Heritage Days 2026: discover Hôtel d'Heidelbach, Maison Guimet's Asian jewel box

Hôtel d'Heidelbach, now Maison Guimet, participates in Paris's Heritage Days with tours devoted to Asian arts, on September 19 and 20, 2026. An opportunity to discover this 16th-century townhouse, its Japanese garden, and its exceptional collections.

Just a short stroll from Place d'Iéna, the Hôtel d'Heidelbach opens its doors exceptionally for the Heritage Days, a nationwide event inviting people to explore remarkable sites across France, on September 19 and 20, 2026. Renamed Maison Guimet after its 2026 reopening, this elegant private mansion in the 16th arrondissement, linked to the Musée Guimet, offers an immersion into Asian arts through a display of Chinese ceremonial furniture, a Japanese-inspired garden, and an authentic tea pavilion. For one weekend, guided tours and discoveries give access to a place that is usually closed to the public, in a more intimate setting.

Built in 1913, the Hôtel d'Heidelbach starts out as a private residence before joining the Guimet Museum in 1991. After a major renovation, it reopens to the public in spring 2026 under the name Maison Guimet with a new mission: to showcase the Chinese collections of the National Museum of Asian Arts in a setting that speaks to them. Visitors will discover lacquered screens, imperial furniture, porcelains and items linked to the tea arts in China and Japan. Outside, the landscaped garden houses a genuine Japanese tea pavilion, built by artisans from Japan according to traditional rules, offering a truly immersive backdrop in the heart of Paris.

Between early-20th-century Parisian architecture and the refinement of Asian arts, the visit offers a markedly different experience from a traditional museum. The talk points organized throughout the weekend let visitors learn more about the collections, while the garden and tea pavilion invite you to slow down in a meticulously crafted setting. This stop in the 16th arrondissement also offers a chance to discover a lesser-known facet of the Guimet Museum and to extend the stroll around Place d’Iéna, where several cultural venues lie within a short walk of each other.

The Heritage Days program at the Hôtel d'Heidelbach:

Discovering Maison Guimet (the Heidelbach Hotel)
Nestled in the Hôtel d’Heidelbach, Maison Guimet opens its doors for a singular immersion at the crossroads of Parisian neoclassical grandeur and the refinement of Asian arts.

Built in 1913, this exceptional venue now houses a prestigious collection of Chinese ceremonial furniture, notably imposing lacquer screens, alongside remarkable ensembles dedicated to the arts of tea in China and Japan.

A true green haven in the heart of the 16th arrondissement, Maison Guimet’s Japanese-inspired garden welcomes an authentic tea pavilion (chashitsu) built in 2001 by top master craftsmen from Japan. Its architecture embodies a serene ideal of peace and modesty, and a pinnacle of refinement in the careful choice of the different woods used. It is reached via a winding path lined with stone steps, dwarf bamboo, moss, horsetails, ferns, cherry trees, a lantern, and a basin, acting as a prelude to the rituals of the tea ceremony.
Participation terms: Free, subject to availability - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30 AM–4:30 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:30 AM–4:30 PM

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