Child's Play Monument: October 18 & 19, 2025, 58 Heritage Jewels Become Adventure Playgrounds.
What if, for a weekend, your little ones became knights, alchemists, or medieval dancers? On October 18 and 19, Monument Jeu d’Enfant turns 58 national monuments into vast cultural sandboxes. Follow the guide!
An appointment that has become a must during the All Saints' holiday break.
For over twenty years, the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) has been rolling out the red carpet for families on the first weekend of the autumn holidays. Last year, this event attracted nearly 120,000 visitors, with 65% of them being children under 12 years old (source: CMN). In 2025, the institution is aiming even higher: 58 sites involved, from the Pantheon to Villa Cavrois, including the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey. The goal? To spark curiosity and instill a love for heritage through play, emotion, and surprise.
Tailor-made activities (and free for under 26s!)
Equestrian shows, Lego® workshops, medieval dances, sensory mapping, scientific experiments... Impossible to list them all! The common thread: an active immersion where the child becomes the protagonist. At the Besançon Cathedral, Lady Clock whispers her legends in a strict 45 minutes. At the Bouges Castle (Indre), the Arvak company blends acrobatics and comedy. At Glanum (Bouches-du-Rhône), one handles natural pigments to paint an imperial toad. Good deal: entry is included in the adult ticket and 100% free for those under 26, a real bargain considering that 72% of households are looking for an affordable cultural outing during the school holidays (Families & Leisure barometer 2023).
An Express Tour of France: Where to Take Your Tribe?
No need to cross half the country: there's bound to be a participating monument less than an hour away from you. Île-de-France? Head to the Château de Vincennes and its "Bal des oiseaux" featuring stained-glass style paper art. Hauts-de-France? The Villa Cavrois offers a colorful "Archi-textured" workshop. Occitanie? The ramparts of Carcassonne are adorned with imaginary herbariums. And if you're passing through Brittany, the Column of the Grande Armée at Wimille turns children into sensory detectives. In short, the CMN map is like a giant treasure hunt.
Why your children will love it (and so will you)
Neuroscience confirms: we retain 90% of what we do as opposed to just 10% of what we read. By placing the child at the center of action, Monument Jeu d’Enfant ticks all the boxes: active learning, sociability, creativity. For parents, it's the guarantee of a turnkey weekend: simplified logistics, professional supervision, controlled costs. Special mention for the "Passion Monuments" (€45 per year) which provides unlimited access to 100 sites: cost-effective from the third visit.
Spotlight on three gems not to be missed
1. Thoronet Abbey (Var): two fake guides, Michel & Michel, revisit Cistercian history in a stand-up comedy style (guaranteed 1 hour and 30 minutes of laughter).
2. Tau Palace (Reims): stained glass workshop for 4-12 year olds, a luminous echo of the cathedral's rose windows.
3. Aulteribe Castle (Puy-de-Dôme): "Rouge Cœur," a puppet-music tale suitable from 6 months old – a rarity for the little ones.
How to Prepare for Your Heritage Getaway
Book now! Many workshops are fully booked a week in advance. All registrations are done on monuments-nationaux.fr or on the dedicated websites of each monument. Remember to:
- Check the age groups.
- Arrive 15 minutes early, strollers may not be allowed.
- Bring a snack: activities can last up to 3 hours.
A very real tourist and economic impact.
With over 11 million annual visitors, the CMN invigorates the regions. During a weekend event like Monument Jeu d'Enfant, the institution estimates an increase in nearby business traffic by about 8%. Accommodations, restaurants, and bookstores benefit from this autumnal boon, often a slow period before Christmas.
Note Well: Heritage is not outdated!
Chimera, silkscreen, pigsty, Lego®, whimsical trapeze... The 2025 program gleefully juggles between heritage and pop culture. Evidence that a monument can be both a place of memory and a playground. A good reminder when 1 out of 2 teenagers still thinks that "heritage" rhymes with dust (OpinionWay survey 2022).
