Vaux-le-Vicomte hosts All Saints events from 18 October

Vaux-le-Vicomte (Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte) in Maincy will host its All Saints holiday programme from 18 October to 31 October 2026. The family programme combines torchlight explorations, a theatrical search for hidden animals, sound trails and activities across the château and gardens.

Vaux-le-Vicomte sets dates for its October family programme

The operator has announced a programme for the French school holiday period under the title Les vacances de la Toussaint. Its main new feature is the Torchlight Exploration, which takes visitors through the château after daylight hours on selected dates.

The torchlight sessions take place on 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 October 2026. The listed start times are 5pm, 5.30pm and 6.15pm, with the route beginning in the vestibule and continuing through the grand state rooms. The organiser describes stops including the Antichamber of Hercules, the Grand Salon and the King's Bedroom. The organiser's October programme also lists The Carnival of the Animals for 19, 22, 24, 29 and 31 October, with sessions at 10.30am and 2.30pm.

October activities connect the château with its history

The Carnival of the Animals is designed for children aged four to six and uses the château interiors as the setting for a search involving paintings, tapestries and sculptures. The torchlight route is intended for visitors aged eight and over and uses the darkness of the grand rooms as part of the experience.

That setting reflects the estate's unusually integrated design. Nicolas Fouquet began developing Vaux-le-Vicomte in 1653 and brought together architect Louis Le Vau, painter-decorator Charles Le Brun and landscape designer André Le Nôtre. The estate remained a private residence before Patrice de Vogüé opened it to the public in 1968. The operator's official history of the estate records the family's continuing stewardship. The October programme therefore places new guided activity inside rooms and landscapes shaped by the same artistic collaboration that made the site significant.

Visiting Vaux-le-Vicomte: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The All Saints holiday programme runs at Vaux-le-Vicomte from 18 October to 31 October 2026. Torchlight Exploration dates are 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 October; The Carnival of the Animals runs on 19, 22, 24, 29 and 31 October.
• Online reservation is required for both named activities. The torchlight route begins in the château vestibule and visits the grand state rooms; the two special activities are not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
• The estate is in Maincy, in France. The programme's activities are delivered in French, while the permanent immersive sound experience is also available in English.
• Visitors can find the permanent immersive sound experience, the Sounding Forest and the Mystery of the Iron Mask alongside the October programme. The latter route includes a vaulted seventeenth-century underground passage and the forest.

Searching for Vaux-le-Vicomte on social platforms

These links open searches for Vaux-le-Vicomte on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Vaux-le-Vicomte

When does the All Saints holiday programme take place at Vaux-le-Vicomte?

It runs from 18 October to 31 October 2026, with activities on specific dates within that period.

What activities are planned at Vaux-le-Vicomte?

The programme includes Torchlight Exploration for older children and adults, The Carnival of the Animals for children aged four to six, plus sound and garden trails.

Where is Vaux-le-Vicomte and how do you get there?

Vaux-le-Vicomte is in Maincy, France. The estate's visitor address is in the commune of Maincy, in the Seine-et-Marne department.