Each year, the Journées du Patrimoine sweep across Europe, to the delight of enthusiasts and the curious alike. This cultural event invites the public to rediscover our heritage from a fresh perspective through a rich program of tours, often free, and a lineup of new activities.
Museums, monuments, castles, institutions and even places that are usually inaccessible to the public, including ministries, many of our heritage treasures lend themselves to the game and reveal their secrets for the occasion. And, as you'd expect, Paris and the surrounding region are also taking part!
This time, the meeting is set for the weekend of September 19-20, 2026. Those dates also mark the 43rd edition of Heritage Days. Why not take the opportunity to discover the most beautiful towns in Île-de-France? On the side of Seine-et-Marne, Fontainebleau is one of those perfect stops for a splendid Francilien getaway! With its green landscapes, its stunning château and other treasures, this history-rich city is well worth a visit. And it just so happens that Fontainebleau is indeed taking part in the lineup of Heritage Days!
House of the Companions
Guided tour: Monuments and private mansions
Circuit: Monuments and Private Mansions
This stroll starts along rue des Sablons, with its porches, ironwork, and the façades of early town houses, then, opposite the Château, the Porte de Ferrare—an architectural landmark attributed to Serlio (1540). Along the route you’ll see the Porte du Tambour, the Pompadour Hermitage, a gem crafted by A. G. Gabriel (1749), the hôtels on rue Saint-Honoré, Villa Javal (Art Nouveau), the Boufflers district, then rue de France, and a return to Place Denecourt.
Duration: about 2 hours, with a guide
Participation guidelines: Limited to 15 participants - Free | Booking required - sauvegarde.fontainebleau@yahoo.com
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 ⤏ 12:00, 15:00 ⤏ 17:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 ⤏ 12:00
Guided tour: Le Bourg Royal
Circuit: Le Bourg Royal
A slice of a little-known part of the city, a peek at the old streets and the oldest pedestrian doors that lead to Place d’Armes, a glimpse of the porch Henry IV wanted to be the grandest in the realm. We’ll then stroll along Rue du Château, with its discreet town houses and modest homes adorned with ironwork, a touch of gresserie… Down Rue d’Avon (why this name here?), into the Raoult district, past the grand stables, and along Rue Marrier… We circle back to Place de l’Étape.
Duration approximately 1h30, with a guide
Participation conditions: Limited to 15 participants — Free | Reservation required — sauvegarde.fontainebleau@yahoo.com
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30–12:00, 15:30–17:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:30–12:00, 15:30–17:00
A Look at the Maison des Compagnons: Paintings and Sculpture Exhibition
Exhibition: DOMINIQUE DAMARZIT
This painting show draws heavily on the works of Bosch and the Flemish Renaissance, inviting us into a borderland world populated by tiny animals, monsters, and humans all caught in the act of petty theft, ridicule, or brigandage. They are rogues, yet animated by a certain courage, all eager to live, no matter what—and even if it means bending the rules.
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A Look at the Maison des Compagnons and Its History
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 11:00–19:00 | Sunday, 20 September 2026 — 11:00–19:00
The Forest House of La Garenne, Gros Bois
A visit to an old forestry house and its sprawling kennel
Our association will guide visitors through the buildings, explain the breeding of our 100 large scent hounds, introduce them to the Hunting Horn (inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list), and answer questions about the history and practice of hunting with hounds in Fontainebleau from the kings to the present day.
Dog soup at 11 a.m., horn concerts throughout the day.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fontainebleau Media Library
Heritage Week in Fontainebleau: Guided Tours
From September 19 to 26, the Médiathèque is pleased to invite you to the third edition of a major local-heritage week centered on the theme “The Twilight of the Bourbons at Fontainebleau.”
Several events will unfold starting with the Heritage Days weekend and continue throughout the following week.
• Heritage Reserve Tours
Saturday, September 19 — 10:00, 11:00, 15:00 and 16:00 (duration: 1 hour)
Sunday, September 20 — 15:00 and 16:00 (duration: 1 hour)
Booking required — ages 12 and up
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, discover the Médiathèque’s hidden treasures in its reserve: “Exploring the Gems of the Old Collection.”
Small-group guided tours led by our team of passionate heritage specialists.
Bring a light sweater for those who tend to be chilly!
• LECTURE
Tuesday, September 22 — 18:30 (duration: 1 hour 30 minutes)
Free admission — open to all
“Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI at Fontainebleau. Splendor and the Art of Living” — previewing a major exhibition opening at the château on October 11, 2026, by Mr. Jean Vittet, General Heritage Conservator and exhibition curator.
• YOUTH WRITING WORKSHOP
Wednesday, September 23 — 14:00 (duration: 1 hour)
Booking required — ages 8 and up
Contest writing workshop “Heritage in Poetry”
An writing session invites children aged 8 to 12 to tell or describe their favorite monument or artwork in verse.
• PANEL DISCUSSION by the Fontainebleau and Region History Society
Friday, September 25 — 15:00 (duration: 3 hours)
Free admission — ages 12 and up
Ms. Maggiori, joined by historians from the Fontainebleau and Region History Society, will explore the 18th century in Fontainebleau:
1. The management of Fontainebleau Forest in the 18th century (from 15:00)
Jean-Claude Polton: “The Thousand Milestones of Fontainebleau Forest”
Patrick Daguenet: “An Anglo-Chinese Garden in Fontainebleau Forest”
2. The architectural and economic development of Fontainebleau in the 18th century (from 16:30)
Josette Ripoll: “The Townhouses of Fontainebleau”
Frédéric Viey: “The Porcelain Makers of Fontainebleau”
• LECTURE
Saturday, September 26 — 15:00 (duration: 2 hours)
Free admission — open to all
“Marie-Antoinette, a musically inclined queen at Fontainebleau,” by Mr. Patrick Daguenet, historian and author of the work “Marie-Antoinette’s Sojourns at Fontainebleau,” 1770–1786.
A book-signing session will follow the lecture.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00–11:00, 11:00–12:00, 15:00–16:00, 16:00–17:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 15:00–16:00, 16:00–17:00
"Discovering the jewels of the historic collection"
As part of European Heritage Days, explore the Médiathèque’s storerooms to uncover its hidden treasures.
Small-group guided tours led by our expert heritage specialists.
Bring a light sweater if you tend to feel the cold!
Participation conditions: Sign-up exclusively at the Médiathèque — Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 10:00–11:00, 11:00–12:00, 15:00–16:00, 16:00–17:00 | Sunday, 20 September 2026 — 15:00–16:00, 16:00–17:00
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Fontainebleau Town Hall
40 Rue Grande
77300 Fontainebleau
Route planner
Accessibility info
Official website
fontainebleau.fr
