The Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days ) take place every year on the third weekend in September. This cultural highlight attracts enthusiasts and the curious looking for new experiences. And with good reason: during this cultural event, many of our heritage treasures reveal their secrets through special programming.
In Paris and throughout the Île-de-France region, museums, monuments, châteaux and even places that are usually closed to the public are getting in on the act! In turn, they offer us their programs, often free of charge, of self-guided or guided tours, surprising events and workshops for young and old alike.
While Paris is often the center of attention, the Journées du Patrimoine is also an opportunity to learn more about the treasures to be found in the rest of theÎle-de-France region. And the least we can say is that the Ile-de-France region is brimming with masterpieces and surprising monuments!
In the Val-de-Marne region, the town of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is a prime example. Accessible by RER (regional express train), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is a charming town with picturesque houses and lush greenery. The town also boasts a fine heritage, enabling it to offer an extensive program of visits during the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days). Find out what's in store for the weekend of September 20 and 21, 2025!
Heritage Days 2025: the art of stained glass at Atelier Baudouin (94)
For the Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in Île-de-France, the Atelier Baudouin is opening its doors in the Val-de-Marne to reveal its expertise in stained glass. Join us in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés on September 20 and 21, 2025, to discover how stained glass is restored in the company of our craftsmen! [Read more]
Heritage Days 2025 at the former Abbey of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Let us guide you through the history of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés' oldest district! You'll discover the beautifully restored 12th-13th-century church dedicated to Saint Nicolas, as well as a number of 17th-century residences and the remains of the château and court of the Princes de Condé. There is also evidence of the town's past activities, from its picturesque farm to its modest shops, including its town hall, factory and boarding school. You can also follow the route of the annual Saint Maur procession.
Founded in Merovingian times, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Abbey has left its mark on the history of the Île-de-France region. Renowned as a pilgrimage site, it reached its apogee in the Middle Ages, but declined with its secularization in the 17th century. After a series of vicissitudes and changes of ownership, the site became the largest municipal park, developed in the 1930s and 1980s. The European Heritage Days are an opportunity to discover the history of these remains, explore the interior of the Rabelais Tower, and gain access to areas usually closed to the public. You can also immerse yourself in the heart of the medieval abbey thanks to an augmented reality experience!
For over a century, the Société d'histoire et d'archéologie "Le Vieux Saint-Maur" has been dedicated to the study and preservation of local heritage. Come and share your memories, discover the association's projects and publications. Don't miss their latest book, which traces the history of Saint-Maur's neighborhoods and streets through comparative views of yesterday and today.
Founded in Merovingian times, the Abbey of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés has left its mark on the history of the Île-de-France region. Renowned as a pilgrimage site, it reached its apogee in the Middle Ages, but declined with its secularization in the 17th century. After a series of vicissitudes and changes of ownership, the site became the largest municipal park, developed in the 1930s and 1980s. The European Heritage Days are an opportunity to discover the history of these remains, explore the interior of the Rabelais Tower, and gain access to areas usually closed to the public. You can also immerse yourself in the heart of the medieval abbey thanks to an augmented reality experience!
Let us guide you through the history of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés' oldest district! You'll discover the beautifully restored 12th-13th-century church dedicated to Saint Nicolas, as well as a number of 17th-century residences and the remains of the château and court of the Princes de Condé. There is also evidence of the town's past activities, from its picturesque farm to its modest shops, town hall, factory and boarding school. You can also follow the route of the annual Saint Maur procession.
Heritage Days 2025 at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Municipal Archives
Located to the south of the city and bordered by the Marne, the Pie district is the last to be urbanized. Saint-Maur's diverse architectural styles rubbed shoulders here, with a predilection for modest housing that stood out from the grand mansions of La Varenne and Le Parc. At the beginning of the 20th century, the area also saw the development of a variety of activities - river leisure, industry and craftsmanship - giving it a lively, attractive character. The tour will allow you to rediscover the traces of the past, but also to discover the still intact vitality of some of these activities through a visit to one of today's design and manufacturing workshops.
Heritage Days 2025 at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés educational garden
Come and discover the natural heritage of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés through the green, blue, brown, white and black grids. These frameworks form ecological continuities, consisting of biodiversity reservoirs and ecological corridors.
A number of activities will be offered in the Jardin pédagogique, a site designed by the Conseil municipal des Enfants. 600 m² have been laid out to accommodate aromatic plants, vegetable plants, ornamental plants and fruit trees... Nature in the city! Practices are virtuous, agro-ecological and experimental.
Come and discover this place and enjoy a guided tour of this green setting. You'll be offered a range of activities, as well as a treasure hunt to help you explore the site in a fun way, and leave with a small gift. Come and design the garden of your dreams... in miniature!
Heritage Days 2025 at Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Town Hall
Until 1876, Saint-Maur's town hall was housed in various buildings close to Saint-Nicolas church in the Vieux-Saint-Maur district. This off-center location fueled La Varenne's desire for independence. Urban development in the Marne loop made it essential to move the town hall to a more central location. Debates were fierce.
Construction of the Saint-Maur town hall began on August 18, 1876, on land donated by Louis-Désiré Mahieu, the town's former mayor. Too small for the growing population, the building was extended between 1937 and 1941 under the direction of Lucien Graf, the town's architect. What remains of the original town hall is the central part of the façade and the marriage hall, decorated by Paul-Albert Baudoüin, which you'll discover on your tour. The tour ends on the top floor, where you can enjoy the view from the new glass roof of this living building, in constant evolution and transformation.
Discover the North of Adamville with your children. With the help of the booklet available at the information booths, explore the town and enjoy some family time together. Sharpen your curiosity, develop your sense of observation, get your brain working, and solve the ten riddles while learning a wealth of information about the neighborhood, famous Saint-Mauriens and the city in general.
From the Hôtel de Ville to the Lido, via the mediatheque and the conservatoire, take a stroll through the town's largest district!
Heritage Days 2025 at the Abbaye public garden in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Heritage Days 2025 at Parc de Saint-Maur station
In 1831, Jacques-François Adam acquired vast tracts of land in the center of the Marne loop. He developed the land, creating a veritable small town within the town, to which he gave his name: Adamville. By the end of the 19th century, this central district was home to the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés town hall. The walk proposed by the CAUE will allow you to (re)discover the old buildings typical of a city center, such as the avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, but also the elegant brick houses of the place du Maréchal Juin, the Art Nouveau building of the avenue Carnot or the very original Art Deco house of the rue Rouget-de-l'Isle, for example. A lively district!
Journées du Patrimoine 2025 at the Varenne RER station
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Heritage Days 2025 at Saint-François-de-Sales church in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
In 1849, Jacques-François Adam decided to build a family chapel on his land. This was in response to requests from his customers, who felt that the land they were selling was too far from Saint-Nicolas church. The foundation stone was blessed on August 28, 1850. The chapel, which became a parish on June 23, 1907, was too small. It was enlarged after the First World War, and the bell tower was inaugurated on December 16, 1923, at the same time as the christening of the three new bells. Little remains of the original chapel, but you can admire frescoes and the tomb of Jacques-François Adam, among others.
Heritage Days 2025 at Notre-Dame du Rosaire church in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Built from 1885 onwards to meet the demands of the growing number of people living in the Parc de Saint-Maur, the Rosaire church is built in the Romanesque-Byzantine style, which was very popular at the time. Construction began with the choir and stopped with the first three bays of the nave at the end of the 19th century. The stone used came from nearby quarries. Work resumed in 1925. Two new bays were built in cement-covered brick. Inside, stained-glass windows evoke the life of the Virgin Mary (Song of Songs, Rosary cycle, rosary practice), the infancy of Jesus and France's patron saints. The choir chapel is covered with marble plaques commemorating the parish's fallen in the First World War. The oratory features a Baroque pieta.
Heritage Days 2025 at Saint-Nicolas church in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Attend the unveiling of the plaque marking the end of the renovation work on Saint Nicolas church!
The oldest intact building in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, this church is dedicated to Saint Nicolas, patron saint not only of schoolchildren, but also of bargemen, many of whom disembarked at the abbey port on the Marne River. The building has been altered several times, which explains the different styles of construction. While the bell tower is Romanesque, typical of the 12th century, the choir (13th century) is Gothic, with an imposing glass roof almost 8 meters high! The church has been a listed monument since 1947.
The major renovation work undertaken by the town, in partnership with the Fondation du Patrimoine and the Île-de-France region, was completed at the end of 2022: replacement of the choir and bell tower roofs, restoration of the roof structure, replacement of many badly damaged stones (including columns and capitals), cleaning of certain stained glass windows... The wooden Romanesque vault was also rebuilt following the destruction of the plaster vault from the interwar period. Admire the superb rooster that now watches over the building.
The oldest intact building in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, this church is dedicated to Saint Nicolas, patron saint not only of schoolchildren, but also of bargemen, many of whom disembarked at the abbey's port on the Marne River. The building has been altered several times, which explains the different styles of construction. While the bell tower is Romanesque, typical of the 12th century, the choir (13th century) is Gothic, with an imposing glass roof almost 8 meters high! The church has been a listed monument since 1947.
The major renovation work undertaken by the town, in partnership with the Fondation du Patrimoine and the Île-de-France region, was completed at the end of 2022: replacement of the choir and bell tower roofs, restoration of the roof structure, replacement of many badly damaged stones (including columns and capitals), cleaning of certain stained glass windows... The wooden Romanesque vault was also rebuilt following the destruction of the plaster vault from the interwar period. Admire the superb rooster that now watches over the building.
Heritage Days 2025 at Sainte-Marie aux Fleurs church in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Well-known to all RER commuters, Sainte-Marie-aux-Fleurs is one of the most recent churches in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, having been built in 1937 following a series of petitions. But it was also thanks to the persistence of Madame Mathieu Lolliot that Cardinal Verdier, Archbishop of Paris, included construction of the chapel in his Chantiers du Cardinal program. The foundation stone was laid on April 25, 1937, and the first mass was celebrated on October 10 of the same year, in the presence of Auguste Marin, mayor of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, and numerous civil and religious figures. Designed by Henri Vidal, an architect who designed numerous places of worship for Chantiers du Cardinal, the church combines the style of the late Thirties with many early Christian symbols of faith. Built of stone on an elongated plan, it features a single nave ending in a flat chevet.
Heritage Days 2025 at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés art studios
Before becoming Saint-Maur's emblematic music and visual arts center, whose large hall hosts exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year, 5 ter avenue du Bac was originally a public interest building dedicated to hygiene.
Decided by the then mayor Auguste Marin in 1930, the building was one of the city's largest Bains Douches from 1937 to 1968. Architect Julien Heulot designed a functional three-storey building open to Saint-Mauriens who wished to use it, for a modest fee. The 24 shower cubicles and 12 bathrooms were located on the first floor, on either side of the hall. On the upper level, an arched bay window, no longer in existence, provided light and ventilation. The glass roof already existed.
To evoke this transformation of the premises, linked to social and urban history, Artists Courants d'Arts have chosen to design a very large fresco, which can be seen on site as a preview on Saturday September 20, then from September 24 to October 5 as part of their collective exhibition on the theme of Metamorphoses.
Information on courantsdarts.fr
Before becoming Saint-Maur's emblematic music and visual arts center, whose large hall hosts exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year, 5 ter avenue du Bac was originally a public interest building dedicated to hygiene.
Decided by the then mayor Auguste Marin in 1930, the building was one of the city's largest Bains Douches from 1937 to 1968. Architect Julien Heulot designed a functional three-storey building open to Saint-Mauriens who wished to use it, for a modest fee. The 24 shower cubicles and 12 bathrooms were located on the first floor, on either side of the hall. On the upper level, an arched bay window, no longer in existence, provided light and ventilation. The glass roof already existed.
Come and discover the former Bains-douches on Saturday September 21, and take part in an arts and crafts workshop offered by the association's teachers: drawing, painting, sculpture, modeling, stone carving, lithography, engraving, photography...
The detailed program is available online at
Heritage Days 2025 at the Lido de Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
The Saint-Maur cinemas are taking part in the 11th edition of the Play it Again! festival. Come and see heritage films in restored versions on the big screen.
Find out more about the program on the Saint-Maur cinemas website:
https://www.cinemas-theatresaintmaur.com/programmation/index.htm
Heritage Days 2025 at the Maison de la Nature in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
The town of Saint-Maur was transformed by Auguste Marin into a garden city, a legacy carefully cultivated by most of his successors. Last year, the town was awarded the 2 pattes label in recognition of its animal-friendly initiatives: nesting box, doggie park, insect hotel, cat house, earthworm release... Saint-Maur is a town that loves living things!
Plants have not been forgotten. In addition to preserving the city's 18,000 tree-lines and the green belt enshrined in the PLUi (Plan Local d'Urbanisme Intercommunal), Saint-Maur has been involved in major replanting campaigns for several years now, with the participation of schoolchildren, as on the banks of the Marne recently. Fruit trees have also been planted in squares. Come and discover our shared vegetable gardens, and take advantage of our seed library to swap and test new seeds!
There will be activities and a treasure hunt to help you discover the gardens in a fun way, and leave with a small gift. Come and build the garden of your dreams... in miniature!
Journées du Patrimoine 2025 at the Villa Medicis, Maison des Arts et de la Culture in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Heritage Days 2025 at the Germaine Tillion multimedia library in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
The town's Archives department is taking up residence at the Médiathèque Germaine Tillion this autumn, inviting you to discover the fascinating world of Ernest Gargoulaud (1872-1960), a Saint-Maurian artist and amateur photographer who produced 1,100 stereoscopic glass plates, through a unique exhibition highlighting his talent and creativity.
Ernest Gargoulaud was a draughtsman during the First World War, before becoming a paper bag manufacturer, and never ceased to express his artistic sensibility. Through his illustrated letters to his daughters, his landscape notebooks and his wartime photographs, he left us a moving and intimate record of his times.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will first discover the fascinating world of glass plate photography and the principle of the stereoscope, which, even at the dawn of the 20th century, gave the illusion of relief to images. He then plunges into the daily life of a Saint-Maurian family during the Belle Époque, through images imbued with gentleness and spontaneity. The war then enters the picture, revealing another side of Ernest Gargoulaud: that of a witness to the conflict, whose lens captures moments of the Great War, while his pen sketches his daughters' letters. Finally, the artist takes us on a journey across France, immortalizing his travels on glass, offering us a unique look at the landscapes and towns of yesterday.
Catastrophe! The catalog for the antique reserve has been mislaid. Come and explore the reserves with your family and help the librarians solve the mystery.
Come and browse the media library's reserves to find the newspaper from the day you were born!
Historian Claire Paolacci, professor of music, dance and entertainment history at the Conservatoire de la Ville, has written a biography of Jacques Rouché (2024). In the course of her research into this captain of industry in the world of perfume, who became an eminent director of the Palais Garnier from 1915 to 1945, she also discovered some incredible links between the man and... the town of Saint-Maur. Come and discover them at this conference!
Heritage Days 2025 at La Pépinière, arromanches business center in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France
Located to the south of the town and bordered by the Marne, the Pie district is the last to be urbanized. Saint-Maur's diverse architectural styles coexist here, with a predilection for modest housing that stands out from the grand mansions of La Varenne.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the area also saw the development of a variety of activities - river recreation, industry and crafts - giving it a lively, attractive character.
The tour will allow you to rediscover the traces of the past, but also to discover the still intact vitality of these activities through a visit to one of today's design and manufacturing workshops.
The tour will be guided by Anne-Marie MONIER, architect.
Heritage Days 2025 at the Place d'Armes in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés: tour itineraries
The Schaken or "Bagaudes" district owes its first development to the Créteil ferry and the towpath crossing. The boats that travelled up the river were pulled by oxen or horses. They crossed the Marne at this point to get to the right bank, which was shorter and had no islands. Seven houses, inhabited by fishermen and farmers, form the hamlet of Port-Créteil, already mentioned on a Merovingian coin. They are grouped around a village square that still exists today. For centuries, the district was made up of numerous islands, all of which were attached to the mainland between the 18th century and 1940.
The district bears the name of one of Saint-Mauriens most important landowners, Pierre Schaken: Pierre Schaken. After his death, the estate was subdivided into 130 lots by his daughter in 1882. Seven streets were opened, including Rue des îles, Rue de Joinville, Rue Jules Joffrin and Rue Pinet (now Politzer). This marked the end of the rural character of the area. The suggested itinerary provides an insight into the history of the district, recalling the former arms of the Marne that enclosed its islands, and observing the architecture of its houses, from the "remarkable building" protected by the PLU, to the modest "worker's house" or tenement building. The booklet also includes a treasure hunt for children.
Download the tour booklet on or pick it up in the lobby of the Hôtel de Ville or at the Saint-Maur Culture Department stand (Hôtel de Ville gardens, avenue de la République) on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 5pm.
The Champignol district is bounded to the south by avenue du Bac, to the west by boulevard de Champigny, to the east by avenue Didier and to the north by the Marne River. While the northern part of the district was rapidly subdivided (as early as 1881 for the space between the station and avenue de Verdun), the southern part was subdivided later. In 1864, this area was earmarked for factory construction, but found no takers. It was therefore subdivided after 1870, first in the triangle between avenue du Centenaire, avenue de Verdun and the RER line, then in the other sectors between 1885 and 1925. This is the part we invite you to discover. In 1921, this neighborhood was still very rural, but it welcomed many new residents in the inter-war years.
The suggested itinerary allows you to understand the history of the district by observing the architecture of its houses, from the "remarkable building" protected by the PLU, to the modest "economic house" or investment property. The booklet also includes a treasure hunt for children.
Download the booklet on or pick it up in the lobby of the Hôtel de Ville or at the Saint-Maur Culture Department stand (Hôtel de Ville gardens, avenue de la République) on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 5pm.
The mulberry tree was planted in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés in the mid-19th century for silkworm rearing, in order to reduce imports of this precious fabric. Cultivation soon collapsed. A second attempt was made in the early 1860s... with the same failure. Urbanization of the area, begun by Caffin in 1859, was slow, however, and there were only around twenty "country houses" before the war of 1870. Subdivision proceeded slowly, and by 1921 there were still many woods and cultivated fields. It wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s that the fields and woods were gradually urbanized and the plots divided up. Let's take a stroll through a rectangle formed by the Marne River to the south, the railroad line to the east, Avenue de Bonneuil to the west and Avenue Denfert-Rochereau to the north.
The suggested itinerary gives an insight into the history of the district, by observing the architecture of its houses, from the "remarkable building" protected by the PLU, to the modest "economic house". The booklet also includes a treasure hunt for children.
Download the tour booklet on saint-maur.com or pick it up in the lobby of the Hôtel de Ville or at the Saint-Maur Culture Department stand (Hôtel de Ville gardens, avenue de la République) on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 5pm.
The walk lasts approximately 2 hours.
General public
Heritage Days 2025 at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés water plant
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
94100 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
94100 Saint Maur des Fosses
Official website
www.saint-maur.com
