Bordered by the Seine and the beltway, at the gates of the 13th arrondissement, the commune of Ivry-sur-Seine hosts a lively and festive scene. This city in the Val-de-Marne, reachable by metro, RER and tram, boasts a rich history, of which it preserves many vestiges. If you want to know everything about Ivry-sur-Seine, refresh its secrets, uncover its history and its great figures, join us on 19 and 20 September 2026.
This weekend, a multitude of tours and activities are taking place across the city to mark the 43e Journées du Patrimoine. Historic or cultural sites and places of interest around the town open their doors to the public, often free of charge! Let yourself be carried along on this journey through the centuries and across themes. Theatre, church, observatory, hospital, City Hall, brewery, workshops: there’s something for every taste. Discover what awaits you on these 19 and 20 September 2026 in Ivry-sur-Seine.
Old municipal cemetery
A Tour of Ivry-sur-Seine's Old Municipal Cemetery
A place of memory worth discovering, the old cemetery hides chapels adorned with sculptures and stained glass from the 19th–20th centuries. Highlights of the visit include the tomb of a Mamluke, the tomb of Léonard Sadi Carnot, the French physicist who laid the foundations of thermodynamics, and the numerous funerary monuments dedicated to figures from local history. At the entrance, the war memorial lists the 1,800 Ivry residents who died in World War I.
A few parts of the tour are not accessible to visitors with limited mobility.
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 ⤏ 12:00, 14:00 ⤏ 16:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 ⤏ 12:00, 14:00 ⤏ 16:00
Ivry’s Center for Contemporary Art — Le Credac
A look at the history and architecture of the Manufacture des Œillets, illustrated with archival photos
Bold and austere in its appearance, the “American” building of the Manufacture des Œillets stretches across four levels and is capped by floor-to-ceiling windows, signaling an ambition to move away from industrial architecture shaped by regionalism and cost-saving, in favor of a more international, clean, modern style reminiscent of the Chicago School or Walter Gropius and Adolf Meyer’s Fagus factory (1911-1925), a model later adopted by the new Bauhaus in Dessau (1925). Discover its history and architecture in the exhibition spaces and through vintage illustrations.
Participation requirements: Limited to 20 participants – Free | No reservation required
Timings: Saturday, 19 September 2026 – 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM | Sunday, 20 September 2026 – 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Architectural tour
Discover the architecture of Ivry-sur-Seine's city centre: an architectural stroll
Renée Gailhoustet and Jean Renaudie, two prominent architects, shaped a cluster at the heart of Centre-Ville that blends multifunctional spaces, public and private vegetated terraces, and collective housing—opening architecture to everyone.
Sunday, September 20
• At 11 a.m.: an architectural walk organized by the ArchIvry association, followed by a shared meal on Place Voltaire.
“Understanding the Jeanne Hachette building-quartier to reclaim its imagination”—a look at how Jean Renaudie’s Ivry Stars (winner of the National Grand Prize for Architecture in 1978) underpin a visionary architecture that subverts the traditional urban block and offers a fresh concept of the City Centre.
Registration required for the visit.
The site is not accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Participation terms: Reservation required - archivry@gmail.com
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 ⤏ 13:00
Discover the architecture of Ivry-sur-Seine's City Centre: guided tours of terrace apartments
Renowned architects Renée Gailhoustet and Jean Renaudie have forged, at the heart of the City Centre, multi-use complexes that blend public and private vegetated terraces with collective housing, making architecture accessible to all.
Sunday, September 20
• From 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: guided tours of apartment-terraces organized by the association Jardins à tous les étages - Ivry.
Each apartment features a unique plan, with terraces, patios, half-level duplexes, or double-height spaces, showcasing how the architects have reimagined living spaces. In this special social moment, residents open their doors and become your guides on an unconventional stroll through several of Centre-Ville’s emblematic buildings.
By reservation only: jardinsatouslesetages.ivry@gmail.com
On prior request, the route can be adjusted for accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
Participation requirements: Reservation required - archivry@gmail.com
Timings: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
City Hall
Guided tours of Ivry-sur-Seine Town Hall
The town hall reveals a striking, sculpted façade that pays homage to the commune’s industrial past. Inside, the space holds its own: marble sculptures, Ivry landscapes, and frescoes by Fernand Léger. On the ground floor, discover the Cabinet of Curiosities, the museum space of the municipal Archives-Patrimoine service, which presents its new exhibition: At School! A History of Education in Ivry, 19th-20th Centuries. Through a selection of archival documents such as postcards, photographs, school notebooks, and testimonies, you can (re)discover the history of Ivry’s first schools and the education policies pursued by the municipality during this era.
• At 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM: guided tours of the town hall.
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:30 PM–3:30 PM, 3:30 PM–4:30 PM, 4:30 PM–5:30 PM
The Madeleine Delbrel House
Discovering Madeleine Delbrêl's House
Madeleine Delbrêl, poet, social worker, Christian mystic, and her fellow companions lived in this town house. In the porch, a mural of photos and posters recalls the social context of the 1930s–1960s. You’ll discover Madeleine Delbrêl’s living space and gain access to a library of her writings. In the garden, you can view photos and hear her voice. Books containing her writings or works about her are on sale in the bookshop.
Saturday, September 19
• From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.: open and guided tours by the Friends of Madeleine Delbrêl
Participation requirements: Free
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Discovery of Madeleine Delbrêl's House: screening
Madeleine Delbrêl, a poet, social worker, and Christian mystic, along with her collaborators, lived in this townhouse. In the porch, a mural of photos and posters recalls the social context of the 1930s–1960s. You’ll explore Madeleine Delbrêl’s living space and gain access to a library of texts she wrote. In the garden, you can view photos and hear her voice. Books containing her writings or works about her are for sale in the bookstore.
Saturday, September 19:
• At 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM: screening of a film tracing Madeleine Delbrêl’s path and spirituality.
Participation conditions: Free of charge
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Discovering the Madeleine Delbrêl House
Madeleine Delbrêl, a poet, social worker, and Christian mystic, along with her companions, lived in this town house. In the porch, a mural of photos and posters recalls the social context of the 1930s–1960s. You will explore Madeleine Delbrêl's living space and gain access to a library of texts she wrote. In the garden, you can view photos and hear her voice. Books containing her writings or works about her are for sale in the bookstore.
Sunday, September 20
• From 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.: self-guided and guided tours by the Friends of Madeleine Delbrêl.
Participation requirements: Free of charge
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Discovery of Madeleine Delbrêl’s House: screening
Madeleine Delbrêl, poet, social worker, Christian mystic—and her colleagues lived in this townhouse. In the porch, a fresco of photos and posters recalls the social context of the 1930s–1960s. You’ll explore Madeleine Delbrêl’s living space and gain access to a library of texts she wrote. In the garden, you can view photos and hear her voice. Books containing her writings or works about her are for sale in the bookstore.
Sunday, September 20
• At 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.: screening of a film about Madeleine Delbrêl’s journey and spirituality.
Participation requirements: Free of charge
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Discovery of Madeleine Delbrêl's House: Reading Workshop
Madeleine Delbrêl, poet, social worker, Christian mystic, alongside her fellow companions lived in this townhouse. In the porch, a mural of photos and posters recalls the social context of the 1930s–1960s. You will discover Madeleine Delbrêl’s living space and have access to a library of texts she wrote. In the garden, you can explore photos and hear her voice. Books containing her writings or works about her are on sale in the bookstore.
Sunday, September 20
• At 5 p.m.: a reading workshop of a text by Madeleine Delbrêl.
Accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Participation requirements: Free
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Tower Mill
Visits to the Moulin de la Tour
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the windmill’s relocation, the city of Ivry-sur-Seine has refreshed the exhibition route around this local heritage landmark. With the help of the guides from the Friends of the Windmill of la Tour association and access to new documents, discover this unusual building within the urban landscape. A medieval-constructed windmill, later modified in the 17th century, it ceased operations in the 19th century. It was once used by basket makers, served as a hay store and hydrocarbon depot before being moved and restored starting in 1976. Inside, you can observe the grain-crushing mechanism and the striking timber framing. The mill has been listed as a historical monument since 1979.
Saturday, September 19
• From 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM: guided tours by the guides of the Friends of the Windmill of la Tour association.
Sunday, September 20
• From 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM: guided tours by the guides of the Friends of the Windmill of la Tour association.
Free entry subject to availability.
Site not accessible to people with mobility impairments.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 3:00 PM ⤏ 5:30 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 11:00 AM ⤏ 5:30 PM
City Observatory
Visit to the City Observatory
On the roof of a downtown Ivry building, atop a purpose-built terrace, the Ne pas plier association has been running an “Observatory of the City” since 1993, offering a sweeping view of Ivry and its surroundings. From this vantage point above Ivry’s center, visitors can read the city’s organization, its physical and social history. The project aims to share urban knowledge with citizen-residents—insights that daily life doesn’t always leave room to cultivate. Reading your city means finding your critical space, learning to keep the right distance, and understanding the world we live in.
Sunday, September 20
• From 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM: free visits.
Intercom “Associations,” 7th floor
Site not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Voltaire Square
Guided tour of the Gailhoustet and Renaudie buildings in Ivry-sur-Seine
Visitors are divided into groups of ten and guided by a local resident who will lead them through his own home as well as three other apartments in different buildings designed by Jean Renaudie and Renée Gailhoustet. The roughly two-hour stroll winds through the city centre to reach a variety of buildings.
Participation requirements: Free | Booking required - jardinsatouslesetages.ivry@gmail.com
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026, 3:00 PM–5:00 PM
Ivry's Neighborhood Theatre
Behind the scenes at the Théâtre des Quartiers d'Ivry — National Drama Center of Val-de-Marne
Since 2016, after a complete renovation, Théâtre des Quartiers d’Ivry is housed at Manufacture des Œillets, a landmark of 20th‑century working‑class culture. A gathering place with two performance spaces—the Fabrique (397 seats) and the Lanterneau (99 seats)—the room dedicated to the Atelier Théâtral and the Halle, used for public events and various activities.
Guided by one of the TQI team members, you’ll tour the performance and rehearsal halls, the set and costume workshops, the backstage areas and the artists’ dressing rooms. With family or friends, explore every nook of the theatre, from the smallest corner to the grandest detail. The TQI will reveal all its secrets to you!
Saturday, September 19
• At 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM: guided tours.
Reservation required.
Accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Participation requirements: Reservation required - reservations@theatre-quartiers-ivry.com
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 14:30 ⤏ 15:30, 15:30 ⤏ 16:30, 16:30 ⤏ 17:30
You won't have time to get bored in Ivry-sur-Seine during these Heritage Days!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Ivry sur seine
ivry sur seine
94200 Ivry sur Seine
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Official website
www.ivry94.fr
