Heritage Days 2026: A stroll in the footsteps of Georges Méliès, cinema pioneer, in Montreuil

Published by Rizhlaine de Sortiraparis, Manon de Sortiraparis, Nathanaël de Sortiraparis · Updated on July 20, 2026 at 05:57 p.m.
On the occasion of Heritage Days 2026, September 19 and 20, the city of Montreuil and its renowned art-house cinema, Le Méliès, invite you to discover the pioneer of cinema, Georges Méliès, through a stroll through the streets of the town where his talent first blossomed.

For this new edition of Heritage Days, culture lovers and explorers will be treated to a packed weekend on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20. During this exceptional weekend, you’ll enjoy free access to hundreds of cultural venues across France and Europe.

What's more, some of them are even closed to the public under normal circumstances! It's a great opportunity to take the whole family on a tour of the city! And there are not only museums and monuments to visit, but also walks to enjoy!

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Montreuil is an essential town in the history of cinema. Quite simply, it was the first town to be home to a film studio, that of Star Film, Georges Méliès' company. This director, originally a magician, was the first to use the cinematograph as a tool for telling fantasies, notably by inventing gimmicks.

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The whole city is brimming with secrets to uncover about the inventor of cinematic art, so for Heritage Days 2026 it’s offering a cinephiles’ stroll!

Heritage Days 2026 program at the Georges Méliès cinema in Montreuil (93):

  • Film walk “In the Footsteps of Georges Méliès”

    If we told you that cinema was born in Montreuil? Well, partly true, because it’s here that Georges Méliès, the inventor of special effects and a pioneer of narrative cinema, created the world’s first film studio and directed more than 500 movies.

    You’ll rediscover the city with him, from the cinema “Le Méliès” to the site of his now-vanished studios, while paying tribute to other Montreuil cinema figures such as Emile Reynaud, the inventor of animation, and the directors of the Pathé-Albatros Studios. Finally, we’ll see that Montreuil remains a filmmaking hub today, with numerous current films: Le Premier Jour du reste de ta vie, Les Emotifs Anonymes, L’Effet aquatique, Lupin, etc.

    Participation terms: Booking link coming soon – Free | Reservation required – https://exploreparis.com/fr/

    Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30–12:30, 2:30–4:30 PM

How about a stroll on the theme of cinema?

Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
On September 19, 2026

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.

    Location

    93100 Montreuil
    93100 Montreuil

    Route planner

    Prices
    Free

    Average duration
    2 h 15 min

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