The Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) are one of the must-see cultural events on the Parisian calendar. Every year in September, this Europe-wide event takes over the capital and the surrounding region. Over the course of an exceptional weekend, the region's most cult, secret and little-known venues open their doors to reveal what goes on behind the scenes. Get out your diary: the next event is scheduled for September 20 and 21, 2025.
Heritage is honored in all its guises, whether through visits to monuments and cultural sites, exceptional openings, gourmet outings or meetings with artisans. Each year, a number of spots take part in the game, unveiling an attractive program of visits, events and workshops for young and old, often free of charge or not at all expensive!
For this 42nd edition of the Journées du Patrimoine in Paris, what would you say to exploring an astonishing and fascinating place in the capital? In 1859, in the east of the capital, the Viaduc de Paris was one of the key crossings of the petite ceinture, the capital's former railroad line. Today, it's possible to walk along the top of the Viaduc on the coulée verte. Under the 62 arches that make up the Viaduc des Arts, you'll find several boutiques and workshops. Enthusiasts and the curious can come and meet the nearly forty artisans who can be found here.
Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.
Atelier Hylé
Discovery of a heritage conservation-restoration workshop
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EVENT FULL
No more bookings, thank you.
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At Atelier Hylé, cultural assets are brought in to be cared for: old paintings or ceramics from museums, castles, collectors or communities, archaeological artefacts or contemporary artworks—a wide array of objects flows across the studio’s tables and easels to be treated and passed on to current and future generations.
But who carries out this work and what does it involve exactly? Is it fair to say it’s more scientific than artistic, and that there exists a shared international ethics framework in the field? What training paths lead to this profession? And what are the particularities of the specialties practiced at the workshop?
These are exactly the questions you’re invited to explore on a guided, small-group tour.
For everyone’s comfort and for the safety of objects in treatment (a stray elbow can happen in a flash), we limit visitors to 8 people per tour slot—hence mandatory reservations!—thank you for your understanding.
Children are welcome; coloring pages or plain sheets will be provided for those who prefer creation to restoration ;)
Participation conditions: - EVENT FULL - a maximum of 8 people per visit slot. Send us an email with your preferred slot and the number in your party. Only a positive reply from us counts as a registration. - Free | Reservation required - atelier.hyle@gmail.com
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30 to 12:00, 13:30 to 15:00, 15:00 to 16:30
A tour of an art-restoration workshop
Dalling into the backstage world of art restoration
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On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, the team from l’Atelier du Temps Passé opens its doors to the public for an exceptional glimpse behind the scenes of art conservation, through an immersive tour inside a professional studio.
### An immersive glimpse into a craft of excellence
Visitors will follow the stages of a restoration, from the scientific examination of the artwork to conservation interventions and aesthetic restoration.
Works in progress will concretely illustrate the challenges faced by restorers and the technical choices employed to preserve authenticity and the integrity of cultural assets.
### Demos and exclusive exchanges
Throughout the tour, demonstrations, conversations with professionals, and showcases of materials, tools, and techniques will help visitors grasp a high-precision craft at the crossroads of art history, cultural heritage science, and craft trades.
This encounter will also offer a chance to discuss the core principles of conservation-restoration, the challenges of heritage preservation, the ethics of the field, and the training pathways that lead to these professions.
### Conference - The Mysteries of Painting: three masterpieces under the microscope
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 at 3:00 PM
By Éric Parmentier, art historian and lecturer
Duration: about 1 hour
Open to all, while seats last
What is a painting? Beyond the painted surface, a work is a complex object where the artist’s intents, the patron’s wishes, the passage of time, and successive interventions all layer together.
Through three major works of Western painting
* The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin by Jan van Eyck,
* The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger and
* The Reader by Vermeer
Éric Parmentier invites you to discover what these masterpieces may conceal: coded messages, symbolic details, material transformations, and revelations made possible by restoration and scientific imaging techniques.
### An exceptional experience
These days offer a rare chance to step into a world usually hidden from view and to observe, up close, the know-how that daily safeguards heritage for future generations.
https://www.atelierdutempspasse.fr/
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00–18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00–18:00
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Viaduc des Arts
111 Avenue Daumesnil
75012 Paris 12
Route planner
Access
Gare de Lyon metro station
Prices
Free
Official website
www.leviaducdesarts.com
