For Heritage Days 2026, save the dates: September 19 and 20! As every year, this 43rd edition opens doors to iconic and lesser-known corners of French culture: museums, monuments, cinemas, and vibrant neighborhoods.
All these tours are free of charge , and even give you the chance to open the doors of places that are sometimes closed to the public. It's time to quench your thirst for culture, and why not bring the whole family along for the ride?
And what better way to immerse yourself in the country's heritage and culture than at the Sorbonne? This cradle of education, built in 1251 for the first building and 1635 and 1884 for the next two, is home to the rectorat de l'académie de Paris and the chancellerie des universités de Paris. Above all, it's here that some 20,000 students attend courses at the Faculté de Lettres. Its amphitheatres, and in particular its library, give it the air of a veritable museum, and it would be a shame not to see it!
Exploring the Sorbonne
Sorbonne opens its doors wide to the public — no reservation required! — for the upcoming European Heritage Days, centered on the themes “Heritage of Photography” and “Heritage in Peril: Rekindling, Resisting, Reimagining,” the latter especially timely as the iconic Sainte-Ursule Chapel just entered a new phase of substantial restorations.
From salons to lecture halls, past the Richelieu tomb in the chapel and the grand Jacqueline de Romilly Hall in its library, embark on a tour of one of the most splendid historic and university heritages Hic et ubique terrarum — “Here and everywhere on Earth,” as its venerable motto proclaims!
European Heritage Days offer everyone a chance to travel through the Sorbonne’s history and to admire the architectural and artistic wonders that symbolize this pinnacle of knowledge. The curated route, enhanced by explanatory panels and works created by students from Paris’s high schools and art schools, will let visitors discover some of the Sorbonne’s most prestigious, storied rooms.
Thus, entering the heart of the Academic Palace, visitors will notably be able to admire the grand hall and its monumental statues of Archimedes and Homer, representing science and literature respectively; the peristyle, adorned with mural paintings illustrating the history of Letters and Sciences, in which curious “ghosts” hide; the Richelieu Salon and its treasures; the Great Salon; the Hall of Acts; and the ceremonious Hall of the Authorities — which will host a special exhibition on academic togas — from which, mirroring the great doctors and professors who have journeyed to the Sorbonne over the years, visitors will be invited to ascend to the stage of the majestic Great Amphitheater.
You will also glimpse the latest works to have entered the collection. Following a commission from the Paris Académie rectorate and the chancery of the Paris universities, street-art stencil artist Christian Guémy, aka C215, produced seven contemporary pieces inaugurated in May 2019.
The prestigious spaces of the Academic Palace will also house still more contemporary offerings, true heritage in the making: student works from the professional track will be showcased throughout the visit. Indeed, the Paris Académie, with its rich catalog of demanding programs—from millinery to metalwork and woodworking, leather goods, jewelry, and glassmaking—and its partnership with the Campus d'excellence Mode, Métiers d’Art & Design, is proud to present the achievements of its young artisans!
European Heritage Days also offer a unique chance to enter the chapel, whose cornerstone was laid on May 1, 1635, by Cardinal Richelieu himself. Overlooking the forecourt, where statues of Victor Hugo and Louis Pasteur stand, it still houses the cardinal’s tomb, a masterpiece of classical French funerary sculpture by François Girardon, restored in 2024. A new phase of restoration was underway in the first half of 2026, allowing visitors to admire the chapel’s paintings, including the medallions painted by Philippe de Champaigne in the 17th century.
Similarly, normally reserved for students and researchers, the Sorbonne Interuniversity Library’s magnificent reading room, along with the Louis Liard Room and the Richelieu Amphitheater, will be open to all.
Finally, once again this year, children and teens will take center stage and enjoy a playful moment thanks to guides specifically created for them.
The entire site is accessible to people with reduced mobility, except for the chapel. Access for those individuals will be via 46 rue Saint-Jacques.
Participation conditions: Free admission and no registration - Free | No booking
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 10:00–17:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 10:00–17:00
The Sorbonne Then and Now in Photos
On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, whose theme this year centers on “Heritage of Photography,” you’re invited to a screening in the Richelieu Amphitheatre presenting a series of “before / after” images that juxtapose several of the Sorbonne’s emblematic spaces. These visual pairings, drawn from the Sorbonne’s photographic heritage, offer a moving perspective on how the building and its uses have evolved over time.
You’ll also have the opportunity to appreciate the remarkable photographic work of Thierry Le Veuzit, a Sorbonne staff member and a passionate photographer, with a focus on infrared imagery. His selection spotlights the Sorbonne itself—its architectural details and atmospheres—as well as other heritage sites, wildlife photography, and more.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Exhibition of works by students from Paris's vocational high schools and art schools
The Paris Academy oversees a network of professional high schools and art schools dedicated to fashion and elegance, decorative arts, photography and image, design, woodwork, and more. It offers a rich catalog of demanding programs—from millinery to metalworking, including cabinetmaking, leather goods, jewelry, and glassmaking. Notable institutions include the Lucas de Nehou Vocational High School (5th and 14th), the INJS (National Institute for Deaf Youth of Paris, 5th), the Marie Laurencin Vocational High School (10th), the Dorian Vocational High School (11th), the Paul Poiret Vocational High School (11th), the Turquetil Vocational High School (11th), the École Boulle (12th), the Chennevière Malézieux Professional High School (12th), the Elisa Lemonnier Multi‑Purpose High School (12th), the Corvisart-Tolbiac High School (13th), the Croce Spinelli EREA (Regional Establishment for Adapted Education) (14th), the ENSAAMA Olivier de Serres (15th), the Brassaï Professional High School (15th), the Fresnel Vocational High School (15th), the Léonard de Vinci Vocational High School (15th), the Octave Feuillet Vocational High School (16th), the Auguste Renoir School and High School of Trades (18th), the Alembert Multi‑Purpose High School (19th), the Diderot Multi‑Purpose High School (19th), and the Hector Guimard Vocational High School (19th).
The prestigious historic spaces of the Palais académique will thus provide a perfect setting for the talents of students from these establishments, a living heritage in its own right. The Grand Salon, for instance, will host a display of outfits crafted and worn by academy students during the fashion and elegance school parades traditionally held in the Grand Amphitheater. Numerous other works will be showcased along the visitor route, including projects from member schools of the Campus d'excellence Mode, Métiers d’Art & Design.
Born in 2020 at the initiative of the Paris Academy and the Île-de-France region, led by ENSAAMA and backed by an exceptional partnership with the Mobilier National—also a founding member—the Campus is a unique space for reflection and exchange in France. Acting as a genuine incubator, it gathers thousands of students across pre-baccalaureate and post‑baccalaureate paths, aligned with the needs of the creative sector.
The rectorate of the academy and the chancellery of the universities of Paris thus choose to support a broad, multidisciplinary approach to professional education, aimed at deeper learning and smoother entry into working life. They thank the institutions for generously lending the works created by their students during European Heritage Days.
Participation conditions: Free entry and no registration - Free | No reservation
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Guided tour of the Sorbonne Chapel
Once again this year, the Sorbonne invites visitors to an exceptional guided tour of its chapel.
Set in the lively Latin Quarter—where students from Paris pace the streets—the dome of the Sorbonne Chapel dominates as a symbol of the oldest university in France. A landmark of classical French religious architecture in this student-populated enclave, the Sainte-Ursule Chapel (the Sorbonne Chapel) today stands as one of Paris’s most iconic buildings. Designed by the era’s leading artists, it hides hidden treasures and stands as a unique witness to 17th-century Parisian architecture.
This guided tour will give you the keys to understanding its stakes and reveal some of its secrets, including the tomb of Cardinal Richelieu. You’ll also see the chapel’s paintings, restored in 2026, featuring the medallions painted by Philippe de Champaigne in the 18th century.
Join us for a temporal and architectural journey!
If you can’t sign up for the guided tour, note that the Chapel is part of the Sorbonne’s Heritage Days circuit, offered without reservation!
Because of its ancient architecture, the Sorbonne Chapel is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
Participation requirements: Registration is mandatory, with a maximum of 35 participants per session. - Free | Reservations required - https://www.billetweb.fr/visite-de-la-chapelle-de-la-sorbonne
Timings: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 ⤏ 10:45 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 ⤏ 10:45
Interview with the head of Heritage Conservation in the Sorbonne Chapel
Véronique Milande, chief curator of heritage and head of COARC (conservation of religious and civil artworks) for the City of Paris, will be in the Sorbonne Chapel on Sunday, September 20, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM to present the chapel’s restoration work.
From Richelieu’s tomb, refurbished in 2024, to upcoming interventions — including the medallions painted by Philippe de Champaigne in the 17th century, slated for restoration in 2026 — you’ll be invited to explore the gradual renaissance of the Sorbonne Chapel’s exceptional heritage.
This event will highlight the finesse of conservation techniques, the richness of the restored decors, and the story of a project aimed at restoring to full splendor one of the most emblematic sites in the history of French higher education.
Participation conditions: Free of charge | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Heritage Days 2026 in Paris (75): the borough-by-borough programme of visits
For the 2026 Heritage Days in Paris, the capital’s monuments and historic sites throw open their doors (often free) to reveal their secrets. Don’t miss this unmissable event, scheduled for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, with the themes: "Heritage in Peril" and "Heritage of Photography." [Read more]
The historic monuments of Paris and the Île-de-France region throw open their doors during the 43rd European Heritage Days. On Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, come discover these history-filled gems through delightful programs for the whole family. [Read more]
Heritage Days 2026 invites us to rediscover Paris and its monuments through a new lens. For the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, we’re proposing a stroll through the Latin Quarter. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
La Sorbonne Paris
Quai de la Sorbonne
75005 Paris 5
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Official website
www.pantheonsorbonne.fr
Booking
www.pantheonsorbonne.fr
Heritage Days 2026 in Paris (75): the borough-by-borough programme of visits
Heritage Days 2026: Historic monuments to discover in Paris and Île-de-France
Heritage Days 2026 in the Latin Quarter: the Paris tour program
