Heritage Days 2026 at Hôtel Gouthière – Hector Berlioz Conservatory, in Paris

The European Heritage Days 2026, on September 19 and 20, will lift the veil on secret and little-known spots in Paris, such as the elegant Hôtel Gouthière, an 18th-century pavilion designed by the royal chaser-gilder Pierre Gouthière, now transformed into the Hector Berlioz Conservatory.

Ditch the tourist clichés and tame tours! The European Heritage Days invite you on September 19 and 20, 2026 for a free immersion into the heart of history and the places that shape our collective memory. Each year, this event, designed to bring the public closer to its heritage, flings open the doors of remarkable sites, some of which are usually off limits. For two days, museums legendary, private mansions, institutions and hidden addresses reveal their secrets for a vibrant and surprising cultural experience.

Heritage Days 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France: at the heart of the music world
Heritage Days also come alive with music! Discover the musical heritage of Paris and Île-de-France, as well as the concerts planned for this iconic cultural rendezvous taking place over the weekend of September 19–20, 2026. [Read more]

In Paris's 10th arrondissement, there's a discreet address worth a visit: theHôtel Gouthière, now home to the Hector Berlioz Conservatoire. Behind a paved courtyard, this 18th-century neo-classical jewel, built between 1772 and 1780 by François-Victor Perrard de Montreuil, was the ambitious project of Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813), virtuoso chaser-gilder and official supplier to the court of Louis XVI. Its façade evokes a Greek temple, with a staircase guarded by two sphinxes and a tympanum adorned with two nymphs crowning a bust of Apollo. The bas-relief of the Triumph of Bacchus, attributed to Clodion (1738-1814), highlights the entablature. Partly listed as a historic monument since 1927, the building retains its First Empire decor - anteroom, salons and fireplaces - testifying to Gouthière's talent. In 1788, it passed into the hands of Nicolas Hercule Arnoult, who added gypseries, marquetry and murals. After housing a trimmings factory in the 20th century, in 1981 it became the Hector Berlioz Conservatoire, a leading music school attended by 1,200 students.

Heritage Days 2026 program at the Hôtel Gouthière – Conservatoire Hector Berlioz:

A Tour of the Hôtel Gouthière
Guided tour by Gérard Alaux of History and Lives of the 10th

The Gouthière House, emblematic of late 18th-century neoclassicism, has housed the 10th arrondissement’s conservatory since 1981. It is the last remnant of a far larger complex commissioned by Pierre Gouthière, the goldsmith and chaser at the end of the Ancien Régime, in the heart of the Faubourg Saint-Martin as the area underwent rapid urbanization. The surviving pavilion reflects the 18th‑century vogue for “small pleasure houses” or residences of status, and it preserves striking antique-inspired interiors. After Gouthière’s bankruptcy in 1784, his house, still unfinished, was acquired by his notary, Nicolas Arnoult. In the early 20th century, a fringemaker, followed by other artisans, still occupied the site.

The guided tour by Gérard Alaux of History and Lives of the 10th, available only by registration, will last about 45 minutes.
Participation requirements: Registration via Weezevent starts on September 1, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Limited seats – Free | Mandatory reservation – https://my.weezevent.com/journee-du-patrimoine-2-1, https://my.weezevent.com/journee-du-patrimoine-3-1
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 16:30 ⤏ 18:30 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 10:00 ⤏ 12:00
Hector-Berlioz Conservatory students present a concert
Students of the Hector-Berlioz Conservatory will have the pleasure of performing at the end of the visits. Two concerts are scheduled, on Saturday September 19 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday September 20 at 11 a.m., highlighting musical works tied to the theme of heritage, but also of matrimoine, through a program that notably includes works by women composers whose role in music history deserves to be better known and recognized.
Participation requirements: Registration via Weezevent opens on September 1, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Space is limited – free | Booking required – https://my.weezevent.com/journee-du-patrimoine-2-1, https://my.weezevent.com/journee-du-patrimoine-3-1
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM