From December 5 to February 15, Château de Castel Novel lights up to welcome one of the most enchanting events of the winter season, just 2 hours from Bordeaux: the Festival des Lanternes – Royaume des Lumières. For over two months, the estate is transformed into a fairytale world where color, poetry and monumental sculptures give life to a spectacular nocturnal journey. A unique, immersive experience that promises to amaze young and old alike at the heart of the festive season.
A nocturnal journey to the kingdom of lights
The Festival des Lanternes invites you to a magical interlude inspired by the fantastic world of Alice in Wonderland. Where the night shines with a thousand lights, and your imagination takes shape as you encounter sparkling creatures. Majestic creatures, immense colorful mushrooms, giant card farandoles and frenetic monumental clocks populate the Parc du Royaume des Lumières and make visitors’ eyes glaze over. Follow the White Rabbit into a world where time stands still and dreams come to life.
11 hectares of magic at Château de Castel Novel
After successful editions in Gaillac, Blagnac and Montauban, with over 2 million visitors, the Festival des Lanternes is back at Château de Castel Novel. Just 2 hours from Bordeaux, the 11-hectare estate sees the emergence of enchanted forests and enchanting silk people, meticulously crafted by over a hundred artisans. In all, 1 million LEDs and 5 km of fabric were used to create the 1,000 light sculptures along the route , the longest of which is 40 metres long and the tallest 10 metres high. The result: an immersive nocturnal stroll where visitors marvel at every step.
Immerse yourself in the magic of the festive season!
A trip to the Kingdom of Lights would not be complete without a festive gourmet stopover. In the heart of the park, an ephemeral Christmas Market is set up, offering visitors the chance to warm up with emblematic winter flavors and unearthlocal craft treasures in the warmest of atmospheres. It’s a great way to share in the conviviality of the festive season.
But the magic also happens on the festival’s ephemeral stage, where comedians and circus performers take it in turns every evening to enliven the estate with their captivating artistic performances. Finally, the sky becomes the backdrop for a spectacular laser show that sets the night ablaze, adding an even more enchanting, timeless dimension to this nocturnal stroll. Enough to make the Festival des Lanternes an unmissable event to celebrate the Christmas season.
Practical info :
📍 Address: Château de Castel Novel, Route de Roland Garros, 19240 Varetz
📆 Dates: December5, 2025 – February 15, 2026
💰 Prices: from €11 for children and from €17 for adults