During the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), we travel the length and breadth of the Ile-de-France region, by train, on foot or by car, to discover as many charming historic towns and villages as possible. While the capital abounds in museums and beautiful monuments to visit, the neighbouring départements have no shortage of places of interest, particularly in the Yvelines, where the lords, kings and queens of the past have erected magnificent châteaux across the countryside.
On September 21 and 22, 2024, head to the charming municipality of Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, a nearly forested area that is an integral part of the vast Rambouillet Forest. Historically home to two monasteries from the 12th century, the town is best known in France for hosting the National Football Institute, owned by the French Football Federation, situated within the Montjoye estate of the former men's abbey. Nestled in the heart of the High Chevreuse Valley, the town attracts visitors with its tranquility and scenic walks offering stunning viewpoints.
In addition to its eight châteaux, the commune also boasts an interesting cultural heritage, such as the Moulin de Vilgris, long the home of the Wilson family. In Gallo-Roman times, Clairefontaine belonged to the Carnutes nation, and vineyards covered the town. Its name derives from the crystal-clear water that flowed through it, justifying the name "Clara Fontana".
Heritage Days 2026: a fantastic program to discover in Yvelines (78)
There’s plenty to do for Heritage Days 2026 in Yvelines! On Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, head to the numerous castles and museums in the 78 that will open their doors for guided tours, workshops, and memorable moments to share. [Read more]
Demonstration of the bloomery furnace and forge by INRAP archaeologists
For European Heritage Days, La Chapelle is extending its partnership with INRAP, the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research. Archaeologists will demonstrate how the forge and the bloomery work and will introduce children to archaeological excavations.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 11:00 ⤏ 17:30 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 11:00 ⤏ 17:30
Exhibition of works by Clarifontaine artists
In the nave, you could discover the works of Clarifontaine artists.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Sunday, 20 September 2026 — 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The installation of Samuel Torgeman
Since 1998, Samuel Torgeman has cultivated a practice rooted in the public realm, driven by a constant preoccupation: movement, territory, and the trace we leave as we pass through spaces. Self-taught, then trained at the Regional School of Fine Arts in Dunkerque, his work sits within a post-graffiti approach—an graphic alphabet of random geometries, bold colors, and forms that carry the wall’s memory while traveling to other supports and contexts.
The installation at La Chapelle de Clairefontaine sits within his residency on the Rambouillet territory. Seven painted tarpaulins, each 3 m by 1 m, are hung vertically from window sills and the floor, pacing the wall like a musical score. The works are created on tarps recovered from La Chapelle itself—old communication tarps repainted and repurposed. This re-use is not a mere accessory gesture: it situates the work within the very material of the site, in its visible history.
This installation accompanies a second act: the arrival of a hike led from the Louis Bascan High School in Rambouillet. Two first-year classes specializing in Visual Arts walked twelve kilometers along forest paths, each carrying a flag crafted in a workshop with the artist—an emblem of intimate geography, of daily, affective or mental territory. These flags will be installed in the sculpture park of the center of art, where they will remain on display through the European Heritage Days 2026.
The two gestures complement one another: the facade installation and the students’ flags. On one side, a twenty-five-year artistic practice that seeks to read the territory by leaving a trace within it. On the other, young people learning to name the spaces they pass through each day, even when they don’t always see them. La Chapelle becomes the culminating point of this double wandering, the place where traces settle, meet, and begin to converse.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 ⤏ 17:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 ⤏ 17:00
Live Arts Performance
Performing arts take center stage.
Music, singing, dance and theatre will be highlighted during an evening headlined by Clarifontaine artists.
A warm, convivial evening to discover all the creativity a village can hold.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Kakemono-Making Workshop for Children and Adults
Come repurpose and personalize the old exhibition banners into kakemonos to celebrate La Chapelle’s 10th anniversary.
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Happy Heritage Days in Yvelines!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 21, 2024 to September 22, 2024
Location
Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines
clairefontaine en yvelines
78120 Clairefontaine en Yveline
Route planner
Prices
Free
Official website
journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr
Heritage Days 2026: a fantastic program to discover in Yvelines (78)
