European Heritage Days 2026 in Paris: Top visits without reservation
The 2026 European Heritage Days (JEP) are opening doors wide that are usually closed. Didn't book in advance? Arts in the City has you covered and has selected the must-see attractions to discover, all free of charge.
THE MONUMENTAL GAME OF GOOSE Street art is reinventing itself on the Trocadéro esplanade for the European Heritage Days. Become pawns in an artistic journey within this reimagined game of goose, spread across nearly 200 square meters. "A monumental work where the public no longer just observes the art... they become part of it." »
PLACE DU TROCADERO
Human Rights Plaza, 75016
Sat., Sept. 19, 2026, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Metro: Trocadéro (Lines 6/9)
Free admission
THE SENATE
Beneath the gilded splendor of the Luxembourg Palace, the tour takes you through the hemicycle, the library decorated by Delacroix, and the spectacular Conference Room. It continues to the Petit Luxembourg, the residence of the President of the Senate, between the Queen's Chapel, the Boffrand salons, and ceremonial gifts. A rare glimpse into four centuries of power and art.
SENATE, LUXEMBOURG PALACE
Entrance: Place Paul-Claudel, 75006
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 2026, 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Free admission
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
Built in 1724 for the Swiss banker Étienne Hogguer, the Hôtel de Villeroy became the seat of the Ministry of Agriculture in 1881. The tour leads from the Sully Room and its frescoes to the garden, where a vegetable garden, a statue of Parmentier, and a three-hundred-year-old plane tree stand side by side. A farmers' market adds regional flavors to the heritage of the site.
HÔTEL DE VILLEROY
78 bis rue de Varenne, 75007
Sat. Sept. 19, 12pm-7pm and Sun. Sept. 20, 10am-6pm
Free admission
INSTUTIT DE FRANCE
Opposite the Louvre, the former Collège des Quatre-Nations opens the heart of the Institut de France. The tour takes you through the famous Dome where the academicians sit, the workspaces of the five academies, and the Bibliothèque Mazarine, the oldest public library in France. A journey through four centuries of knowledge, debate, and written heritage.
INSTITUT DE FRANCE
23 quai de Conti, 75006
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 9am-6pm
Free · Open access
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION
Housed in the Hôtel de Rochechouart since 1829, the Ministry of National Education opens its salons, courtyard, and garden. Students from the École du Louvre describe the décor, while costumed reenactors bring to life the prominent figures who have passed through these walls. A visit combining aristocratic architecture and the history of education.
HÔTEL DE ROCHECHOUART
110 rue de Grenelle, 75007
Sat. Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sun. Sept. 20, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free admission
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
The Richelieu estate reveals its inner workings: the Minister's office, reception rooms, and contemporary artworks engage in a dialogue with the architecture of the Palais-Royal. For the bicentenary of photography, an exhibition dedicated to Willy Ronis reminds us how the photographer's humanist vision shaped our memory of Paris.
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
Access via Place Colette and the Palais-Royal gardens, 75001
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Free admission, last entry at 6:30 p.m.
PARIS CITY HALL
The grand staircase leads to the reception rooms, laid out like a manifesto of the triumphant Republic. The route continues to the Council Chamber, the Mayor's office, and the heritage library, which is usually closed. Students from the École du Louvre accompany this tour of the building, rebuilt after the Commune.
PARIS CITY HALL
3 rue Lobau, 75004
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 10am-5:30pm
Free admission
COURT OF AUDITORS
Completed at the beginning of the 20th century for the Court of Auditors, the Palais Cambon combines institutional rigor with monumental decor. The grand staircase, the Grand Chamber, the library, and the portrait galleries tell the story of two centuries of public finance oversight. The magistrates also offer a glimpse behind the scenes of their work serving the public.
COURT OF AUDITORS
Palais Cambon, 13 rue Cambon, 75001
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Free admission
ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Beneath the sculpted reliefs of the Arc, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier commemorates the fallen soldiers. Inside, the museum illuminates the history and iconography of the monument; 284 steps higher, the terrace offers a panoramic view of the twelve avenues and the entire vista of the Champs-Élysées. Short interpretive displays are available along the ascent.
ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Place Charles-de-Gaulle, 75008
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 10am-11pm
Free · Open access, last entry 45 min before closing
MUSÉE DE L'ORANGERIE
Designed with Monet as a haven of light, the two oval Water Lilies rooms change atmosphere throughout the day. With pencil in hand, a sketching tour invites you to observe the architecture, reflections, and movement of the panoramic panels. Another way to experience the museum: slowly, through drawing.
Orangerie Museum
Tuileries Garden, Place de la Concorde, 75001
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 3–4:30 pm
Free · No reservation required
Paris Museum of Modern Art
Within the museum's collections, performance artist Pascal Beugré Tellier brings the stories of Black men into dialogue with the work of Kerry James Marshall. Gestures, voices, and movement explore masculinity, patriarchy, and migration, bringing them into close contact with visitors. Modern heritage becomes a living stage, permeated by contemporary issues.
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART OF PARIS
11 avenue du Président-Wilson, 75016
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept.
Free · Access subject to capacity
CARNAVALET MUSEUM
For its anniversary, the Museum of the History of Paris gives a voice to those who care for its collections. Curators and restorers recount iconic objects, unusual discoveries, and preservation techniques, while tours explore the museum's essential features. From prehistory to revolutions, Paris also reveals its hidden side.
CARNAVALET MUSEUM
History of Paris, 23 rue de Sévigné, 75003
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept.
Free admission, subject to availability
COGNACQ-JAY MUSEUM
The Hôtel Donon, home to the collections assembled by Ernest Cognacq and Marie-Louise Jay, welcomes music. Cellist Zoé Saubat presents a program ranging from Marin Marais to Bach in the courtyard, blending Baroque spirit with intimacy. An ideal musical interlude before discovering paintings, sculptures, and precious objects from the 18th century.
COGNACQ-JAY MUSEUM
8 rue Elzevir, 75003
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept.
Free · Access subject to capacity
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS OF PARIS
A threat looms over the museum and its artworks: visitors must solve the riddles scattered throughout the galleries. This life-size treasure hunt reveals the work of conservationists and the inner workings of the Petit Palais. Beneath the nave and mosaics, heritage becomes an adventure to be enjoyed by the whole family.
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS OF PARIS
Petit Palais, Avenue Winston-Churchill, 75008
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept.
Free · Subject to availability
THE SORBONNE
The tour takes you through the grand hall, the painted peristyle, the salons, and the monumental amphitheater, where Puvis de Chavannes' fresco stands guard. The Sainte-Ursule Chapel reveals Richelieu's tomb and its paintings, restored in 2026. The Jacqueline-de-Romilly Library completes this visit to the heart of the Parisian university.
THE SORBONNE
45-47 rue des Écoles, 75005
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 10am-5pm
Free · Open access
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG BLIND PEOPLE - LOUIS BRAILLE
The institute, founded to support the education and independence of young blind and visually impaired people, is housed in a 19th-century building adorned with magnificent murals by Henri Lehmann. The site also hosts two photographic exhibitions showcasing the facilities and expertise related to visual impairment.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG BLIND PEOPLE - LOUIS BRAILLE
56 boulevard des Invalides 75007
Sat. Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free · Open access
INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND COORDINATION IN ACOUSTICS/MUSIC (IRCAM)
The doors of IRCAM, its media library, and its anechoic chamber open through workshops, performances, and immersive experiences. Explore this astonishing musical heritage usually closed to the public.
IRCAM
1 Place Igor-Stravinsky 75004
Sat. Sept. 19, 3–7 p.m.
Free admission
HÔTEL DE NOIRMOUTIER
Discover the residence of the Prefect of the Île-de-France region, originally built for the Duke of Noirmoutier by Jean Courtonne. Visit the interior of this 18th-century building, a blend of history and contemporary culture.
HÔTEL DE NOIRMOUTIER
138 rue de Grenelle, 75007
Sat. Sept. 19, 2026 9am-7pm
Free · Open access
VALENTIN-HAÜY MUSEUM
The issues of access to education, culture, and citizenship for people with visual impairments are central to this museum, founded in 1886 by Edgard Guilbeau. Let yourself be transported to the beginning of the 20th century thanks to the Art Nouveau furniture and the museum's collections.
VALENTIN-HAÜY MUSEUM
5 rue Duroc, 75007
Sat. Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free admission
RASPAIL STUDIO
Built under the direction of architect Bruno Elkouken in the 1930s, this landmark of avant-garde cinema has been listed as a historical monument since 1986. Purchased and restored, the studio reopened to the public in 2026 and has resumed its mission: theatrical and musical creation, as well as conferences.
STUDIO RASPAIL
216 boulevard Raspail, 75014
Sat. Sept. 19, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Free admission
HÔTEL CAIL
The town hall of the 8th arrondissement is located in this building adorned with splendid Second Empire decor. This monument, built between 1864 and 1866, is already partially listed as a historical monument and this protection was extended in 2025.
HÔTEL CAIL
8th Arrondissement Town Hall
56 boulevard Malesherbes, 75008
Sat. 19 and Sun. 20 Sept. 2026, 2–6 pm
Free admission
