Heritage Days 2026 in Paris: an exceptional tour of Le Monde newspaper

A word to fans of top-notch cultural outings: here’s a date you won’t want to miss this September. The Heritage Days are back, a pan-European event where museums, monuments, chateaux, as well as private venues and grand institutions open their doors to the public for often free, unusual, or even unprecedented. In short, it’s a must-do and, of course, Paris and the Île-de-France are fully on board for this edition. This event invites us to rediscover our heritage in a new light, and this year you can catch it during the weekend of September 19–20, 2026.

By the way, did you know? The Heritage Days are also a rare chance to peek behind doors usually closed to the public. Each year, there are exceptional openings across the region that surprise and delight. From the great institutions to hidden gems, there’s no skipping these inaugural visits—nor should you.

If you’re passionate about the media world or architecture, here’s a plan not to miss: the exclusive access to the Le Monde newsroom. One of France’s reference media outlets, it’s a true institution. This newspaper founded in 1944 by Hubert Beuve-Méry invites you to tour its editorial offices.

Head to the 13th arrondissement of Paris, for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, to discover the landmark building perched above the tracks of the Gare d’Austerlitz, designed by the international architecture firm Snohetta. This tower is notable for its HQE environmental certification and a façade made of 20,000 glass panels—quite the statement!

Heritage Days 2026 program at the Le Monde newsroom:

• Visit Le Monde's headquarters

  Unveiled six years ago, the Le Monde Group headquarters, designed by Snøhetta, has emerged as the architectural signature that marks the entrance to the Paris Rive Gauche district. It is open to visitors only once a year, during Heritage Days weekend.

  In small guided groups—led by Le Monde journalists, a company executive, or a Snøhetta representative—you will pause at several daily-life touchpoints: the offices, the newsroom conference room, the terrace, and, as the grand finale, Hubert Beuve-Méry’s office, founder of the newspaper eighty years ago this very year.

  Access to the building is part of the Festival du Monde, which runs from September 18 to 20, in parallel with Heritage Days.

  If online reservations are fully booked, on-site time slots will also be made available throughout the weekend, on a walk-in basis.

  Participation requirements: Limited to 20 participants — on-site visit slots will also be offered throughout the weekend — Free | Reservation required — https://festival.lemonde.fr/

  Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30–11:30, 11:30–12:30, 12:30–13:30, 14:30–15:30, 15:30–16:30, 16:30–17:30 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:30–11:30, 11:30–12:30, 12:30–13:30, 14:30–15:30, 15:30–16:30, 16:30–17:30

Eager to discover the world of journalism?