I feature many events on the blog, but if there is one I am particularly fond of, it is the European Heritage Days, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Communication. This year, these 42nd Days, which will take place on the weekend of Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21, 2025, will have the theme “architectural heritage“.
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My selection in Paris and the Ile-de-France region for the 2025 Heritage Days
Visiting Molitor
Once again this year, for the European Heritage Days, Molitor is opening its doors and unveiling its architectural and artistic treasures. True to its heritage, this legendary venue in the 16th arrondissement invites us to experience something unique through water and time, highlighting its two iconic pools, true Art Deco jewels.
Molitor
2 avenue de la Porte Molitor, 75016 ParisSaturday, September 20 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Guided tours of the two pools (30 minutes, for groups of 15 people)
→ By reservation only HERE, free visit
Sunday, September 21 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Self-guided tour of the artistic cabins
→ No reservation required, free visit
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The Grand Palais
For the European Heritage Days, visitors are invited to discover the restored Grand Palais for free. Whether in a group, with family, or solo, workshops and activities themed around the 2025 edition: “Architectural Heritage” are offered.
Grand Palais
Entrance via Square Jean Perrin
17 avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris
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The Postal Museum (Musée de La Poste)
For the 2025 European Heritage Days, the Musée de La Poste invites young and old to explore time… in all its forms. Inspired by the temporary exhibition “The Factory of Time”, the program proposes navigating between a heritage time, with guided tours that tell how La Poste contributed to harmonizing time throughout France, and a contemporary time, marked by digital technology and its challenges. On the program: intergenerational workshops around digital topics, flash tours of the “Factory of Time” exhibition, and an augmented reality experience.
Musée de la Poste
34 boulevard de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris
Free admission and activities for everyone
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La Maison Poursin
The iconic Maison Poursin will exceptionally open the doors of its workshops in Paris (located in the heart of the 10th arrondissement of Paris) for the European Heritage Days on September 20 and 21, 2025. A unique opportunity to dive into the confidential world of the last French buckle-maker still in business, with nearly 200 years of expertise serving horses and luxury leather goods.
Maison Poursin
35 rue des Vinaigriers, 75010 Paris
Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21, 2025 – Free
Hours: Saturday 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PMVisits by registration
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The Chaillot National Theater
The Chaillot theater offers guided tours for families and young audiences for the occasion! During a fun and interactive 45-minute tour, explore the fascinating history of this iconic place, from the World’s Fair to today’s shows. Architecture, works of art, and backstage secrets are revealed before your eyes…
Chaillot Theater
1 Pl. du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116 Paris
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The Zadkine Museum
For this new edition of the JEP at the Zadkine Museum, the venue offers family cyanotype workshops (children aged 6 and up), flash tours by students from the Ecole du Louvre, violin/cello duo concerts by virtuosos François Pineau-Benois and Mark Dobrisky, concerts by the guitar class of Jérémy Jouve from the Ida Rubinstein Conservatory, and more…
Zadkine Museum
100bis Rue d’Assas, 75006 Paris
Link to the museum’s program
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The Palais de la Porte Dorée
For the 42nd edition of the European Heritage Days, the Palais de la Porte Dorée is highlighting its iconic architecture. An Art Deco masterpiece, this monument, built for the 1931 International Colonial Exhibition, opens its doors wide for a weekend full of discovery. It is also an opportunity to discover the collections of the National Museum of the History of Immigration and the Tropical Aquarium of the Porte Dorée, which are free to access during this special weekend. On the program: thematic tours, behind-the-scenes exploration, flash mediations, fun workshops, and tours adapted for the youngest.
Palais de la Porte Dorée
293 Av. Daumesnil, 75012 Paris
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UNESCO
For the European Heritage Days, UNESCO offers a chance to discover its landscaped gardens and the esplanade of works of art through free, self-guided tours with no reservation required. An invitation to discover exceptional landscape heritage in an architectural complex iconic of brutalist art in Paris. Extend your visit with an exhibition dedicated to the Silk Roads presented on the gates of UNESCO.
UNESCO
7 Place de Fontenoy, 75007 Paris
Saturday, September 20 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Free and no reservation required
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The Château d’Auvers-sur-Oise
The town of Auvers-sur-Oise (which I have already told you about on the blog) is opening the doors of the Château d’Auvers wide for the European Heritage Days for a weekend full of cultural discoveries, entirely free upon registration. The highlight of the program: the exhibition “Van Gogh, the Last Voyages”, accessible freely from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, before its definitive closure on November 2. Several original tours are also offered.
Château d’Auvers-sur-Oise
Chem. des Berthelees, 95430 Auvers-sur-Oise
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The National Archeology Museum
For the 2025 European Heritage Days, the National Archeology Museum (St-Germain-en-Laye) offers a rich and free program for all audiences: children’s workshops, guided tours, narrative walks, flash conferences with curators, collection mediation by SAMAN students, and even tours in French Sign Language (Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM). Visitors will also be able to enjoy the “Masters of Fire” exhibition, either on a self-guided or guided tour.
National Archeology Museum
1 Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 78100 Saint-Germain-en-Laye
My selection in France for the 2025 Heritage Days
Virebent
Virebent is a porcelain workshop manufacturing in France. For the 2025 European Heritage Days, you can turn back time and dive into 200 years of history and 100 years of porcelain creations at the Virebent Museum, stroll through the Garden of Totems with its 10 monumental open-air sculptures, explore the largest Virebent collection from the 70s, with over 500 iconic pieces, and visit the workshops to discover the art of ceramic decoration alongside their artisans.
Virebent
Registration required only for activities (tour, workshop, and lunch)
The Museum, Immersive Exhibitions, and Garden of Totems are free to access all weekend long (10:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
Link to the JEP program
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The Hotel Barrière Westminster
For the European Heritage Days, the Hotel Barrière Westminster opens its doors and offers several tours dedicated to this Art Deco jewel. On the program are guided tours themed “Between Art Deco and British Influence” and also a conference titled “The Westminster in the Century of Touquet Elegance” on Sunday at 2:30 PM.
Hotel Barrière Westminster
Av. du Verger, 62520 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
Guided tours
Saturday, September 20: 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM, 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, 11:45 AM
Sunday, September 21: 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM, 3:45 PM to 4:30 PM, 5:15 PMReservations through the Le Touquet Tourist Office
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The Jeu de Paume Theater in Aix-en-Provence
Each year, the Jeu de Paume Theater opens its doors for the Heritage Days. The Theater will be open between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM for free access to see the auditorium with 3 guided tours per day. As part of its residency at the Jeu de Paume, the Baroque Ensemble Café Zimmermann will open each of the three tours with a concert of about twenty minutes. On the program: Handel, time recovered, with the participation of Swiss soprano Katrin Hottiger. A unique opportunity to rediscover the beauty of Handel’s German Arias, an iconic figure of 18th-century vocal music.
Jeu de Paume Theater
21 Rue de l’Opéra 13100 Aix-en-Provence
Guided tours are free and by reservation at 08 2013 2013 (subject to availability)
Duration of guided tours: 1 hour
Saturday, September 20: 11:00 AM / 2:00 PM / 4:00 PM
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Museum of Printed Textiles
The Museum of Printed Textiles in Mulhouse offers several guided tours, a conference on textile art “The Ainu and the role of women, between tradition and contemporary creation” by Aidan Hatrel and workshops.
Museum of Printed Textiles
14 rue Jean-Jacques Henner 68100 Mulhouse
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The Royal Monastery of Brou
For this new edition of the European Heritage Days, the Royal Monastery of Brou, located in Bourg-en-Bresse in the Ain, offers free access to the entire monument, as well as a program full of surprises and shared moments. Including 30-minute tours to discover the monument and its founder Margaret of Austria!
Royal Monastery of Brou
63 boulevard de Brou, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse
Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
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Foie Gras producers
To help the general public and school groups discover excellence in trades and products, the French Foie Gras industry is mobilizing for the Heritage Days on September 19 and 20. At the initiative of CIFOG (Interprofessional Committee of Foie Gras Palmipeds), about twenty producers from the main production regions: Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, and Alsace will open their doors. All can be found on the dedicated website: patrimoine-foiegras.fr. Friday, September 19 will be dedicated to school groups. 600 students from kindergarten to high school are registered for these open houses! Saturday, September 20 will be dedicated to the general public.
Foie Gras producers
September 19 and 20
All info here
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To make the most of the event and see what is happening near you, the full program for the 2025 European Heritage Days is available online at the site www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr
