the essential
During this school holiday period, the lines lengthen after dark at the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes de Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne) to experience a unique spectacle: the experience in Harry Potter's forbidden forest. Fans of the young wizard often come here in disguise to follow this luminous journey which has many surprises in store. On view until February 2.
For Harry Potter fans, this is “the place to be”. Montauban, the prefectural town of Tarn-et-Garonne, has acquired new notoriety, well beyond the borders of Occitania, since Warner Bros. chose it to host “The Forbidden Forest Experience”.
This December 31, despite stubborn fog and bitter cold, there are crowds at the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes. First essential step, a selfie in front of the large deer perched on its rock, emblem of the festival.
Fifty meters further down, towards the bamboo forest, the experience begins and the first line forms. “Go around to greet the hippogriff. Young wizard, young witch, bow humbly. Perfect, you are accepted. Congratulations,” says one of the show’s intermittent actors recruited for the event.
DDM – DDM MANUEL MASSIP
Many children and adolescents have equipped themselves with the light wand (sold for 25 euros), the accessory which allows us to live the experience in the most interactive way, because spells and fights await us further on. Connected to Bluebooth, the sorcerer's wand is linked to an application which allows everyone to film themselves and above all… to write their name in the sky. Enough to believe that you have definitely been adopted by the Gryffindors, the most famous of the four families in the saga since it is the one that brings together the most famous wizards in the world, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Ron Weasley and of course the icon Harry Potter.
Throughout the month of December, in fact, the dress code was spread, like a magic formula, in the pedestrian streets of Montauban.
“We knew that a lot of spectators would come in disguise but we didn't think that the Cosplay phenomenon would reach this level. It's really nice to see entire families in a disguise,” underlines Jérémy Bringuier, director of communications, protocol and communications. major events in the city of Montauban.
Throughout the month of December, in fact, the dress code was spread, like a magic formula, in the pedestrian streets of Montauban. Marketers and Airbnb hosts even played the game.
To return to December 31, let's recognize that we saw more bonnets than pointy witches' hats on heads: logical with the freezing cold. It's also better to bring warm shoes when the most anticipated stage of the experience arrives: the expecto patronum. “Yes, you can wait 40 minutes,” warns a dad who has just cast the spell.
At the foot of the stele which recalls the history of the Indians of the Osage tribe rescued during the Montauban winter of 1829, a little Hermione patiently plays with her wand. “Come forward, think of your happiest memory and say the incantation. Expecto patronum.” Dog, cat, lynx, owl or phoenix, each has its own patronus… and its own part of dreams.
The spell will continue to enchant young and old until February 2, 2025. It is in Montauban and (almost) nowhere else in the world… since the city of Ingres is the only one, with Austin and Washington, to welcome this “The Forbidden Forest Experience” moment.
