Heritage Days 2025 in Paris: the program at the Institut national des jeunes aveugles

On the weekend of September 20 and 21, Paris is once again hosting the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days): a unique opportunity to (re)discover the rich heritage of our beautiful capital. In the 7th arrondissement of Paris, the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles is offering a special program.

Created in 1984 by the French Ministry of Culture, the European Heritage Days are an annual event celebrated in some 50 European countries. The aim? To raise public awareness of the richness and diversity of our cultural heritage, by opening the doors of monuments, museums and other historic sites that are often inaccessible to the public during the rest of the year. Traditionally held on the third weekend of September, these days are an opportunity for citizens to discover or rediscover the treasures of their heritage through guided tours, conferences, exhibitions and other events.

In Paris, the European Heritage Days are a special opportunity to explore the city from a whole new angle. Prestigious institutions such as the Palais de l'Élysée, the Senate and the Banque de France open their doors for special events. Numerous museums, monuments and unusual sites also offer free or reduced-rate tours, enabling the public to discover the capital's history and architecture.

The Institut national des Jeunes aveugles (INJA) is a historic institution founded in 1784 by Valentin Haüy, a pioneer in education for the blind. The institute was the first in the world to offer specialized education for visually impaired young people, with innovative methods that gave these children access to reading, writing and learning in general. Located in the 7tharrondissement of Paris, the INJA has occupied an emblematic building since 1843, where it continues to provide its students with an adapted education. The history of this institute bears witness to a major advance in the inclusion of disabled people in society, and its heritage is a living testimony to developments in the field of special education in France.