For the 2026 Heritage Days in Paris, set off to discover the Maison d'Ourscamp, tucked away in the heart of the marsh.

For the 2026 Journées du Patrimoine in Paris, let's explore the Maison d’Ourscamp, one of the few remaining vestiges that blend medieval and Renaissance architecture in the capital. Meet on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026 for a free family outing, with guided tours.

On the occasion of the 43rd edition of Heritage Days in Paris, we uncover still-secret spots in the capital. For example, are you familiar with La Maison d'Ourscamp also known as Maison de l'ours? No? And yet you might have walked past it, right in the heart of the Marais, on rue François Miron. So head to the 4th arrondissement to discover the Maison de l'Ours, its Renaissance façade and a basement that goes back to the 13th century.

For Heritage Days 2026, the Maison d'Ourscamp offers free guided tours, on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September.

Here's a detailed look at what to expect during Heritage Days 2026:

Guided tour of the Maison d'Ourscamp
The first Maison d’Ourscamp (also known as the house of the Bear) was built in the latter half of the 13th century on land donated in 1248 by the Cistercian monks of Notre-Dame d’Ourscamp Abbey, located near Noyon in the Oise. This house served as their “city house.” It housed monks who stored the harvest and various abbey goods to sell at Parisian markets. Constructed entirely of stone, it features a cellar of about 200 m², a ground-floor pillar hall, and an upper floor. Today, the Gothic cellar remains, along with part of the ground-floor paving and the ruins of a large chimney. Over time, they leased part of the site to other merchants and artisans.

In the first half of the 20th century, the building continued to deteriorate, and the house was incorporated into the insalubrious block 16, one of 17 slum blocks identified in the capital at the start of the century. In 1964, Maison d’Ourscamp became the headquarters of the Paris historique association. It functions as an information center, a reception point and the starting venue for some activities, as well as a library and a photo library available for consultation.

Guided tours of the house are also offered by our volunteers (visits to the Gothic cellar and the timber-framed courtyard).

Access:

Metro: Saint-Paul, Hôtel de Ville, Pont-Marie
Participation requirements: Registration is mandatory and information will be available starting September 1 on the association's website: www.paris-historique.org — Booking is required | Free - http://www.paris-historique.org
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.

Originally dating to the 13th century, this house belonged to the Cistercian abbey of Ourscamp in the Oise. The original cellar remains underground, laid out around three vaults with ogive ribs, resting on six pillars crowned with geometric capitals. One of the side walls even houses a staircase embedded in the wall’s thickness. The symmetrical ashlar façades of the two houses date from the late 16th century. You can spot dormer windows with pilasters and triglyphs in Renaissance style.

Destined for demolition at the turn of the 20th century due to unsanitary conditions, the Maison de l'Ours was saved at the last moment by the association Paris historique, which has since set up its headquarters there. A charming with family visit for the Journées du Patrimoine 2026.