Annecy in the Toussaint autumn holidays 2026: what’s open, what to do

Toussaint — the French autumn school holidays around All Saints’ Day — is the Annecy the postcards don’t sell: mist on the lake in the morning, russet forests on the slopes, an old town handed back to its residents. It is also when the season tips over: some sites close just before the holidays, others stay open every day. Here is the sorting, so you don’t plan a day in front of a locked gate.

The dates

For all three French school zones, the 2026 Toussaint holidays run from Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November 2026, when school resumes. Three weekends, the last one ending on Sunday 1 November. Expect French families on holiday, especially on the castle and Halloween outings below.

What stays open

• Menthon-Saint-Bernard castle: every day from 17 October to 1 November, 1 pm to 6 pm (last entry 5:30 pm). After that, weekends only until 12 November. Our guide to Menthon castle tells you what you will see.
• Annecy castle and the Palais de l’Isle: open every day except Tuesday, with a lunch break. The castle overlooks the old town; the Palais de l’Isle sits in the middle of the canal.
• Cruises on the lake: the Compagnie des Bateaux’s sightseeing cruises run until 30 November. The lake seen from the water, without the August crowds.
• The old town, the markets, the greenway: of course — and it is the best time of year for the markets and for cycling around the lake: the greenway is almost empty.

What closes before the holidays

• The Gorges du Fier: the 2026 season ends on 15 October, two days before the holidays. Closed throughout Toussaint — the classic autumn trap, as our gorges guide warns.
• The Semnoz shuttle: the bus shuttle only runs in summer and winter; in late October, you go up the Semnoz by car.
• Paragliding at the Forclaz: the operator Push Up advertises flights from March to October, weather permitting. Aim for the first week of the holidays if you want to fly.

Halloween around the lake

The tourist office’s calendar already has its Halloween events, mostly for families:

• Halloween at Clermont castle — 17 October to 1 November, 10 am–12:30 pm and 1:30–5:30 pm: the house “puts on its Halloween costume”, from age 5.
• Halloween tales at Montrottier castle (Lovagny) — 21 and 29 October, at 10:30 am or 2 pm, from age 5. The same castle runs a giant Cluedo on Friday 23 October, 6 to 7:30 pm.
• At Le Cairn (Meythet) — a little monsters’ disco on Thursday 22 October, 9 am to noon, and Halloween stories on Wednesday 28 October, 3:30 to 4:15 pm, both free.
• Treasure hunt at the Criq’Parc (Saint-Jorioz) — Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, 10 am to 6 pm; come in costume.
• Saturday 31 October is also the last Saturday of the month: flea market on rue Sainte-Claire and the art and makers’ market, 8 am to 6 pm.

Everything goes into our what’s on page week by week.

If the sky is grey

Without the Gorges du Fier, the autumn rain plan is the old town and the castles: arcades, Annecy castle, the Palais de l’Isle, then Montrottier or Clermont in the afternoon. Our Annecy in the rain guide fills in the rest, and seasonal food does the remainder — our pick for Savoyard food out of season.

What we wouldn’t do

• Plan the Gorges du Fier: closed since 15 October.
• Count on a bus to the Semnoz in late October.
• Count on swimming. The water cools quickly in autumn; the lake out of season is lived differently — on foot, by bike, by boat.
• Miss the morning. In late October, the mist on the lake at 8 am and then the sun on the ridges is the best moment of the day — our guide to Annecy in October says where to see it.

An autumn holiday week is built around each day’s weather and the off-season opening hours. Our Annecy-specialised AI concierge writes your days hour by hour from your answers, with the verified events on your dates and a rain plan B for each. Day 1 is free →