Once a year, on the third weekend in September, a magical spell descends on France, opening the doors to all the country's monuments, historic sites and art centers. Well, almost... No magic here, but a major cultural event that lets us enjoy France's rich heritage for a weekend.
This event is, of course, the Journées du Patrimoine, which are back for their 42nd edition on September 20 and 21, 2025. On this occasion, several thousand important sites, both little-known and famous, welcome the curious of all ages. Rich in several millennia of history, crossed and occupied by different nations, different artistic styles and movements, various events, France has an exceptional heritage, hidden in every town and village.
That's right: you don't have to go far to discover unsuspected treasures! If you live inEssonne, and more specifically in the town of Corbeil-Essonnes, you can even take advantage of the many visits and activities specially prepared for these Heritage Days.
Let yourself be seduced by the monuments and places of interest in this Ile-de-France town, which just might surprise you... Here's the program for the weekend.
Corbeil-Essonnes Mosque
Tasting honey from the beehives of the Corbeil mosque
Take home your first name in Arabic calligraphy
Guided tour of the Corbeil-Essonnes Mosque
Saint Spire Cathedral
Come and discover life at the Saint-Spire cloister and that of its canons during a guided tour led by Frédéric Gatineau, president of the Société Historique et Archéologique de l'Essonne et de l'Hurepoix.
Guided tour of Saint-Spire Cathedral by Philippe Salvon, member of the Mémoire et Patrimoine Vivant association.
Commanderie Saint-Jean
The knights of the Noble Game of the Compagnie royale de l'arquebuse de Corbeil will take you back in time. Historical re-enactment in the Commanderie gardens, with a papegay firing demonstration.
Organ Elise Lancerotto
Viola da gamba Martin Bauer
Baritone voice Paul-Alexandre Dubois
La Quantité discrète en trio takes over the Commanderie, its acoustics, its organ and the beauty of its stones, for a tailor-made recital. From Baroque repertoire to new music, Les Heureuses raisons will make the works of composers from across the centuries ring out and resonate in three voices, from Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre to Juliette Guyot and Alanis Morissette, from Jean-Adam Guilain to Peter Gabriel and Paul Méfano.
A unique, eclectic, joyful concert, dedicated to the "builders" of this place, Alice de Bergère, who donated the land and gave her name to the garden, and Ingeburge and the queens of France who stayed here.
Production Musique et patrimoine en Essonne. Diffusion Alphayin.
Church of Saint Joseph des Tarterets
In the company of Christophe Cuzin, house painter, we'll explore the Tarterêts district, looking for opportunities to add color through artistic interventions in response to its architecture and urban planning.
The walk will be preceded by a presentation of Christophe Cuzin's previous inspirational interventions, and will give rise to a book of proposals by participants. It will conclude with a guided tour of the artistic interventions at Saint-Joseph-des-Tarterêts church, including Christophe Cuzin's work on the exterior walls and Pierre Mabille's stained-glass windows.
Meet building painter Christophe Cuzin, then take a stroll around the neighborhood with him to imagine bringing color back to public spaces.
Visit and discover his artistic work at Saint-Joseph church, in resonance with Pierre Mabille's stained-glass windows.
Jacques Bourgoin School
Painted in 1998 by Pierre Scholla, this 120 m² fresco will once again be revealed to local residents following its restoration. Inauguration followed by a friendly drink.
Meet at 4 rue du Charbon Blanc, next to the Jacques Bourgoin school.
Municipal art gallery
Sunday, September 21st
📍 A free event open to all residents!
To mark the official launch of the twinning, a great artistic and convivial day is organized on Sunday, September 21 at the Galerie d'art municipale :
From 2pm: creative workshops open to the general public, led by teams of Palais de Tokyo mediators
4:30 pm: official opening ceremony
5pm: open-air artistic performance on the Allées Aristide-Briand
Following the success of its twinning with the Louvre, Corbeil-Essonnes is reaffirming its commitment to cultural democratization. It is launching a new three-year partnership with the Palais de Tokyo, a contemporary art center in Paris. This project, supported by the Prefecture of the Île-de-France region, aims to bring major cultural institutions closer to areas that are usually far from them.
This collaboration relies on the active participation of local players and, more broadly, the entire community of Corbeil-Essonnois.
The aim is to give local residents privileged access to contemporary art, through visits to the Palais de Tokyo and the emergence of participatory projects rooted in the city.
The Palais de Tokyo also supports innovative programs on the theme of inclusion through art, in particular the social and professional integration of young people. It also runs "Wellness through Art" workshops for health groups.
For the duration of this partnership, access to the Palais will be free for Corbeil-Essonnes residents, on presentation of proof of address.
Exhibition Les Clés du Palais by Hugo Béhérégaray, Clément Courgeon , Marguerite Li-Garrigue and Mathilde Nourrisson, four contemporary artists presented by the Palais de Tokyo.
Shapes, colors and textures mingle and challenge the visitor.
Chantemerle multimedia library
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Médiathèque municipale
The Institut d'Histoire Locale questions the history of organization, the evolution of rights at work and the changes initiated in the region's companies. This exhibition bears witness to the participation of local men and women in our social history, which is still under construction.
Presentation of the book Corbeil-Essonnes, une histoire du monde du travail. L'apport des archives de la CGT by authors Sylvie Contrepois and Nicole Le Minter, to be published in December.
The book retraces 120 years of local history, based on the collection of private archives, and sheds light on the mechanisms and players who structured local social life.
Rendez-vous MJC Fernand Léger
The urbanization of Corbeil-Essonnes has been structured by the industries that have settled here over the course of history. The Institut d'Histoire Sociale takes a stroll through industrial architecture, some of it monumental, and working-class housing, past and present, to explore the changing social relationships that have shaped the identity of our town.
Saturday, September 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Meeting point in front of the Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture, 45 allées Aristide Briand
A 10 km loop hike along the banks of the river to discover past industrial sites in the southern part of the commune. Please bring your own picnic.
Sunday, September 21, 9:30 a.m.
Meeting point in front of the Bourse du Travail, 15 avenue Strathkelvin
An 8.5 km loop through the northern city and its industrial past.
Meet at Place Salvandy
Come and play the role of a group of journalists specializing in unsolved cases. A case awaits you at Corbeil-Essonnes prison, where a legendary prisoner has escaped: the Man in the Wooden Mask. Follow in his footsteps, criss-crossing the city streets and solving riddles. Chills guaranteed!
In partnership with Lycée Robert Doisneau students
Meet in front of the former courthouse at the junction of rue Féray and rue Champlouis.
Essonne and its communes are brimming with heritage treasures, so discover them all during this JEP weekend!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Corbeil-Essonnes Town Hall
2 Place Galignani
91100 Corbeil Essonnes
Official website
www.corbeil-essonnes.fr
