Hot insider tip! The Heritage Days are back in Paris and Île-de-France for the weekend of September 19-20, 2026 for a 43rd edition that promises to be thrilling! Each year, this cultural event invites us to view our heritage through a fresh lens, with a special program of tours and activities spread across Europe. In the Paris region, the museums, monuments, castles and even sites usually off limits to the public are joining in for this extraordinary weekend!
The Journées du Patrimoine are a unique opportunity to discover the treasures that make up our heritage. And why not take the opportunity to discover the heritage of Île-de-France's major cities? Paris is always in the spotlight, but the surrounding region also has plenty to surprise you!
The city of Créteil, in the Val-de-Marne region of France, isone of the larger towns accessible by public transport. The town is taking part in the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), and is unveiling a varied program for this exceptional weekend! Perfect for discovering Créteil from another angle!
Val-de-Marne Departmental Archives
Behind-the-scenes tour
On a stroll through spaces usually reserved for archivists, the different crafts of the archives come to life as you trace a document’s journey—from its initial receipt to its eventual release to the public.
Participation conditions: Free of charge | Booking required - archives@valdemarne.fr, 01 56 71 45 92
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM, 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM, 5:00 PM to 6:15 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM, 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM, 5:00 PM to 6:15 PM
Escape Room "Save the Archives"
In the wake of a devastating earthquake, the Archives building teeters on collapse. Team up with a squad of archivists, uncover the Archives’ history, and rescue the building and all the treasures it guards!
Suitable for ages 12 and up
Participation requirements: Registration required - Free | Booking mandatory - archives@valdemarne.fr, 0156714560
Schedule: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 — 2:00–3:00 p.m., 3:30–4:30 p.m., 5:00–6:00 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 — 2:00–3:00 p.m., 3:30–4:30 p.m., 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Workshop: Exploring the earliest photo-imprinting techniques
This workshop lets you experience firsthand the basic principles of photography—chemical reactions, light sensitivity, contact, negatives, and development—by making a cyanotype.
Discover herbariums and their purpose, with a tour of preserved herbarium archives and a look at the earliest photo-imprinting techniques.
Ages 8 and up
Participation conditions: Free | Booking mandatory - archives@valdemarne.fr, 0156714560
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Créteil
Guided tour of Créteil Cathedral
The Cathedral of Créteil will open its doors, and the welcome team, together with members of the Chemin des Arts en Val-de-Marne association, will greet you for a self-guided or guided tour of the cathedral and its cultural space, where the diocesan heritage exhibition awaits.
Participation requirements: Free of charge | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Saint-Christophe Church
Saint-Christophe Church in Créteil
For more than a thousand years, at the crossroads that are now our routes, the Saint Christophe Church still stands.
Following the guide, you’ll discover, by examining its structure, the many signs—intended or unforeseen—that testify to the achievements each era of construction handed down to later generations, and that give this church the originality of a unique and precious heritage, both in synchrony and in diachrony.
For your enjoyment and at your own pace, QR-Codes also provide additional information (videos, photos and PDFs). A sheet showing their locations will be available at the entrance, on the table. Reading them is done with your smartphone. If your device’s camera doesn’t scan the flashcodes, you’ll need to download a free app to scan.
Participation requirements: Meet in front of the church at the exact time. Don’t forget your phone, which you can use to scan the QR codes if you wish at the end of the tour. - Free | No booking required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM–3:15 PM, 4:00 PM–5:15 PM
City Hall
Guided tour of the City Hall
Discover the modern architecture of Créteil’s City Hall, inaugurated in 1974 to house the city’s services as Créteil became the capital of the department. Conceived by architect Pierre Dufau, the building’s striking silhouette is a technical tour de force, lifting an eleven-storey tower above former sand quarries. Sign up to learn more about one of the first structures built as part of the Nouveau Créteil project.
During this guided tour, you’ll gain access to the council chamber and the wedding hall, decorated by Michel Boyer in a style typical of the postwar boom. You’ll also be able to peek into the Mayor’s office and enjoy one of the city’s finest views from the roof terrace (subject to availability)!
Participation requirements: Free | Booking required - 01 58 43 38 01, patrimoine.culturel@ville-creteil.fr
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 to 12:30
The Dovecote
A tower among towers, but worth the detour: Créteil’s dovecote!
Guided tour of the monument.
Climbing the few steps of the stair carved into the thick wall, you’ll emerge into the upper chamber, once reserved for doves, and be transported into the Colombier’s past.
Discover the “three lives“ of the Colombier:
- the life of a seigneurial dovecote, from 1375 to the Revolution,
- the life of a farm building, forgotten, threatened, ultimately spared but relocated,
- the life of a classified and restored monument, opening to the 21st century and determined to endure.
This tour has consistently sparked strong reactions and sparked questions among visitors about the modern history of the Colombier: its late classification, the risky relocation, the “choice” of its current site...
The coats of arms of the former lords of the Champ fief will accompany your exit through the lower hall.
Participation terms: Free admission - No charge | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00–3:45 PM, 4:30–5:15 PM
The Round of the Boulins.
Entrance through the lower room and introduction to La ronde des boulins (montage duration: 30 minutes)
La ronde des boulins: a montage that brings to life not only the rural building but its successive owners, the transformations across the ages, and a quirky adventure that keeps unfolding …
After the montage, visitors will be able to go up to the upper room and easily spot the referenced details (including the boulins …), then gently descend via the secret staircase.
Participation guidelines: Free admission - No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:45 PM to 4:15 PM, 5:15 PM to 6:00 PM
Prefecture - Departmental Council Building
Guided tour of the Val-de-Marne Prefecture
The first phase of the Nouveau Créteil, inaugurated in 1971, the Préfecture and Hôtel du Département of Val-de-Marne are the work of Daniel Badani and Pierre Roux Dorlux. A symbol of the new administration, the building forms a monumental complex that houses spaces as prestigious as they are functional. Its interiors, emblematic of the 1970s, have been used as filming locations for a number of productions, including the series Le Bureau des légendes.
Led by Simon Vaillant, an art historian and guide with the Conseil d'architecture, d'urbanisme et d'environnement du Val-de-Marne (CAUE 94), the tour will take in the reception hall, the ceremonial hall, the departmental council chamber, and the garden.
Participation terms: Free | Reservation required - patrimoine.culturel@ville-creteil.fr, 01 58 43 38 01
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Blueberries Quarter
Tour of the Bleuets neighborhood
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, the city of Créteil, in partnership with the CAUE of Val-de-Marne, is organizing a tour of the Bleuets district.
Built between 1959 and 1962, the Bleuets district is a showcase of Remarkable Contemporary Architecture. It testifies to the architect Paul Bossard's commitment to crafting high-quality architecture: the use of stone, glass and wood, apartments benefiting from double exposure to sunlight, undulating green spaces around the buildings, and small pedestrian walkways.
The complex underwent a renovation in 2015, preserving its original architectural character.
At the heart of the district, the new Jean Ferrat space, Maison pour Tous, intends to be a venue open to the public and to local initiatives, as exemplified by the community garden tended by its residents.
Participation conditions: Reservation required | Free - https://caue.pr-rooms.com/release.aspx?ID=229405, 01 48 52 55 20, contact@caue94.fr
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Judicial Court
Exhibition: Courtroom Attire — A Heritage of Justice
Dive into the little-known world of courtroom costumes and uncover the history, traditions, and symbols that have accompanied the figures of justice for centuries.
This exhibition invites you to take a close look at the outfits worn by judges, clerks, lawyers, and other justice officials during hearings. Through the display of robes and accessories, visitors will grasp the origins of these iconic garments, how they have evolved over time, and the role they play within the judicial system.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Justice careers forum
For one day, come explore the many careers that keep the justice system running day in and day out. This careers forum will offer an immersive look at the heart of the judiciary, through conversations with passionate, committed professionals.
You’ll discover the role of the court clerk, the indispensable guardian of the proceedings and a key participant in hearings, as well as the director of the court registry services, who oversees the organization and management of judicial services, along with the roles of sitting judges and prosecutors, who respectively adjudicate disputes and represent society’s interests.
The forum will also spotlight the profession of a justice attaché, a legal affairs assistant who supports judges in carrying out their duties.
Finally, a presentation of the University of Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) will give students and prospective applicants insight into legal training, academic pathways, and the bridges to the various justice careers.
Whether you’re a high school student, a university student, considering a career change, or simply curious about how the courts operate, this forum offers a unique chance to meet professionals, learn about their journeys, and start shaping your own future in service of Justice.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 to 18:00
Workshop "Draw Me Your Justice"
What if Justice were seen through a child's eyes?
This creative workshop invites the youngest among us to imagine and reinvent the court as they perceive it or as they would like to discover it. With pencils, colors, and imagination, children are encouraged to draw the courtroom, the faces of Justice, the symbols they associate with the tribunal, or even an entirely reimagined building.
The aim is to open a space for free expression where anyone can project their vision of Justice, halfway between reality and imagination.
Terms of participation: Limited to 10 people, every 30 minutes — Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Exhibition: "The Court Unveiled: From Plans to Screens"
Discover an immersive exhibition devoted to the history and architecture of the courthouse. Through original plans, vintage and contemporary photographs, and archival documents, the show invites you to trace the evolution of a landmark of justice and its architectural heritage.
The route also highlights the courthouse as a cinema and television backdrop. Movie posters and visual materials reveal how its majestic spaces, its courtrooms and history-filled corridors have inspired filmmakers and screenwriters over the years.
The exhibition will also feature posters and a film recounting the major renovation, modernization, and reconfiguration work undertaken inside the courthouse. This retrospective will allow visitors to follow the different stages of this ambitious transformation, the technical challenges overcome, and the changes made to adapt the building to the needs of justice while safeguarding its heritage identity.
Between heritage, culture and discovery, this exhibition offers an unprecedented look at a building that is at once a place of justice, a witness to history and a source of artistic inspiration. A unique opportunity to discover the courthouse from a fresh perspective, through its walls, its images—from its creation to its most recent evolutions.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 10:00–18:00
"The Little Explorers of Justice" — a game workshop hosted by the CDAD
Presented and run by the Val-de-Marne Departmental Council for Access to Rights (CDAD), this fun, interactive workshop invites children to discover the world of justice through games, reflection, and dialogue.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Guided Tour
Take a practical look at how a court functions with a guided tour of the Créteil Judicial Court, organized in small groups.
The tour will allow the public to explore the different areas of the judiciary, the routes taken by litigants and professionals, and the main duties carried out by magistrates and public justice staff.
Visitors will be guided along a clearly identified path inside the courthouse to better understand the judicial organization, how hearings unfold, and how civil and criminal cases are processed.
There will also be Q&A sessions with the professionals present to answer questions and illuminate the judicial system’s role in everyday life.
Registration is mandatory via the link: https://rdv.anct.gouv.fr/motif/Qkhc4kZP/visite-guidee
Participation conditions: 25 places available free of charge | Booking mandatory - https://rdv.anct.gouv.fr/motif/Qkhc4kZP/visite-guidee
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Conference - The Architecture of the Tribunal in the Work of Architects Badani and Roux-Dorlut
CAUE du Val-de-Marne - Franca MALSERVISI
Architecturally emblematic of Nouveau Créteil, the Courthouse continues to surprise us, half a century after its completion, with its volumes and the originality of its spaces. The project was entrusted to architects Daniel Badani and Pierre Roux-Dorlut, who were also responsible for the design of the Hôtel du Département and the building of the Departmental Archives. The courthouse plays a role in the renewal of judicial architecture in the early 1970s and helps forge the distinctive character of Nouveau Créteil.
Beyond the building’s presentation, the lecture will be an invitation to widen our view and discover the other works of an agency still relatively unknown to the general public, whose output reflects the history of architecture in the second half of the 20th century.
Participation conditions: Limited to 50 people — no reservations required | Free
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 ⤏ 11:40
Guided Tour: Architecture
Following the in-room briefing, a guided tour (registration required) will give visitors a chance to explore the building’s most significant interior spaces, such as the grand hall and the courtrooms. The interior architecture is defined by the use of natural and artificial light, material choices (concrete, timber, aluminum...), the integration of artworks, and the reinvention of public-facing reception areas. While these layouts have evolved over time to meet new needs, the palace interiors still carry the strength of the original concept.
Participation requirements: Limited to 20 participants - Free | Booking required - https://rdv.anct.gouv.fr/motif/59fQcnis/visite-guidee-architecture
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:45 ⤏ 12:15
Conference – Understanding justice and how a court operates
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, the heads of jurisdiction at the Créteil Judicial Court and the Bâtonnier of Val-de-Marne will host a conference focused on how the justice system works.
A session open to all, designed to demystify the court’s role, the responsibilities of judges and lawyers, and the daily workings of a judicial institution.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Créteil
1 Place Salvador Allende
94000 Creteil
Route planner
Accessibility info
Official website
www.ville-creteil.fr
