This Christian holiday is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your family relaxing. Traditionally celebrated on 1st November, All Saints’ Day is celebrated around the world.
This day is known as La Toussaint (tous les saints) in France and is a national holiday. One tradition is to visit the graves of family and lay fresh flowers and clean the gravestone. You’ll notice plenty of chrysanthemums, which are a sign of immortality in France as they live through the winter.
Relatives also place candles in jars that stay lit throughout the night. This is an amazing sight and extremely emotional when you see how important the day is to the French. Observing this from a distance is a unique and memorable experience.
Why not take a short break, rent a car and head off on a road trip in France to make the most of this holiday?
Where to go on All Saints’ Day?
If you’ve rented a car you could spend time in Brittany exploring the wild coastline, try out some winter surfing on the French Atlantic or head for the French Riviera. All of these areas will be celebrating All Saints’ Day, and if you get the chance to go to a church service you’ll see how important remembering the dead is to the French.
Discover the beauty of inland France at this time of year. The summer crowds have left yet the weather is often still pleasant. You could take a drive around the Dordogne region, with its famous river, or make your way to Provence, which is much more pleasant after the summer heat is over.
If you love the outdoors why not head for the French Alps and spend a couple of days skiing during this French vacation? If the snow hasn’t yet arrived you can explore the countryside and spend your days hiking and admiring the breathtaking scenery.
This time of year is also a good time to drive around the region of Alsace in the North and admire the amazing architecture, castles and medieval villages. If you’re in this region you should visit the city of Strasbourg, where you can wander around the historic old town before visiting the European Parliament, the Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe.
If you’re lucky enough to have French friends you may find you’re invited to a family gathering. This will involve a typical French meal and sometimes gift giving and is the chance for everyone to get together and remember lost family members.
Visit the cemeteries of Paris on All Saints’ Day
If you are in Paris on this memorable day you should visit some of the many cemeteries. The largest is Père Lachaise which is one of the most visited cemeteries in the world. It’s best to book a guided tour so you can hear the fascinating stories of the famous deceased that lie here: Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Proust, Jim Morrison…
Another cemetery that will capture your imagination is Montparnasse, with its 45 acres of land. You’ll see here one of the last surviving windmills in France that dates back to the 14th century, and even though it no longer has its sails it’s an impressive sight.
You’ll find Montmartre cemetery fascinating, with its thousands of graves, the final resting place of more than 300,000 people. These range from simple headstones to elaborate mausoleums that contain whole families. It’s almost like walking around a small village as you notice the different design styles, from Gothic to Renaissance to Art Nouveau. Hundreds of trees tower above the graves, and as the sunlight breaks through the leaves this creates an eerie atmosphere.
Be spooked at the Catacombs
Are you brave enough to head 20 metres below Paris and be faced with the bones and skulls of several million Parisians? This is a fascinating journey through the history of the city and an ideal theme for All Saints’ Day.
The real remains of these people were moved from other city cemeteries to be stored underground after public health problems and overcrowding. Book a tour and take the 130 steps downwards to be surrounded by human skeletons every way you turn. This is a fascinating insight into how burials took place in the past and a sight you’re not likely to forget.
Whether you decide to spend time in one place with the family or go exploring in a rental car, All Saints’ Day is a good time for a break between the end of summer and Christmas. As this day is a public holiday you should check if certain attractions are open before you set out on your journey.
