)

Enigma: In search of the antidote

The Beast of Gaillon is still at large! The witch can’t get her hands on the antidote that will render this dreadful beast harmless. She needs help, so come and play alchemist and try to find the recipe for the magic potion that will save Gaillon from this terror.

Length: 45min.
Fee: €5 per child, one accompanying adult free, additional accompanying adult: admission fee to be paid if not paid.
Booking required / min: 5 – max: 15 children.
Age: children’s animation from 5 years old.
Dates : October 21, 22, 25, 28, 29, November 4 and 5: 11:30am.
October 31: 10:30am and 3pm. (Sold out on 31)

Theatrical tour – A terrifying ball

In this Halloween year of 1632, Archbishop François de Harlay invites his closest acquaintances to attend the castle ball. Guests with an invitation card are invited to take part in the festivities. But be warned, they will have a big part to play. Dear guests, be on your guard, the ball takes place on the evening of a full moon.

Length: 45min
Fee: €7 per adult, €5 for children aged 7 to 17.
Booking required / min: 5 – max: 25 participants.
Age: all ages, from 7 years.
Dates : October 21, 22, 25, 29, November 2, 3, 4 and 5: 5pm.
On October 26, 27, 28 and 31: 5pm and 6:30pm. (Sold out on the 31st)

31 October

An emotional Halloween!

Put on your best Halloween costume, and the Gailloween au château team will take care of the rest!

On 31 October, you can come all day without interruption, from 9:30am to 6:30pm.

Bref, enough to spend Halloween 2023 in an unexpected setting,near Paris and just a stone’s throw from Rouen!!

The programme on 31 October:

Make-up

From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

€2 per child.

Magic show

At 10am.

COMPLET

€7 per child, one accompanying adult free. Additional accompanying adult: €7.

Balloon show

At 11:30am.

On reservation

€5 per child, one accompanying adult free. Additional accompanying adult: €5.

Scary tales

At 2pm and 3.30pm.

COMPLET

€3 per child one accompanying adult free. Additional accompanying adult: admission fee.

Enigma: In search of the antidote

At 10am and 3pm

COMPLET

€5 per child one accompanying adult free. Additional accompanying adult: admission fee.

Theatrical visit – A terrifying ball

At 5pm and 6.30pm.

Ages 7 and up.

COMPLET

€7 per adult and €5 for children aged 7 to 17.

Meet the witch in the Witch’s Den

Departs at: 9.45am, 10.45am, 11.45am, 2.15pm, 3.15pm, 4.15pm.

Please note that some of the castle’s classic tours are likely to be cancelled during the Gailloween period. Don’t hesitate to call 02 32 53 86 40 before scheduling your visit!

Encore plus de fun

Gailloween