The Journées du Patrimoine is the place to be for enthusiasts and the curious who are thirsty for good cultural deals. During this exceptional weekend, Parisians of all ages are invited to take over cultural sites and new addresses to enjoy a great program, often free, of visits and workshops designed for all ages.
Thus, at every edition, museums, historical monuments, castles, private residences, churches, but also ministries, embassies, or major institutions join in with special animations. No chance of missing the next, and 43rd edition, over the weekend of September 19–20, 2026.
It’s the perfect moment to go in search of the capital’s little-known monuments. Nestled on the Île Saint-Louis, along the Seine, the Polish Library of Paris is among those must-visit spots. Founded in 1838 by Polish refugees in France, it also houses three intimate museums: the Adam Mickiewicz Museum devoted to the famed Polish Romantic poet, the Biegas Museum honoring the sculptor Boleslas Biegas, and the Chopin Salon, in tribute to the renowned composer. Discover the activities and tours on offer this Saturday, September 19 at the Polish Library of Paris.
“Polish Heritage in Pictures: Czapski, Giedroyc and Kultura on Screen”
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, the Polish Library in Paris invites you to discover three films about major figures in 20th‑century Polish culture.
Program:
5:15 PM – 6:15 PM: screening of the film on Józef Czapski, "Witness to the Century";
6:15 PM – 6:30 PM: screening of a short film dedicated to Jerzy Giedroyc;
6:30 PM – 7:10 PM: screening of the film "Kultura", tracing the history of the famed review and the literary institute that played a central role in the intellectual and political life of the Polish émigré community.
We look forward to seeing you for this afternoon of screenings, exploring the lives and institutions that have shaped European cultural history.
Free admission, while seats last.
Eligibility: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Friday, September 18, 2026 — 17:15 to 19:10
A tour of the three museums of the Polish Library in Paris
The Adam Mickiewicz Museum tells the life and work of Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855), the foremost Polish Romantic poet. It was founded by his son Władysław in 1903. To Poles, Mickiewicz is to national identity what Goethe is to Germans: a symbol of cultural unity and national belonging. An exile and pilgrim of liberty, he spent much of his life in Paris, where he cultivated illustrious friendships and taught with distinction at the Collège de France. For today’s Europeans, Mickiewicz stands as one of the earliest visionaries of a unified Europe.
The Chopin Salon is the only place in France dedicated to Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849), Poland’s greatest composer. Exiled to Paris in 1831, Chopin lived there until his death. He became in Paris the legendary pianist of the Salon Pleyel, the author of the famous polonaises, mazurkas, ballades and waltzes, and one of the city’s most revered pedagogy figures in the European capital of Romanticism.
The Boleslas Biegas Museum, inaugurated by SHLP with the support of Mr. Guido Biazzi and Claude Kechichian, showcases a selection from the Boleslas Biegas bequest (1877–1954), a Polish-born sculptor, painter and playwright connected with the Vienna Secession. Since 1901 he lived in Paris, surrounded by friends from the symbolist circle of “La Plume.” The museum features Biegas’s works, including sculptures that were highly valued even more than Rodin’s, alongside pieces by other Polish artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
© Polish Library in Paris
Participation conditions: Limited capacity based on current occupancy limits - Free | No reservation required
Times: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Exhibition "Altar" as part of Paris Design Week 2026
As part of Paris Design Week 2026, the Polish Library Institute in Paris presents the exhibition Altar — a dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary Polish design, a meeting of historic legacy and modern creation.
Through a selection of works by Palucki Studio, the show highlights the links between traditional craftsmanship, cultural memory, and innovation in today’s Polish design. Integrating with Paris Design Week’s international program, Altar offers an unprecedented conversation between the Institute’s collections and contemporary design practices, showing how heritage continues to fuel today’s creators.
Presented at the Polish Library Institute for European Heritage Days, this exhibition invites the public to discover a living heritage, open to international exchanges and new forms of creation.
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
“That’s our story”: the Polish Library in Paris’s photographic collection
The Polish Library in Paris invites you to discover an exceptional collection of photographs tracing the life of Poles in France and across Europe since the 19th century. Made up of daguerreotypes, portraits, family albums, landscapes, reproductions of artworks, and historical documents, it offers a unique testimony to the cultural and artistic richness of the Polish diaspora.
Among the highlights are portraits of iconic figures such as Adam Mickiewicz and his family, Władysław Mickiewicz, members of the Gałęzowski and Gronkowski families, as well as images signed by renowned Polish and European photographers. The photographs let visitors not only glimpse daily life and historic events but also explore artistic creations, artists’ studios, and the urban and industrial architecture of the era.
This exhibition invites you to travel through time, to delve into the diversity of subjects and photographic techniques, and to appreciate photography as both art and memory. It highlights the creativity and ingenuity of photographers while celebrating the history and culture of Poles in France and beyond.
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Paris Guitar Ensemble (concert)
Concert by "Guitare Ensemble Paris"
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
***
“Guitare Ensemble Paris” is an amateur guitar collective founded in 2010 by Lidia Tobola. The ensemble explores Spanish music, with a particular focus on flamenco’s rhythms and colors. Its repertoire spans the history of music itself and also embraces a selection of film scores and songs, occasionally featuring soloists (vocals, flute, harp and accordion).
In 2019 the group expanded to include a beginners’ cohort (preparatory level).
It is impressive to see how “Guitare Ensemble Paris” has grown over the years and now captivates audiences across generations, thanks to the conductor’s drive and her unwavering passion for the instrument, teaching, and ensemble work.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Dates and Opening Time
On September 19, 2026
Location
Polish Library of Paris
6 Quai d'Orléans
75004 Paris 4
Route planner
Access
Pont Marie metro station (line 7)
Prices
Free
Official website
www.bibliotheque-polonaise-paris-shlp.fr
