On the occasion of the Journées du Patrimoine, and what if we do a little archaeology? Head to Archéa, the Archaeology Museum in Pays de France, located in Louvres in the Val-d'Oise, to discover a program special on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026. Opened in September 2010, Archéa is more than a museum: it’s a territorial project conceived as far back as the 1980s, aimed at preserving, studying and showcasing the archaeological heritage of Pays de France, the natural region north of Paris, near the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport.
A museum that welcomes you in a contemporary building, and invites you to discover its temporary and permanent collections based on the region's archaeological remains, from prehistory to the 18th century. Videos, models, tactile tours and other archaeological remains and objects are on display to help you better understand the rich history of this geographical area, and shed light on the history of France.
The museum thus follows in the footsteps of the Saint-Rieul Tower, which was the town’s archaeological museum. It housed objects and finds uncovered during excavations carried out between 1976 and 1987 by the Group for Historical and Archaeological Research of Louvres-en-Parisis (GRHALP). The digs, conducted in the town center of Louvres, brought to light bronze basins, glassware, gold fibulae, and other bracelets — all testimony to the presence of a major Merovingian necropolis dating from 500 to 515 AD.
And if you'd like to find out more about the region's archaeology during the Heritage Days, you can also go here:
Heritage Days 2026: historical reenactment at the Val-d'Oise Archaeological Museum (95)
On the occasion of Heritage Days, the Val-d'Oise Archaeological Museum invites you to explore its program for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026. How about we dive into the fascinating adventures of archaeological heritage? [Read more]
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is taking part in the 2026 Heritage Days. On the schedule for Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of September are guided tours of the château and the National Archaeology Museum, along with many other surprises, offering a unique immersion into the heart of History. [Read more]
Photo Exhibition: New Ruralities in Louvres
In April 2026, Lille-born photographer Matthias Crépel spent a week in the territory of the Roissy Pays-de-France Urban Community, hosted by Jacques Prévert cinemas in Gonesse, L'Ecran au Cube in Garges-lès-Gonesse, L’Ysieux in Fosses, the Concorde in Mitry-Mory, and the Archéa museum with the itinerant cinema La Toile Filante in Louvres.
He distributed cameras to groups of local photography enthusiasts at these venues and followed them on urban and rural strolls in search of a nuanced definition of the “New Ruralities,” this year’s theme for the FOCUS festival, led by the Heritage Department of the same community, to produce five short photographic films focused on these questions.
The exhibition shines a light on a selection of images captured by the resident filmmakers of these shorts, as well as by the photographer himself, during shooting days. Images you will see featured in these films.
Participation conditions: Admission is free. - Free | No reservation required
Opening hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 to 18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 to 18:00
Guided tours of ARCHEA's permanent exhibition
Tours to rediscover the history of the Pays de France through almost 800 archaeological objects. A family-friendly guided tour led by an ARCHÉA mediator. Activity booklets are provided for children.
Participation terms: Regular tour departures depend on crowd levels - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
A scavenger hunt through the museum
Children will be able to explore independently the objects from the permanent and temporary exhibitions, decode the color code, and uncover the mystery object.
From the age of four.
Participation Rules: As seats are limited - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 to 18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 to 18:00
Guided tours of the temporary exhibition "Red! Archaeology of a Color"
People have been drawn to red for 40,000 years: for its intensity and its broad symbolism (the color of life, the sun, blood). Red grabs the eye and highlights its subject. It is one of the earliest colors to be produced and rendered in a wide range of shades.
The exhibition explores the diversity of these reds found in archaeological remnants and the technical, artistic, and symbolic impressions they left across the ages. It helps illuminate the provenance, extraction, trade, and transformation of these red materials.
It includes a section specially tailored for children, along with several interactive games. Activity booklets are also available.
Participation conditions: Regularly scheduled tours depart based on crowd levels. - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Escape room: panic in Saint-Rieul
What’s happening at Saint-Rieul Tower? While the museum team is in the middle of setting up an exhibition, unexplained phenomena keep getting in their way. Set inside the Saint-Rieul Tower, a site famed for housing prestigious Merovingian tombs, players are invited to explore the space, uncover its secrets, and also learn more about the museum, its history, and its collections.
As a team, in a closed space and with a ticking clock, participants must solve a puzzle. To do so, they search, handle objects, think things through, and above all, collaborate!
Participation requirements: Limited capacity (minimum 4 participants, maximum 8), minimum age: 12, mandatory registration at the museum reception - Free | Reservation required - 01 34 09 01 02, https://passculture.app/offre/426464683
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM–3:30 PM, 4:00 PM–5:30 PM
Guided tours of the Saint-Rieul Tower
A historic monument, an archaeological site and a venue steeped in 1,500 years of history to be explored during this exceptional tour of a building opened especially for the occasion.
Participation requirements: Subject to available places, departures from the ARCHÉA Museum, on-site registration on the day. Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Archéa Museum
56 Rue de Paris
95380 Louvres
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Official website
archea.roissypaysdefrance.fr
Heritage Days 2026: historical reenactment at the Val-d'Oise Archaeological Museum (95)
Heritage Days 2026 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye - National Archaeology Museum (78)
