Every year, the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) invite young and old, Parisians and tourists alike, enthusiasts and the curious, to enjoy a fabulous weekend full of beautiful discoveries and cultural highlights. This key event in the Parisian calendar brightens up the month of September with an exciting concept.
Over the course of a weekend, the finest treasures of our heritage open their doors to us and reveal their secrets through a program of visits, events and workshops, often free of charge or not at all expensive. From must-see museums to the most secret places, from historic monuments to private mansions, from major institutions to government ministries, many addresses are up for the challenge , and exceptional visits are legion.
Notre-Dame du Val-de-Grâce church, a royal edifice near the hospital in the Latin Quarter
Did you know that the Val-de-Grâce church was built at the request of Queen Anne of Austria, in gratitude for the birth of her son, Louis XIV? A majestic building in the 5th arrondissement, the church can be visited at the same time as the Musée du Service de Santé des Armées. [Read more]
Every year, a vast program of events awaits us, so much so that everyone can find an outing to their liking. If you're passionate about medicine or the military, here's a plan that might just catch your eye. In the heart of the capital, in theformer Val-de-Grâce military hospital, you'll find a highly specialized museum: the Musée du Service de Santé des Armées.
Since 1916, it has been housed in the cloister of theformer Royal Abbey of Val-de-Grâce, and bears witness to the adaptability and innovation of the medical teams associated with this department. Why not discover them during the next edition of the Journées du Patrimoine in Paris?
A closer look at the Army Health Service Museum
The museum of the Service de santé des armées plays a leading role in highlighting and valorizing France’s military medical heritage. Through careful preservation and thoughtful display of its collections, it traces the history of the Army Health Service, promotes military medical science, and actively supports the duty of remembrance. The museum’s holdings include medical instruments, uniforms, anatomical moulages, models, paintings, and historic pharmacy objects that testify to the Service’s central role in safeguarding the health of the armed forces, from frontline care to rehabilitation and aftercare.
Set within the former Val-de-Grâce hospital, the museum benefits from an exceptional heritage setting.
European Heritage Days program
Guided tours by speakers at various points along the visitor route will allow guests to discover the history of the Army Health Service, the museum’s collections, and the architecture of the Val-de-Grâce abbey and church
Photo workshop – Immersive experience at the heart of the photographic heritage: A photography-focused space will invite visitors to browse a selection from the photographic archive. This area will showcase the museum’s work in the conservation, treatment, and digitization of its collections. Visitors will also be able to explore slides using a light table.
Showcase of objects from the latest heritage acquisitions: This space will highlight recent acquisitions, including donations, through a selection of emblematic objects that illustrate the museum’s ongoing enrichment and the essential role of donors in preserving heritage.
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Musée du Service de Santé des Armées
1 Place Alphonse Laveran
75005 Paris 5
Route planner
Accessibility info
Notre-Dame du Val-de-Grâce church, a royal edifice near the hospital in the Latin Quarter
