Halloween at the Musée de la Lavande

During the All Saints’ school holidays, the Musée de la Lavande in Cabrières-d’Avignon takes on a Halloween theme: tours full of spooky anecdotes, magic lavender sachets, scented watercolour painting and activities for children. Visitors of all ages see Provence’s fine lavender in a new light, mixing mystery, creativity and Provençal traditions.

Magic lavender sachets, from 19 October to 1 November

From 19 to 25 October, every afternoon from 2pm to 4.30pm, children make their own scented lavender sachet. Fabric, ribbons and dried flowers are provided. The little keepsake can then go in a wardrobe or under a pillow. The workshop lasts roughly 20 to 30 minutes and costs €2 per child, on top of the Museum entry ticket.

From 26 October to 1 November, at the same times, the mood turns more bewitching with the “magic potion sachet”. Young wizards prepare a lavender-scented sachet and take their creation home. It lasts just as long, and the price stays at €2 per child, in addition to the admission ticket.

A Halloween guided tour: plague, miasmas and four thieves vinegar

From 26 October to 1 November, at 11am and 2pm, the special Halloween guided tour gives the Museum a far more mysterious feel. It lasts about an hour and is included in the entry ticket. Tracing the history of fine lavender in Provence, the guide talks about ancient beliefs, distillation techniques, tales of plague and epidemics, miasmas and four thieves vinegar. A few of the most intriguing objects kept at the Museum are shown too.

Along the way, visitors learn what sets fine lavender apart from lavandin, how it used to be harvested and distilled, and why some plants fuelled popular beliefs. This family tour blends Provençal heritage, true stories and “a little Halloween thrill”.

Scented watercolour with Nathalie Maire on 18, 21 and 28 October

On those three days, the Museum hosts a scented watercolour workshop led by Nathalie Maire, a professional watercolourist. Sessions take place at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm and last about an hour. The pigments are scented with natural essences used in perfumery, and the Conservatoire des Ocres de Roussillon created them specially for the Museum. As the brush moves across the page, the fragrances settle on the paper: every participant leaves with an artwork to admire as much as to smell.

The workshop costs €15 per adult and €10 per child. The price also covers a visit to the Museum, guided or with an audioguide.

30 October: frog hunt, witches’ potions and a fancy-dress snack

On Friday 30 October, the Museum rounds off its programme with a Halloween day for children, designed with families in mind. All afternoon, young wizards can enjoy a range of activities:

• a hunt for mischievous frogs;
• witches’ potion making;
• magic lavender sachet making;
• temporary tattoos;
• games and small surprises;
• a mysterious gift hidden in the wizards’ chest.

A fancy-dress snack also awaits children from 2pm to 5pm. Witches, ghosts, pumpkins, vampires and other fantastic creatures are all welcome, and dressing up is strongly encouraged to make the most of this bewitching day. The special Halloween guided tours still run at 11am and 2pm, and the entry ticket covers them.

Visiting at your own pace: audioguide, stills and films from Château du Bois

Outside the guided tours, the Museum can also be explored with an audioguide lasting about an hour and included in the entry ticket. It explains the botany, cultivation, harvest and distillation of fine lavender. Films about the Domaine du Château du Bois are on offer, and the route showcases a remarkable collection of stills, along with objects tied to the history of lavender in Provence.