Heritage Days 2026 at the Expiatory Chapel in Paris: tracing Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette!

Heritage Days are coming to Paris the weekend of September 19–20, 2026. On this occasion, La Chapelle expiatoire, a monument still too little known in the heart of the capital, will reveal its secrets to you.

It's an event synonymous with good deals and great discoveries. In September, as if to console Parisians for the economic downturn, the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) brighten up the end of summer with a hot new concept. Just imagine, over the course of a weekend, the finest treasures of our heritage open their doors to you, with a program of events, visits and workshops for young and old, often free of charge. Of course, cultural establishments such as museums and monuments will be taking part, but that's not all! Places that are usually closed to the public also offer exceptional tours.

The Chapelle Expiatoire in Paris, the monument erected in memory of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette
The Chapelle Expiatoire is one of Paris's hidden monuments. Erected in memory of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, this historic site is well worth a visit! [Read more]

While the capital's most famous landmarks lend themselves to the game, the Journées du Patrimoine are also an opportunity to get to know Paris like the back of your hand, or almost, by discovering its secrets and little-known heritage. Located in the heart of a square in the capital's 8th arrondissement, La Chapelle Expiatoire is one of these hidden treasures, whose existence is hard to guess from the street.

And yet this historic monument is linked to one of the most significant events in French history. Built on the site of the former Madeleine cemetery, this chapel, commissioned by Louis XVIII, commemorates his brother, King Louis XVI, who, like his wife Marie-Antoinette, was executed during the French Revolution. Today, it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.

To discover this important site in French history, take part in the upcoming edition of Heritage Days, scheduled for September 19–20, 2026.

The 2026 Heritage Days program at the Expiatory Chapel in Paris

The Expiatory Chapel, a commemorative monument
The Expiatory Chapel, begun in 1816, was conceived as a commemorative project. For its patron, Louis XVIII, the building must reaffirm the authority of the monarchical principle and remind us of the sin represented by Louis XVI’s death. The architect Pierre François Léonard Fontaine, assisted by Hippolyte Lebas, was entrusted with the work. In a neo-classical idiom strongly tinted by Romantic sentiment, the Expiatory Chapel was completed in 1826. In the nave, two monumental sculptures capture the Sovereigns’ drama: the Apotheosis of Louis XVI by Joseph Bosio, and Marie-Antoinette supported by Religion by Jean-Pierre Cortot.
Participation conditions: Free | No reservations required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 14:30–15:30, 16:30–17:30 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 14:30–15:30, 16:30–17:30