For the Journées du Patrimoine 2025, the beautiful site of the Archives nationales de Paris opens its doors to us in the heart of the Marais district. Join us on Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21, 2025 in the 4th arrondissement of Paris to enjoy the permanent collections and exhibitions.
Created at the time of the French Revolution, the National Archives are responsible for collecting, preserving and promoting the State's central archives. Nearly 300 linear kilometers of archives, from the 7th century to the present day, are preserved here. Today, they are located at three sites: Fontainebleau, Paris and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, the latter having been opened to the public in January 2013. The Pierrefitte-sur-Seine site, designed by architect Massimiliano Fuksas, is dedicated to post-French Revolution archives, and houses almost 180 linear kilometers of public and private archives accessible in the reading room.
As for the event itself, this 42nd edition of the Journées du Patrimoine is an opportunity to discover the history of many of France's museums, institutions and establishments.
Poet, playwright, novelist and politician, Victor Hugo left his mark on 17th-century history through his battles and his pen. He died on May 22, 1885. His funeral was a fitting tribute to his fame: his remains were immediately transferred to the Panthéon.
After his death, his will was deposited with Maître Cotelle. It is now kept at the Minutier central des notaires de Paris, in the Archives nationales. Until January 26, 2026, visitors are invited to discover this exceptional document in both form and content, as part of the 5th edition of the "Les Remarquables" cycle.
Come and discover the rocaille decor of the Prince de Soubise's apartments. Designed by architects Delamair and Boffrand, the hotel has housed the French National Archives since 1808.
The permanent exhibition showcases a selection of archives in a wide range of media (papyrus, parchment, paper) and document formats (folio, scroll, register, iconographic documents).
This guided tour for the visually impaired offers a sensory discovery of the National Archives' prestigious conservation galleries, as well as a tactile exploration of original documents.
Children can decorate the first letter of their name in the style of the illuminators, with motifs taken from documents held in the National Archives.
They will then have the opportunity to create a passe-partout to enhance their work.
The National Archives seal workshop invites you to discover the architecture of the Middle Ages by reconstructing casts of city seals.
Prestigious buildings housing medieval and Ancien Régime archives, the Louis Philippe and Napoléon III repositories are only open on rare occasions. This is an opportunity to discover the Iron Cupboard and a number of founding documents: Merovingian charters, the standard metre, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, as well as the manuscript of the Appeal of June 18, 1940, recently returned to the Archives nationales by the de Gaulle family.
Children are invited to discover the architecture of the Hôtel de Soubise through a fun and creative workshop.
Using stencils specially designed to represent the architecture's shapes and decorations, each participant customizes a tote-bag ... and leaves with his or her own creation!
Following an exceptional restoration campaign, four salons from the Hôtel de la Chancellerie d'Orléans, demolished in 1923, have been reassembled on the first floor of the Hôtel de Rohan. A guided tour reveals the extraordinary history of these settings. On the second floor, the famous cabinets des Singes and cabinet des Fables are also part of the tour.
A visit to the workshops of the Conservation Department of the Archives nationales gives the public an insight into the challenges of conservation-restoration in an archival context. By examining documents in the process of being treated, the appropriate methods and techniques are presented for eliminating the causes of alteration, remedying damage and effectively protecting documents in order to guarantee their preservation and allow them to be consulted, exhibited and/or digitized.
Poet, playwright, novelist and politician, Victor Hugo left his mark on 19th-century history through his battles and his pen. He died on May 22, 1885. His funeral was a fitting tribute to his fame: his remains were immediately transferred to the Panthéon.
After his death, his will was deposited with Maître Cotelle. It is now kept at the Minutier central des notaires de Paris, in the Archives nationales. Until January 26, 2026, visitors are invited to discover this exceptional document in both form and content, as part of the 5th edition of the "Les Remarquables" cycle.
Housed in the Hôtel de Breteuil, the library of the French National Archives holds a rich collection of 150,000 volumes and several hundred periodical titles. While its works are accessible to all in the Caran reading room, its premises are only occasionally open to visitors. A beautiful 18th-century salon, attributed to Gilles Marie Oppenord, is waiting to be discovered.
Prestigious buildings housing medieval and Ancien Régime archives, the Louis Philippe and Napoléon III repositories are only open on rare occasions. This is an opportunity to discover the Iron Cupboard and a number of founding documents: Merovingian charters, the standard metre, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, as well as the manuscript of the Appeal of June 18, 1940, recently returned to the Archives nationales by the de Gaulle family.
Discover the prestigious galleries of the Grands Dépôts of the French National Archives, adapted for younger visitors accompanied by their parents.
Don't hesitate: come and discover this emblematic Parisian landmark.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Archives Nationales - Paris site
60 Rue des Francs Bourgeois
75003 Paris 3
Prices
Free
Official website
www.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
More information
Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
