Centre des Monuments Nationaux will be holding its annual Easter egg hunt at some 53 castles, fortresses, archaeological sites and other national monuments across France on Sunday, March 31, 2013.

The event, called Œufs, énigmes et chocolat (eggs, enigmas and chocolate), is a fun way for children and their families to learn about history and architecture. As in other years, is sponsored in part by Cémoi, one of France’s oldest chocolate manufacturers.

In Paris, the Easter egg hunts will be taking place at the Conciergerie and Tours de la Cathédrale Notre Dame.

Easter egg hunts will also be held at Château de Vincennes, Basilique Cathédrale Saint-Denis, Château de Maisons-Lafitte, Domaine national de Saint-Cloud and Villa Savoye (Poissy).

What: Œufs, énigmes et chocolat (chocolate Easter egg hunt)
Where: Conciergerie, 2, boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris; and Tour de la Cathédrale Notre-Dame, place du Parvis Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris
When: Sunday, March 31, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Métro: Cité, Saint-Michel, Châtelet
Admission: Free for children 5 to 12 years old and their families and for those under 18 years of age

For more information: Centre d’Information des Monuments Nationaux at +33 (0)1 44 61 21 50 or visit the official website

Other Easter egg hunts/events in Paris and Ile de France:

• Secours Populaire and Kinder are holding an Easter egg hunt for children and their parents in Jardin des Tuileries (1st arr.) on Sunday March 31, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is five euros for a “hunting permit.” Proceeds go to Secours Populaire, to the benefit of children in need.
• The Mairie du 7ème arrondissement (116, rue de Grenelle, 7th arr.) is holding Easter egg decorating workshops for children on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 (2 pm. to 4 p.m., registration required) as well as an egg hunt in the Mairie gardens (4 p.m.).
• Easter egg hunts will be held at Château de Vaux le Vicomte on Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (departures every 45 minutes). Some 50,000 Belgian chocolate eggs made by Léonidas will be hidden on the grounds. Free for children under six.
• The medieval city of Provins (UNESCO World Heritage Site) will be holding Easter egg hunts on Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1, 2013  from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with 7,500 chocolate eggs to be collected by children. Starting point for the event is the Office de Tourisme. Free for children under 12 years.
• Château de Saint-Jean Beauregard (Essone) will be holding Easter egg hunts in its 17-century gardens on Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1, 2013 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free for children under 8.
• Ferme de Gally (Saint-Cyr L’Ecole and Sartrouville sites) will be holding an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, March 31, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chocolate eggs and figurines will be handed out to children in exchange for coloured eggs collected on the grounds. Admission 5 or 7 euros, free for children under three.

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