Heritage Days 2026 at the Singer-Polignac Foundation, the mysterious private mansion in the 16th arrondissement.

Mark your calendars - on September 19 and 20, 2026, the 43rd edition of Heritage Days lands in Île-de-France for a weekend of exhilarating discoveries! Iconic monuments, dream châteaux, must-see museums, historic sites and secret gardens... It’s the free-to-enter event promising total immersion in the region’s treasures, with ultra-exclusive tours and activities that go beyond the ordinary. A sparkling weekend when Île-de-France’s heritage shines in full splendor!

Paris Heritage Days 2026: secret, little-known, and hidden places you simply must discover
Heritage Days return this year with an exceptional edition to be held on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026. This unmissable cultural event offers the chance to visit more than 1,500 sites across Paris and the Île-de-France region. While the major museums and iconic monuments are on the itinerary, the weekend is also a prime opportunity to uncover hidden, little-known, or normally off-limits places. [Read more]

And what if we delved into the history of a beautiful private mansion in the heart of Paris? Just steps from the Trocadéro, the Fondation Singer-Polignac will exceptionally open its doors during the Heritage Days 2026, on September 19! Between treasures normally hidden away and rare archives, the setting in the 16th arrondissement offers you the chance to stroll through the sumptuous state rooms and discover the former workshop of Princess Winnaretta Singer (1865-1943) where she painted, played the organ, and hosted the most renowned names in music and literature: Fauré, Stravinsky, Proust, Cocteau, Colette ... As a bonus, you might encounter artists in the middle of a rehearsal, because the foundation, since 2006, has been a temple for talents from the world’s leading conservatories. A must for culture lovers!

• To be read
• Top picks for the week of July 13–19, 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France

Heritage Days 2026 program at the Singer-Polignac Foundation:

• Guided tour of the ceremonial rooms and the Atelier at the Singer-Polignac Foundation's Hôtel

  45-MINUTE VISIT SLOTS (LIMITED TO 25 PEOPLE):

  10:30–11:15

  11:00–11:45

  11:30–12:15

  13:30–14:15

  14:00–14:45

  14:30–15:15

  15:00–15:45

  15:30–16:15

  16:00–16:45

  16:30–17:15

  REGISTRATION OPENS ON AUGUST 31 AT 10:00 ON THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE; NO REGISTRATIONS BY PHONE OR EMAIL.

  The Singer-Polignac Foundation will exceptionally open the doors of its townhouse to the public on Saturday, September 19, as part of Europe Heritage Days. This townhouse was the former home of Winnaretta Singer, Princess de Polignac (1865–1943), a great patron of the arts and sciences. Since her death, the foundation she herself created has been based here.

  There you will discover her music room and the state rooms on the first floor, as well as the princess’s former studio where she painted and played the organ by day and hosted her musical salons in the evening. Gabriel Fauré, Vincent d’Indy, Nadia Boulanger, Igor Stravinsky, but also Marcel Proust, Jean Cocteau and Colette regularly walked these corridors.

  The guided-tour route will also give you access to a few rare princess archives that are still kept here.

  Today, the foundation’s townhouse hosts artists from major conservatories on a daily basis and provides rehearsal spaces in several rooms configured since the creation of a music residence in 2006. You may encounter some of these musicians in the halls.

  Once a month, the foundation stages concerts reserved for professionals and patrons in the music and cultural world to help its resident artists gain exposure. Throughout the year, cultural and scientific days are organized here in collaboration with leading universities or research centers. They are streamed online and invitation-only.

  The visit includes a long oral presentation (in French) that requires attentive listening for about 30 minutes.

  Note: it may be very long for very young children.

  The Foundation’s townhouse is accessible to people with reduced mobility (though be aware that the elevator cab and its dimensions are small: only small chairs will fit).

  The Atelier, for its part, has no accessible access for people with reduced mobility (PMR).

  Participation requirements: Up to 25 participants per time slot – Free | Reservations required – https://www.singer-polignac.org/

  Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30 AM to 5:15 PM

Beautiful Heritage Days in Paris!