Beasts & Witches – Dossier No. 05
On the Trail of the Beasts
Watch what moves, listen for what is hiding and look out for the tracks left along the way.
From Sainte-Croix to the forests of Abreschviller, animals and creatures lead you along a rather unusual Halloween trail.
From 17 October to 1 November 2026 | Sainte-Croix Wildlife Park | Rhodes
It all begins with a spell
The Witch of the Winds
At Sainte-Croix, the animals are not simply part of the Halloween setting: they are at the heart of the story.
Tissandra, the Witch of the Winds, has discovered that the balance between humans and nature is under threat. To take revenge, she casts a spell over the kingdom and threatens its inhabitants with a strange transformation: turning them into animals.
To escape her spell, visitors must journey through five enchanted worlds and take on the challenges along the way. At each stage, nature, the park’s animal species and the fantastical world of Beasts & Witches come together to move the story forward.
And those brave enough to enter the Forbidden Forest will discover that Tissandra has also been playing with proportions: tiny crawling creatures have become gigantic beasts with countless legs and glowing eyes.
Look around you
What if Tissandra’s spell really worked?
Wolf, deer, coyote, insect or another inhabitant of the park… which animal would you prefer to be transformed into?
31 October 2026 | La Contrée des Minis | Hilbesheim
Something has happened at the farm
Mystery and thrills at La Contrée des Minis
At first glance, nothing should disturb the peace and quiet of this farm. Yet at Halloween, a strange and inexplicable evil descends upon the estate.
Mysterious happenings, creatures from the shadows and enchanted challenges turn the place upside down. Families make their way through La Contrée des Minis, observe their surroundings and take on a series of challenges to understand what lies behind this strange transformation.
Here, simply watching the animals is not enough: the entire estate becomes a playground, where nature, imagination and unexpected encounters come together.
Don’t be fooled by appearances
A farm can hide much more than animals.
Search every corner, look out for what has changed and keep your eyes open. The creatures lurking in the shadows may not appear twice.
1 November 2026 | Musée départemental du Sel | Marsal
When the king of the night takes flight
Owls – what a hoot!
Some animals do not need to be frightening to fit naturally into the world of Halloween. They simply need to prefer the night.
At the Musée départemental du Sel, owls symbolically take flight over Marsal during a workshop specially designed for children aged 4 to 10.
Armed with scissors and imagination, young participants bring their own little magical owl to life. It is a fun way to discover this nocturnal animal, long associated with fantastical tales, witches and mysterious nights.
Listen carefully
The night also belongs to those you hear before you see them.
The rustle of wings, a call in the darkness… sometimes, a creature does not need to show itself to make its presence known.
30 and 31 October 2026 | Abreschviller Forest Train
For the final creatures, stay on board
Night of Horror on the Forest Train
In Abreschviller, the trail leaves the paths behind and follows the railway tracks.
Climb aboard the Forest Train and let yourself be carried away on a night-time journey deep into the forest. Once the train sets off, there is no need to choose your route: it gradually disappears into the darkness while the entertainment unfolds throughout the journey.
Ghosts, zombies and other creatures emerge from the darkest corners of the woods. This time, there is no need to go looking for them on foot: they seem to have found your trail instead.
A special version for children is also available, allowing younger visitors to discover the Halloween atmosphere aboard the train before the most intense nights begin.
One final warning
Keep your eyes on the train.
In the forest, something could appear at any moment. And this time, you may be the one being followed.
Other creatures may be lurking elsewhere
Sainte-Croix, Hilbesheim, Marsal and Abreschviller are just some of the Beasts & Witches events.
Games, shows, workshops, family activities or more intense experiences: explore the full programme and choose your next Halloween outing in Moselle.
Which dossier will you discover next?
You have reached the end of the trail. Four other Beasts & Witches worlds are still waiting to be explored in Moselle.
Family Halloween fun on the trail of the beasts in Moselle
During the autumn half-term holidays, animals and creatures take centre stage at the Beasts & Witches Festival. At Sainte-Croix Wildlife Park, the Witch of the Winds draws visitors into a world where nature and fantasy meet, while La Contrée des Minis in Hilbesheim also has a few unexpected encounters in store.
The trail continues to Marsal, with the animals of the night, before heading deep into the forest for the Night of Horror on the Abreschviller Forest Train. A selection of Halloween experiences in Moselle to enjoy as a family or with the bravest visitors, combining animals, forests and fantastical creatures.