Take advantage of the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) to visit the Île-de-France region and discover numerous towns with unsuspected attractions. On September 20 and 21, 2025, history buffs will be strolling through monuments, museums and other exceptional buildings, often free of charge, on guided tours, workshops, walks and events of all kinds. And the Yvelines region has just the thing for budding historians, with its many medieval remains and traces of the passage of French kings!
Located in the Mauldre valley, the town of Beynes bears many traces of the Middle Ages. As early as the 8th century, the territory was attached to the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, but in 1181 it became the seigneury of the House of Montfort. Later, Robert VII d'Estouteville had a fortified castle built as part of the town's defense of Paris against the English. In 1536, King Henri II presented the entire estate to Diane de Poitiers.
Its fortified castle, of which only ruins remain today, was built on an important defensive axis, particularly during the Hundred Years' War, linking Orléans to Beauvais. After the passage of the king's mistress, it became a place for strolling and relaxation, like other Renaissance castles. Unfortunately, it was abandoned and turned into a stone quarry, before being bought back and listed as a Monument Historique in 1959. Today, the moat is a popular destination for visitors!
Journées du Patrimoine 2025: a must-see program of visits in Yvelines (78)
There's plenty to do for the Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in the Yvelines! On Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21, 2025, we're off to the many castles and museums of the 78 region to open their doors to you for guided tours, workshops and family fun. [Read more]
The Beynes Histoire et Patrimoine association will welcome you to discover the Château de Beynes and its history.
Exhibition on the evolution of the Château from the 11th to the 16th century.
Exhibition on the 1938/1946 period in Beynes, organized by the Mémoires et Histoire de Beynes association and the UNC, featuring Henri Blondeau, a former Beynes soldier who took part in the Normandy landings.
The town is offering 2 films: a 3D video recounting the history of the Château and, thanks to drone images, enabling visitors to enter the château, discover its architecture and understand its evolution, notably by mixing images of today with those of one of the models of the château, representing it after the "Renaissance" transformations carried out by the King's architect, Philibert de l'Orme, for Diane de Poitiers. The second 3D video focuses on the church, its history and evolution since the 12th century, as well as a presentation of the many objects listed as Monuments Historiques.
L'Artilleur du Roi is first and foremost an astonishing, explosive show!
Le Maître artilleur du Roi (The King's Master Artilleryman) takes spectators on a journey to the very beginnings of modern artillery!
The components of black powder, the various projectiles used and the weapons used will hold no secrets for the audience, who will be invited to participate actively throughout the show.
Exhibition and explanation of weapons on 2 days
Shows :
Saturday at 2pm, 3:30pm and 4:45pm
Sunday at 12pm, 2pm and 5pm
Come and discover the objects found in the Château and restored by the Beynes Histoire et Patrimoine association. Volunteers will give demonstrations and introduce you to restoration methods.
In workshops, children learn how to create paper and ink, as well as how to prepare a calame (reed) or quill pen to learn calligraphy as in the Middle Ages.
Workshop on Saturday afternoon, exhibition on Sunday.
The Beynes libraries welcome you for an afternoon of medieval board games.
Come and discover the medieval military camp run by the Excalibur association, which regularly practises European Historical Martial Arts ("medieval fencing") and organizes events based on medieval combat and history.
The Action culturelle et du Patrimoine department invites you to take part in a dictation that will introduce you to the medieval architectural vocabulary of fortified castles.
The "Collectif Gueule de Bois" theater troupe presents a new play entitled "Château Rouge", featuring a variety of historical, contemporary and fictional characters based on the history of the Château de Beynes.
Guided tours by the Beynes Histoire et Patrimoine association of the 12th-century church of Saint-Martin, which features a number of listed objects.
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
The Yvelines Heritage Days are yours!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Beynes Castle
Place du 8 Mai 1945
78650 Beynes
Prices
Free
Journées du Patrimoine 2025: a must-see program of visits in Yvelines (78)
