Each year, as the autumn season gets underway, a major event draws a huge crowd—across Paris, Île-de-France, throughout the country, and even across Europe. This September’s must-attend event is the Journées du Patrimoine, which offers the chance to discover places normally off-limits to visitors: seats of power, ministries, secret sites and other treasures that only open to the public during this exceptional weekend, scheduled for the 19th and 20th of September this year.
So, it’s the perfect opportunity to stock up on guided tours and other activities, with a program to rediscover local heritage right on your doorstep or, conversely, to traverse the region in search of new, exclusive tours.
In the department of the Essonne, the city of Palaiseau offers a wealth of visits for these Journées du Patrimoine 2026. Discover the charm of Old Palaiseau with its picturesque lanes and village vibe, before diving into the modern pulse of the campus de l'Université Paris-Saclay, a hub of research and scientific excellence. Don’t miss a stroll through the parc de l'Hôtel de Ville, with its green spaces and playgrounds, ideal for a relaxing outdoor break. But above all, enjoy the variety of guided tours and activities on offer for these Journées du Patrimoine 2026!
Heritage Days 2026: visit the École Polytechnique in Palaiseau (91)
The École Polytechnique is also taking part in Heritage Days 2026, offering guided tours on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026. [Read more]
Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies
Seminar "Combining Chemical Imaging Methods to Study Works of Art"
Combining chemical imaging methods to study works of art
Physico-chemical analyses of artworks reveal the complexity of the techniques painters used to create their pieces. Since the origins of art, the artist has had to know how to select and transform the materials available to him to realize his vision. If the recipe used wasn’t precise, the work could disappear quickly. Chemistry now lets us look at our Heritage in a new light. The development of analytical methods and the value of combining them to tackle complex problems will be illustrated by their applications to Egyptian tombs and to Italian Renaissance paintings.
Philippe Walter is a member of the Académie des Sciences, a research director at CNRS at the Laboratory of Molecular Archaeology and Structural Research at Sorbonne Université, which he founded in 2012, and vice-president of the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie. He specializes in analytical chemistry, particularly non-invasive and mobile analysis methods. He has developed innovative techniques that use X-rays, UV, visible light, and infrared. He applies these methods to the characterization of Cultural Heritage materials, especially pictorial substances, to better understand how they were made and the modifications they have undergone over time. His work helps illuminate the evolution of artistic techniques across the centuries and sheds light on the minds behind the creation of these works.
Participation requirements : 199 spots available - Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Friday, September 18, 2026 - 10:00 to 11:30
Saint-Martin Church
Visit to the Saint-Martin Church in Palaiseau, a listed historic monument dating from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries
Saint-Martin Church in Palaiseau, dating from the 11th, 12th and 15th centuries. Its crypt houses the tomb of the Arnauld de Port-Royal family for 300 years. The paintings include "The Sixteenth-Century Flemish Virgin" and "Hagar and the Angel." The Stations of the Cross have been restored.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Timings: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 to 12:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 15:00 to 16:00, 16:00 to 17:00
Hurepoix Museum
Exploring Life Between 1850 and 1950
For an hour, volunteers will recount the history of Palaiseau and that of our region. 38 themed spaces across 600 square metres explore life and the trades of that era.
Participation rules: Group of eight people. - Free | No reservation needed
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Tour itineraries
Free guided walk through the old Lozère hamlet in Palaiseau
Free guided stroll through the streets of the former Lozère hamlet to explore the most notable elements of the built heritage, reflecting public and private architecture from the late 19th to early 20th century, as well as the shops that have animated the daily life of residents in this part of Palaiseau since that era.
Participation conditions: Free guided walk with prior registration due to a limit of 25 participants. About 1.5 hours of easy walking. Good walking shoes recommended, plus a hat, sunscreen or umbrella depending on the weather - Free | Reservation required - jacq.bizet@wanadoo.fr, 06 47 74 75 75
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Palaiseau
Mairie
91120 Palaiseau
Route planner
Official website
www.ville-palaiseau.fr
