For some, the month of September marks the resumption of the famous "metro, work, sleep" routine. But fortunately, there are some events that break the routine by offering us new experiences. For enthusiasts and the curious, September also marks the return of one of Europe's must-see cultural events: the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days). This initiative invites us to discover our treasures from a new angle through a program of visits, events and workshops at the heart of the most beautiful monuments.
In Paris and the Île-de-France region, numerous venues join in the spirit: museums, churches, castles, libraries or even places closed to the public. The programming is often free and invites you to an original experience, enriched by exceptional tours and activities for all ages. It’s the perfect occasion to explore places to visit around Paris, in the Île-de-France region.
If you’re in the Val-de-Marne or want to get to know the department 94, we recommend a stop in the town of Nogent-sur-Marne, easily accessible by public transport. Labeled "Tourist Town", it boasts a rich heritage across several sites listed as Historical Monuments. During this exceptional weekend of September 19–20, 2026, you can enjoy a broad program that will keep you occupied for at least one day!
Smith Lesouef Library - Artists' Foundation
A guided tour tracing the history of the estate’s houses and the park
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, the Foundation of Artists’ head of collections leads a guided tour offering a glimpse into a portion of the historic salons of the National House of Artists and the Foundation’s English-style park, as well as the Smith-Lesouëf Library. The visits illuminate the site’s history from its 17th-century origins, through the arrival of the Smith sisters at the turn of the 20th century, to the current uses of the estate, bequeathed to artists in 1944. This ensemble has been awarded a regional heritage label.
Participation conditions: Free admission - No reservations required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Open house at the Smith-Lesouëf Library
The free self-guided visit will let you discover the building, which opened to the public in 1919 as the "Smith-Lesouëf Library" and was home to the National Library of France (BNF) until the 1980s, when its collections were moved to the central reserves.
Today, the building preserves the books of former residents of the National House of Artists, as well as a collection of furniture and works of art (miniatures, furniture, nativity scenes, drawings or sculptures) by Auguste Lesouëf, deposited in 2019 with the Fondation des Artistes by the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Participation conditions: Free entry - No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, 20 September 2026 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Saint-Saturnin Church
Tour of Saint-Saturnin Church in Nogent-sur-Marne
Built in the 12th century on the site of a Merovingian chapel dedicated to Toulouse's bishop St. Sernin (Saturnin), it features a Romanesque bell tower dating from the early 13th century.
The church stretches 25 meters and is adorned with 12th-century capitals. The upper parts were rebuilt in the 15th century. Numerous restoration campaigns took place from the 12th to the 20th century: enlargement, the installation of a flamboyant Gothic portal from a Paris convent.
The façade mosaic dates to 1928, and the Virgin and Child on the portal was created by sculptor Boutron in the 20th century. The stained glass windows, from the 19th and 20th centuries, were gifts from individuals wishing to honor their patron saints. The bust of Antoine Watteau, who died in Nogent, is by sculptor L. Auvray and stands in the church courtyard thanks to the support of Princess Mathilde.
Several charitable families have contributed to the church's longevity: Lady Jeanne de Plaisance in the 12th century, Jeanne Baston, Dame du Perreux, in the 16th century, Joseph Paris-Duverney in the 18th, and the Smith-Champion family in the 20th.
Access: Bus 114 and 120, Market stop
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
National House of Artists
Jeanne Smith, "Photographic Journeys, Landscapes"
The bicentennial pretext of the invention of photography takes the opportunity to highlight, for the first time, the photographic work of Jeanne Smith (1857-1943), Madeleine Smith’s elder sister and, above all, one of the three benefactors whose endowment funded the Fondation des Artistes through her Nogent-sur-Marne property.
Even as Madeleine Smith’s paintings enjoyed growing success in late 19th and early 20th-century salons, garnering prizes and medals, Jeanne Smith’s photographic oeuvre never received the artistic recognition it deserved, even though her technical expertise was widely admired by her contemporaries.
The two-part exhibition Traversées photographiques, launching in autumn 2026, aims to correct this silencing and presents curated groups of images drawn from the many photographs the photographer produced starting in 1883.
From September, landscapes come into view—views of the Nogent park and Paris streets, photographs made during the numerous journeys across Europe, the Maghreb, and the Middle East—revealing a remarkable freedom in composition, in approach to subjects, and in stylistic variety.
This intimate journey through her work reaffirms the essential need to revisit the contributions of women artists, long overlooked by art history.
The exhibition Jeanne Smith, Traversées photographiques, Paysages, is designated as part of the Photography Bicentennial, a recognition that places her at the heart of a major international celebration of photographic creation, both past and present. The event will spotlight national and regional public collections as well as photographic publishing.
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Nogent-sur-Marne Museum
Self-guided tour: the banks of the Marne and the visual arts studios
Come visit the two exhibitions at the intercommunal museum: the history of the Marne banks (the permanent exhibit) and the museum’s plastic arts workshops exhibition!
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Opening hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10:00–12:00, 14:00–19:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 14:00–19:00
A look at the visual arts workshop
The Nogent-sur-Marne Intercommunal Museum presents, in its permanent galleries, an exhibition devoted to the history of the banks of the Marne. The September temporary show highlights the work of Nelson Aires, the museum’s visual arts facilitator. It is these students—children and adults—who invite you and will guide you through the exhibit this Sunday afternoon, sharing their inspirations, techniques, and discoveries. We look forward to seeing you in large numbers!
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Timings: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:30 PM–5:00 PM
Antoine Watteau Theatre
A Tour of the Antoine Watteau Theatre
Come discover the theatre and its treasures! Get a glimpse behind the scenes of its backstage operations, its dressing rooms, the main hall, and the many trades that power it... An opportunity to dive into the world of live performance!
Participation terms: 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
Nogent-sur-Marne Town Hall
Place Roland Nungesser
94130 Nogent sur Marne
Route planner
Accessibility info
Official website
ville-nogentsurmarne.com
