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Things to do this month in Brittany, Rouen, Paris and Verdun
Discover October events in France, from Halloween at a Brittany château and Rouen's funfair to the Cézanne exhibition in Paris and the Verdun museum
1. Halloween fun and frights
Halloween events are increasingly common in France, especially in grand houses and châteaux. On Sunday, October 25, Château de Combourg in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany – a medieval fortress built between the 12th and 15th Centuries – is hosting its annual spookfest.
The castle is the birthplace of writer François-René de Chateaubriand and is still owned by the family’s descendants.
The event marks Samhain, the ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter, which is considered to be at the root of modern-day Halloween. Traditionally, people wore disguises or masks to trick or blend in with roaming spirits.
Expect lots of scary costumes – kids of all ages are encouraged to dress up – plus traditional Breton tales, a haunted trail and food trucks. Fun for all the family amid characterful surroundings.
2. Road to Rouen
The Foire Saint-Romain, held on the Esplanade Saint-Gervais in the Normandy city of Rouen, is France’s second-biggest fête foraine (funfair) after the Foire du Trône in Paris.
It honours Romain, the city’s bishop, patron saint and legendary slayer of a fire-breathing dragon named La Gargouille, which terrorised locals in the nearby Seine marshes in the 7th Century.
Rides such as roller coasters and ghost trains cater for all ages, and cost from around €3–€5 for children’s and family rides and €5–€8 for major thrill rides.
Runs from October 16 to November 15.
3. A different view of Verdun
The excellent Mémorial de Verdun, located in Fleury-devant-Douaumont (Meuse), is a museum dedicated to the 1916 Battle of Verdun in World War One.
In addition to viewing its unique collection of uniforms and countless other wartime artefacts from both the French and German sides, this autumn is the last chance for visitors to learn about soldiers from other countries who took part in the devastating battle. Worlds Within the Battle: Verdun 2016 features stories of those recruited from the French colonial empire, originating from the Maghreb, West Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as Danes serving in the German army; Belgian and Russian civilian and military prisoners of war; and American and British medical personnel.
Runs until December 31.
4. The legacy of Cézanne
Art lovers visiting Paris this autumn should head to Cézanne et nous (Cézanne and us), an unprecedented exhibition dedicated to Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) and his artistic legacy.
Featuring nearly 180 artworks revealing how the Post-Impressionist painter’s work has been interpreted and transformed from the late 19th Century to the present day, visitors can enjoy works by Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian and more.
The Grand Palais says the exhibition tells “a dual story: that of his fundamental influence and, in contrast, the story of the artists who claimed him”.
Runs until January 17, 2027, price €19, free to under-18s.
