What to do in Brittany during the All Saints’ holidays

The 2026 All Saints’ holidays run from Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November, and for once all three school zones are off together. It is a lovely season for Brittany: the sea still holds the warmth of summer, around fifteen degrees, the forests turn russet, and the sites that overflow in August can be visited without queueing.

This year, the fortnight has plenty to fill a diary: the start of the Route du Rhum in Saint-Malo, the biggest tides of the autumn and Halloween, a festival that was born here long before it crossed the Atlantic.

The start of the Route du Rhum in Saint-Malo

The solo transatlantic race only starts every four years, and 2026 is a start year. The village opened on Tuesday 20 October on the quays of Saint-Malo: thirteen days of pontoons, parades and free activities, with more than a hundred boats moored in the docks, from giant trimarans to small monohulls. The start is given on Sunday 1 November at 1:02pm, heading for Pointe-à-Pitre.

The late October spring tides

From Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 October, the coefficients exceeded 95, peaking at 100 on Tuesday 27 in Brest. The sea then went out very far, uncovering rocks you only see a few days a year: the time for shore fishing, and a sight in itself when the tide comes back in.

Halloween, or rather Samain

Long before American pumpkins, the Celts celebrated Samain on the night of 31 October: the end of the harvest, the start of the dark season, and the moment when the world of the dead draws close to that of the living. Carved lanterns come from this Celtic tradition; in Ireland they were cut from turnips.

The forest of Brocéliande is the perfect setting for that week, with its legends of Merlin and the fairy Viviane. Several castles also offer costumed tours, mystery trails and children’s activities during the holidays: the programme changes every year, so check it before you go.

When it rains

An All Saints’ shower is no big deal if you have planned something under cover. Océanopolis in Brest is the largest, with its fully renovated tropical pavilion, which reopened in July 2026; the polar pavilion is still under renovation, so check whether it has reopened before you go. The aquariums of Saint-Malo and Trégastel, the Pleumeur-Bodou planetarium and the coastal museums complete the list.

Walking among the autumn colours

In late October, the beeches and chestnut trees take on their colours. The Huelgoat forest, with its jumble of boulders and its Roche Tremblante, and Brocéliande are the two great autumn walks. On the coast, the GR 34 is almost deserted, and the low light brings out the cliffs.

Markets and autumn food

Autumn is the season of chestnuts, apples and cider, and of the return of scallops in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc. The markets run all year round: the Lices market in Rennes, on Saturday morning, is one of the largest in France.

Where to stay during the holidays

Many campsites close at the end of September, but the hotels stay open, and their prices come down after the summer, except around Saint-Malo during the Route du Rhum.