EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS 2025
SATURDAY 20/09-SUNDAY 21/09
European Heritage Days are a unique weekend when all of France – especially Paris – opens its monuments, museums, and institutions for free. It’s the perfect chance to explore places usually closed to the public, visit historic landmarks, and enjoy special cultural events.
L'HOTEL DE VILLE
The Hôtel de Ville de Paris is exceptionally opening its doors for the 42nd edition of the European Heritage Days.
Visitors will be able to discover the Mayor’s office, the library, the Council Chamber, and the ceremonial salons. In the courtyard, a “craft village” will showcase live demonstrations by artisans such as stonecutters, marble workers, cabinetmakers, and many more.
Several exhibitions will highlight Parisian heritage, the history of the Hôtel de Ville, and the collections of Paris’s heritage libraries and archives. One of the salons will be dedicated to matrimoine with an exhibition about women theatre directors.
PALAIS DE L'ÉLYSÉE
The Palais de l’Élysée will exceptionally open its doors on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September 2025 for the 42nd edition of the European Heritage Days.
Visitors are invited to explore the office of the President of the Republic, the grand reception hall where official dinners are held, the Cour d’Honneur, and the park.
This year’s edition features several highlights: a photography exhibition, “Regards sur l’Élysée”, showcasing the work of nine photographers who follow the President on his engagements. Guests can vote for their favorite photo and award the People’s Choice Prize.
An exclusive immersive experience will allow visitors to relive the Bastille Day parade alongside the President, from the Palais de l’Élysée to the Place de la Concorde. Finally, virtual reality headsets and stations in the gardens and Cour d’Honneur will offer a journey through time to explore the evolving interiors of the palace.
L'ASSSEMBLÉE NATIONALE
For the European Heritage Days, the Assemblée Nationale will open its doors on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Visitors can follow a self-guided route that takes them through the Palais-Bourbon and the Hôtel de Lassay. Highlights include entering the famous Hemicycle, admiring the restored library, and exploring the Delacroix Salon, the Hall of the Four Columns, the Gallery of Festivities, and the elegant salons of the Hôtel de Lassay.
MUSÉE D'ORSAY
For the European Heritage Days, the Musée d’Orsay is offering free guided tours on the theme “From Station to Museum: Architecture as Memory.”
These tours explore the fascinating history of the building — once the Gare d’Orsay, a jewel of 19th-century steel architecture — and its transformation into a museum dedicated to art from 1848 to 1914.
CHAPELLE DE LA SORBONNE
For the European Heritage Days, the Chapelle de la Sorbonne will exceptionally open its doors on 20 and 21 September 2025 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitors can explore the entire university complex — from elegant salons to lecture halls — including the majestic Jacqueline de Romilly Room and the tomb of Cardinal Richelieu in the chapel.
On Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Chief Curator of the City of Paris will be present to explain the restoration work and share the secrets of this historic site.
This visit is a unique opportunity to discover one of the most beautiful jewels of French university heritage, right in the heart of the lively Latin Quarter.
