La Nuit des Fées : an immersive, magical evening stroll through the grounds of a château in Val d'Oise

Craving a mysterious nocturnal escape to share with the family? From June 20 to November 1, 2026, the historic estate of the Château de Guiry-en-Vexin, nestled in the Val-d'Oise, opens its doors after dark for the 6th edition of La Nuit des Fées. Every Saturday of summer and autumn, visitors are invited to join a unique immersive expedition, blending folkloric tales, passionate performers and special effects at the heart of a centuries-old park.

At dusk, the castle park wakes up in a completely new way. Guided by Eric Nondsen, an “elficologist” and actor, young and old cross the borders of the parallel world of legends. By lantern light, the stroll becomes a genuine hunt for fantastical creatures: with a healthy dose of humor and poetry, the walk comes alive thanks to visual and audio effects scattered throughout the woods.

Video projections on the stones, phosphorescent traces on the ground, circles of magical fairies, and the appearance of little elves and dryads punctuate the walk to bring the folklore of our countryside to life. The immersion aims to be total and participatory: children (and the most game-loving parents!) are warmly encouraged to come in costume, dusting off their best princess gowns, wizard capes, or fairy wings to blend into the scenery.

• To be read
• This week's top picks for May 25–31, 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France
• Free museums in Paris and free monuments in Île-de-France: the top cultural deals

Nestled in the splendid Parc naturel régional du Vexin français, the site sits roughly an hour's drive from Paris. Without a car, reaching the Guiry-en-Vexin estate after dark can be tricky, limiting the experience to visitors who travel by car.

The show starts strictly at dusk, and meeting times shift week by week (a 9:30 p.m. departure in June, much earlier as autumn approaches): be sure to confirm the exact time in advance. In addition, wear closed-toe shoes and long clothing to avoid getting caught out by the damp, wooded undergrowth.

For the last week of October, the mood shifts as the Balades Fantastiques team gears up for a series of special Halloween performances. The fairies and friendly goblins will yield to a slightly more mischievous and mysterious cast to give the little monsters a scare just before the annual closing.