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Nuit des Châteaux 2026: French castles and monuments open late this weekend
Light shows and wine tastings at sites rarely open to the public
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Almost 100 châteaux and monuments across France will be staying open after dark to host candlelit shows, experiences and guided tours for the Nuit des Châteaux (Night of Castles) this weekend (October 16-18).
This magical event is back for an eighth year, coinciding with the Toussaint school holidays.
Many participating sites are rarely open to visitors, offering members of the public an exciting opportunity to step inside and learn about their history.
Attractions include an immersive light show at the Château de Castries (Hérault), a wine tasting at Château Soutard (Gironde), a candlelit visit to the Château de Pennautier (Aude), and a treasure trail at the Château de Langeais (Indre-et-Loire).
An interactive map is available on the event’s website to help find participating monuments near you.
Events are individually ticketed. Booking links can be found on the website. Note that some monuments are not opening for all three nights and event times vary across different sites.
The Nuit des Châteaux is linked with the Nuit des Monuments (Night of Monuments) which was held from April 17-19 this year. Both events are organised by Dartagnans - a French platform specialising in heritage preservation - and have attracted more than 180,000 visitors since the launch of Nuit des Châteaux in 2019.
These should not be confused with the Nuit Européenne des Musées (European Night of Museums), held each year in May with more than 3,000 participating museums across France and Europe.
A photo competition
This year, the Nuit des Châteaux is running a photo competition, giving visitors the chance to win one of five prizes.
Prizes include an overnight stay for two people at an ecolodge at the Château de la Mothe Chandeniers (Vienne) - and four free tickets for any experience at the next edition of La Nuit des Monuments in April 2027.
All photos must be sent by October 21.
Full details and information on how to enter can be found in the social media post here.
