Halloween 2026: Family thrills at Château de Maisons (78) among ghosts, underground passages and candy

The old stones of the Château de Maisons may let in a few chilly drafts during the Toussaint holidays. On October 24, 25, 31 and November 1, 2026, the landmark of Maisons-Laffitte in the Yvelines switches to haunted-house mode with Frissons à Maisons, a Halloween lineup designed for both kids and grown-ups, starting from age 6.

This time, the specter roaming the corridors has a name: Madeleine Boulenc de Crèvecœur, wife of René de Longueil, the château’s first owner. For the occasion, her ghost returns to haunt the mansion and leads visitors into its least well-behaved corners.

Off to the castle’s cellars, where a stroll sprinkled with riddles awaits families. It’s up to you to keep a cool head and solve the route: a bag of candy awaits those who reach the end of the quest. After the effort, the reward… provided that Madeleine lets you head back out.

The bravest of the bunch can then venture into a scary tunnel, conceived to reveal the castle’s history in a far darker light. And to regroup between appearances, a semi-autonomous mask-decorating workshop lets visitors unleash their creative side. A chic ghost or a genuinely unsettling creature—it's up to each guest to pick a side.

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No need to book a special evening this year: the activities are included in the castle’s standard admission. They are offered on October 24, 25, 31 and November 1, 2026, from 10:00 to 12:30 and then from 14:00 to 16:30, and are for visitors aged 6 and up.

Between ghosts, underground passages and candy, the Château de Maisons becomes a haunted hideout for All Saints’ Day. Madeleine, for her part, clearly doesn’t plan on leaving the premises...