The Heritage Days, scheduled for September 19 and 20, 2026, offer a chance to uncover the hidden gems of French heritage. This annual event invites curious minds to dive into the history of iconic sites that are often off-limits for most of the year. It’s also the perfect occasion for culture and history enthusiasts to experience an immersive journey at extraordinary venues. And among the highlights on the program for this 43rd edition, the Pasteur Institute, in Paris, opens its doors to reveal a pinnacle of science and medical research.
The Institut Pasteur, founded in 1887 by the famed Louis Pasteur, stands as a true beacon of scientific research. This world‑renowned center has played a pivotal role in medical breakthroughs of the 20th century, particularly in the field of infectious diseases. The InstitutPasteur is an institution that has left an indelible mark on the history of medicine. Located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, it also houses the Pasteur Museum (currently closed for renovation).
During the Heritage Days,Institut Pasteur invites you to go behind the scenes and relive the great scientific discoveries that have changed the world. It's a great opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the greatest researchers, and to learn more about current research.
Inframondes — An Art Exhibition Featuring Cyrielle Gulacsy and Lucien Murat
On the occasion of the European Heritage Days at the Pasteur Institute, artists Cyrielle Gulacsy and Lucien Murat join forces to shed light on a heritage often overlooked but essential: the living invisible beneath our feet.
Bacteria account for about 15% of Earth's biomass, give soil its distinctive scent, and form real underground constellations that have shaped our world with their invisible power for 4 billion years. Microorganisms are mostly invisible, yet they deeply structure ecosystems, govern the cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and are indispensable to soil fertility and the health of the oceans.
Cyrielle Gulacsy invites us to understand and contemplate this microscopic biodiversity. Her project anchors in Science à la pelle: a participatory research program inviting citizens to collect and send soil samples to researchers, thereby creating a living map of microbial biodiversity. Collected across France, these samples form a substantial database that could pave the way for discovering new remedies against infectious diseases. The artworks, created from the gathered data, will take the form of root-like constellations bearing witness to nearby microbial populations moving beneath the soil surface. An invitation to explore space at our feet, just a few nanoseconds of light away from us.
Lucien Murat explores the biological underworld and invites us to reconsider our relationship with the land. For this project, the works were created in close collaboration with the soil's microorganisms. Each painting, made from fibers and natural pigments, was buried for one month. When unearthed, the state of the canvas becomes a true marker of soil vitality: the greater the degradation of the fibers, the richer and healthier the microbiome. Using wool, the chewed canvases are then stitched and repaired to fill in the gaps swallowed by the earth. Beyond simply repairing a void, this mending reveals the microbes' handiwork through its weave and conjures on the canvases a chart of a fragile world that escapes the human eye.
In the face of the climate crisis, it is crucial to craft new narratives that challenge our imaginaries. By forging new links between art and science, this project makes visible the invisible worlds that unfold beneath our feet and within us, and above all reminds us that caring for the Earth and our bodies can be done in a single, shared gesture.
Registration required
Participation requirements: Free | Booking essential - https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/journees-europeennes-du-patrimoine-a-linstitut-pasteur-tickets-1996461222259?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Opening hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Exploring the Pasteur Institute
For the European Heritage Days, the Pasteur Institute is pleased to open its doors. Step into the history and missions of a landmark in science!
On the agenda:
- Encounters with researchers: enthusiastic pairs will welcome you at every step to share their scientific work and the site’s history.
- A tour of historically rich spaces: explore the behind-the-scenes of an institute that has shaped science since 1888.
Registration required
Participation requirements: Registration link to be announced — Free | Reservation required — https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/journees-europeennes-du-patrimoine-a-linstitut-pasteur-tickets-1996461222259?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 2:00 PM ⤏ 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 2:00 PM ⤏ 6:00 PM
Visit to the Pasteur Institute's Ultrastructural Bioimaging Platform
Dive into the tiny world at the Pasteur Institute!
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, the Pasteur Institute's Ultrastuctural Bioimaging platform is opening its doors to the public, exceptionally.
Come explore electron microscopy, a captivating technology that lets us glimpse the finest details of life—details invisible to a conventional light microscope.
Here's what this visit includes:
• Discover how samples are prepared and photographed at the atomic scale to reveal the structure of infectious agents.
• Step into the heart of bioimaging and observe living matter with state-of-the-art imaging technologies.
• Talk with scientists and discover the diversity of their careers. From cutting-edge research to training international researchers, they’ll explain how they share their know-how on a daily basis.
Registration required. A maximum of 10 people per tour.
Tour duration: 45 minutes.
Participation conditions: Limited to 10 people per tour. Free of charge | Reservations required - https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/journees-europeennes-du-patrimoine-a-linstitut-pasteur-tickets-1996461222259?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, 20 September 2026 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Visit to the Pasteur Institute's Photon Bioimaging Technology Platform
Dive into the world of the infinitesimally small at the Pasteur Institute!
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, the Pasteur Institute's Bioimaging and Photonics Technology Platform is opening its doors to the public for a rare, exceptional visit.
As a cutting-edge technology and service unit, its mission is to provide optical imaging expertise for the life sciences, with a focus on infection biology. During this tour, you'll see how scientists use imaging to observe living systems and understand in real time how viruses and bacteria infect our cells.
What to expect on the tour:
• Go behind the scenes of research and see how scientists push the boundaries of physics to film life at the cellular scale.
• Watch how innovations in research and development enable visualization of host–pathogen interactions with different types of microscopes, opening the door to new therapies.
• Meet multidisciplinary teams who share their expertise daily with scientists around the world.
Registration required. A maximum of 10 people per tour.
Tour duration: 45 minutes.
Participation terms: Limited to 10 people per tour. Reservations required | Free - https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/journees-europeennes-du-patrimoine-a-linstitut-pasteur-tickets-1996461222259?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM–6:00 PM
Lady Pipette Takes the Stage
What if science could be lived in a different way?
Microbiologist, rapper, and passionate about mediation, Yaëlle Wormser, aka Lady Pipette, is a PhD student at the Institut Pasteur and won the 2026 jury prize in the national final of Ma Thèse en 180 secondes. On stage, she turns her tuberculosis research into an artistic experience that is as entertaining as it is enlightening, blending urban music with science outreach to prove that research can make you move as much as think.
Registration required
Participation conditions: Free | Booking required - https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/journees-europeennes-du-patrimoine-a-linstitut-pasteur-tickets-1996461222259?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Registration is free and mandatory (registration link), and a valid ID will be required.
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Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Pasteur Institute
28, rue du Dr Roux
75015 Paris 15
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Booking
www.eventbrite.fr
