The Journées du Patrimoine 2026 give us the chance to tour sites usually off-limits to the public—ministries, backstage areas of major theatres... and France’s iconic grandes écoles! And the École Polytechnique is certainly one of them. « L’X » opens its doors on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September to reveal its heritage and its history, the enduring legacy of the Revolution and the Enlightenment.
Founded in Palaiseau in 1794 as the "École centrale des travaux publics" to address the shortage of engineers and senior managers in France, theÉcole polytechnique has trained many engineers and military personnel over more than 220 years. Famous graduates include Henri Poincaré (mathematician), Henri Becquerel (physicist), Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Jean Tirole (economist) and André Citroën (industrialist).
Since 2018, MUS' X has presented the collections of scientific instruments acquired by the École Polytechnique since its creation in 1794. These include the first two devices to measure the speed of light, one of the first X-ray machines, the first electrical machines, and the first airplane speedometer. Some of the instruments are listed as historical monuments! You can discover all these treasures during the Heritage Days weekend.
Visit to École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique, a living hub for students: a campus tour.
Founded by Henri Pottier — Rome Prize winner — the campus of École Polytechnique bears the mark of 1960s architecture, but it has evolved considerably with the development of the Saclay plateau.
2026 marks a milestone. Exactly 50 years ago, the École Polytechnique left central Paris to settle on the Saclay plateau, then entirely fields. Today Polytechnique is surrounded by other schools and, by late 2026 / early 2027, a new metro station named “Polytechnique” will open on line 18.
During this visit, we will explore the campus together to uncover the links between past and present.
You will be guided by students.
Four tour slots available: 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
Two English tours in the afternoon: 14:30, 16:30
Last departure at 17:00 (in French).
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Meet at the École Polytechnique Reception area
Visitor parking: Avenue Descartes, Palaiseau,
then on foot to Gustave Ferrié Square, Palaiseau.
*Registration required in advance via the registration form
https://events.polytechnique.fr/evenementiel/journee-europeenne-patrimoine
Participation requirements: Online registration is mandatory. Limited seats – Free | Reservation is mandatory - https://events.polytechnique.fr/evenementiel/journee-europeenne-patrimoine
Times: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 2:00–6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 2:00–6:00 PM
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
École Polytechnique
Route de Saclay
91120 Palaiseau
Route planner
Prices
Free
Official website
www.polytechnique.edu
