Every year in September, the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days ) take place all over Europe. This not-to-be-missed cultural event is a real must for art and history enthusiasts, as well as for the curious looking for ever more discoveries. Over the course of a weekend, monuments, museums, castles and other sites usually closed to the public open their doors to you, unveiling an exciting program of often free visits and events designed to help you (re)discover Europe's heritage in a whole new way.
Paris and the whole of the Île-de-France region don't intend to miss this opportunity to reveal their finest treasures! While the City of Light is always in the spotlight, the Journées du Patrimoine are also the perfect time to explore the rest of the Ile-de-France region, especially Essonne, where a great program awaits you.
This time, we're taking you within navigo range, to the town of Sainte-Geneviève des Bois, where numerous monuments are opening their doors to you on the occasion of the Heritage Days. You'll have the chance to plan your whole day in this town, whose rich heritage is sure to win you over! Here, you can literally step back in time through monuments representing many different eras. So, are you ready to discover this year's program?
Heritage Days 2025 at the Sainte-Geneviève des Bois keep
The Donjon, a large surviving tower from the early 17th century, remains, along with the adjoining outbuildings, the only remaining evidence of what could have become a little Versailles.
By Isabelle Ploton and Patrick Hottot of Les Amis de l'Histoire de Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois
Heritage Days at the Salle Gérard Philippe in Sainte-Geneviève des Bois
(Re)discover the sculptures that line the town of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, that's the ambition of this double tour.
Follow the stencils created on the ground by visual artist Jean-Paul Hébrard, and listen to each sculpture introduce itself by scanning the QR codes!
Heritage Days 2025 at Le Perray Vaucluse in Sainte-Geneviève des Bois
A 19th-century establishment opened in 1869 to house mentally ill Parisians.
By Patrick Hottot, of Les Amis de Vaucluse and Les Amis de l'Histoire de Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois
Heritage Days 2025 at the Piscine d'en Face in Sainte-Geneviève des bois
If you love unusual architecture and dance, this tour is for you! The original spaces of La Piscine d'en Face will be enhanced by the presence and movements of the Micro-Sens dancers, who will occupy the pools, passageways and even the most unsuspected corners, allowing you to see the premises in a sensitive and lively way. A visit full of surprises, which becomes a strolling show.
An exhibition in a booth at the Piscine d'en Face will allow you to see the site through the eyes of children from the Maison des Réussites Educatives and Culture du Cœur's summer workshops (sound walks and writing workshops). An alphabet book of the city, created by the Lainé and Gagarine schools, will provide an even different vision of the city. Can you find out where the photos were taken?
Heritage Days 2025 at the Russian cemetery in Sainte-Geneviève des Bois
Church dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God (Assumption of the Virgin Mary), on the supplementary list of historic monuments, inaugurated in 1939. Built and decorated by architect and decorator Albert Benois, it features numerous icons and murals.
The Association cultuelle orthodoxe de Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois offers a guided tour of the Orthodox church in the Russian cemetery.
Visit by Father Anatole Negruta, rector of the church. The tour also includes the church's crypt, entirely decorated in the "neo-Russian" style and reopened to the public after recent restoration.
The church is open to the public on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Commentary provided throughout the tour
Duration: 30 minutes
Information from the church secretariat on :
09 52 98 82 01 or 07 82 99 00 24
The largest necropolis of Russian emigration in the world, with over 5,200 tombs and celebrities such as dancer Rudolf Nureyev, Prince Felix Yusupov (who murdered Rasputin), Nobel Prize winner Ivan Bunin and many others.
By Jean-Pierre Lamotte and Pascal Montchâtre of Les Amis de l'Histoire de Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois.
Meet in front of the entrance gate to the parking lot on rue Léo Lagrange.
Two short "testimonial concerts" of Orthodox liturgical chants will be given by the Dormition church choir, on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 1:30pm on the church forecourt (or indoors in case of bad weather).
Information from the church secretary on :
09 52 98 82 01 or 07 82 99 00 24
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Sainte-Geneviève des Bois
sainte-geneviève des bois
91700 Sainte Genevieve des Bois
Official website
www.sgdb91.com
