The Heritage Days, the big cultural rendezvous you simply can’t miss in September. A flagship event that the entire Île-de-France region willingly plays along with. Indeed, this cultural showcase invites us to embark on a quest through our heritage and to explore it from every angle over a weekend. For this 43rd edition, be sure to reserve the dates of September 19 and 20.
To mark the occasion, a wide range of visits, often free of charge and accompanied by special events, await you in Paris and the Paris region. Museums, monuments, churches, libraries and even castles- many well-known and little-known treasures will be revealing their secrets on this occasion. Exceptional visits are also planned to places normally closed to the public, including ministries, embassies and major institutions.
It's the perfect time to explore the heritage of the Paris region, particularly in Seine-et-Marne, where heritage nuggets abound. In the 77 department, the town of Monceaux-le-Meaux boasts a fascinating historic site: the Château Royal de Montceaux, also known as the Château des Trois Reines.
Acquired in the 16th century by Catherine de Médicis, the estate later became the property of King Henri IV and was offered to Marie de Médicis on the birth of Louis XIII. It was destroyed shortly after the French Revolution, but many vestiges of this Seine-et-Marne heritage treasure remain.
Heritage and Nature Exhibition
Exhibition blending reproductions of the castle's engravings from different periods with a display of the birds that inhabit the park year-round.
Participation terms: Admission is free - Dogs must be kept on a leash - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 11:00 ⤏ 19:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 11:00 ⤏ 19:00
Wooden Games and Activities at the Castle
On the agenda: a traditional old-fashioned playground.
Participation requirements: Free admission - Dogs must be kept on a leash - Free | No reservations
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Self-guided tour of the ruins of the Royal Château of Montceaux-les-Meaux
You can stroll around and freely enjoy this exceptional site, where a rare green oasis houses imposing ruins that bear witness to the history of a place once at the heart of the Renaissance and of France’s story through its queens (Catherine de' Medici, Marie de' Medici and, in another chapter, Gabrielle d'Estrée), its kings (Henry II, Henry III, Henry IV, Louis XIII), through its architecture and its role in the Wars of Religion.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Guided tour and historical overview of the remains of the Royal Château of Montceaux-les-Meaux
For European Heritage Days, the owners invite you to explore and uncover the history of this site, which stood at the heart of the Renaissance and of French history through its queens (Catherine de Médicis, Marie de Médicis, and, notably, Gabrielle d'Estrées), through its kings (Henry II, Henry III, Henry IV, Louis XIII), through its architecture, and its role in the Wars of Religion. The visit ends in the Château’s chapel, whose altar was gifted by Louis XIV.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Carriage rides through the castle park
On the agenda: horse-drawn carriage rides around the park.
Participation conditions: Entry is free - Dogs must be kept on a leash - Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Guided presentation and historical overview in French Sign Language of the remains of the Royal Castle of Montceaux-les-Meaux
For the European Heritage Days, the owners will guide you through and reveal the history of this site, which sits at the heart of the Renaissance and France’s story through its queens (Catherine de Médicis, Marie de Médicis, and in another guise Gabrielle d’Estrée), through its kings (Henry II, Henry III, Henry IV, Louis XIII), through its architecture, and its role in the Wars of Religion. The tour ends at the Château Chapel, whose altar was donated by Louis XIV.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Château Royal de Montceaux - Three Queens Castle
château de montceaux
77470 Montceaux les Meaux
Route planner
Prices
Free
Official website
www.chateaudemontceaux.fr
