Heritage Days 2026: Explore the City of Paris Historical Library

Paris’ Historical City Library offers an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look for Heritage Days, on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026. Take a look inside a grand townhouse in the heart of the Marais.

The Heritage Days are always a chance to discover places that aren’t usually open to the general public, and this new edition is no exception to the rule! Among others, the Historical Library of the City of Paris will welcome you behind hidden doors on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026.

Marvel at the 16th-century reading room with its painted beams, and its impressive collection of antique books (over a thousand!). Discover also the extension, inaugurated when the library moved here. It's also an opportunity to learn about the history of the building and its successive owners, as well as other remarkable items and objects not usually accessible to the public.

Heritage Days 2026: What’s on at Paris’s libraries and archives
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Heritage Days 2026: Paris and Île-de-France's marquee institutions to visit
On the occasion of the 2026 Heritage Days in Paris, the city’s major institutions are opening their doors to us, exceptionally, this weekend of September 19–20, 2026. From the Bank of France to the Cour des Comptes and the ministries, they’ll reveal everything to you. [Read more]

In 1763, the City of Paris decided to open a public library in theHôtel d'Angoulême-Lamoignon. However, the library was successively relocated to various buildings in Paris, before finally ending up in theHôtel de Ville de Paris. After a fire destroyed all its collections, the library was finally moved to theHôtel Carnavalet, before being moved again in 1968, within the walls of theHôtel d'Angoulême-Lamoignon, where it remains to this day.

Heritage Days 2026 program at the Paris City Historical Library:

Tour of the Lamoignon House
As part of European Heritage Days, the Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris opens the doors of the Hôtel d’Angoulême-Lamoignon, a jewel of Renaissance architecture tucked in the heart of the Marais. Come discover the history of this former private mansion, its restored interiors, and its reading room, usually reserved for study.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Want to discover this fabulous, historic site? Don't miss out!