What if we could step back in time to uncover the little secrets of those who toiled in the shadows for freedom? For this new edition of Journées du Patrimoine 2026, the Journées du Patrimoine 2026, the Musée de la Résistance Nationale, a true curiosity perched in Champigny-sur-Marne in the Val-de-Marne, stands out as a must-see. A wonderful idea for a cultural outing in Île-de-France to vividly dive into the history of the Second World War. Like every year, this splendid event invites us to reclaim our shared heritage by stepping through the doors of iconic or lesser-known venues across the Paris region.
Recently relocated to a modern building facing the Marne, the museum has taken on a strong mission: to keep alive and transmit the memory of the French Resistance to new generations. Its parcours highlights the ingenuity, solidarity and courage of those engaged men and women. On site, visitors discover precious collections: clandestinely printed leaflets, period radio sets, striking photographs and even everyday objects that look perfectly ordinary. By the way, there are rumors that some secret messages sewn inside seemingly innocuous clothes have yet to be deciphered by researchers...
Here you can discover, for example, how the underground press was organized—a real technical feat for its time. You’ll be able to see small clandestine hand presses that helped spread hope right under the occupier’s nose. It’s a fascinating journey that makes history feel tangible and will captivate both truly curious adults and younger visitors alike.
To celebrate this 43rd edition scheduled for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, the site promises exciting surprises and rewarding encounters. Here is the program you can look forward to for these Heritage Days:
Stand the test of time: behind the scenes of preserving the Resistance archives — spaces for ongoing exchange
RESISTERING TO TIME: BEHIND THE SCENES OF PRESERVING RESISTANCE ARCHIVES
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, whose national themes are “Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine,” the National Resistance Museum is granting exceptional access to a rarely visible part of its work.
Each day, the museum faces a core question: how can it continue to display works without damaging them?
The clandestine pamphlets that urged resistance, the forged documents that saved lives, the photographs, letters, and drawings created in captivity—these are irreplaceable witnesses to our history. But they are also extraordinarily fragile. Light, climate fluctuations, or simply the passage of time can cause irreversible changes.
To safeguard these collections while keeping them accessible, the museum is today carrying out a broad preventive-conservation campaign in collaboration with the Atelier du Lys. Some original pieces are gradually being replaced in the permanent exhibit by highly faithful facsimiles, while the originals are reconditioned and stored in controlled environments.
All weekend long, visitors are invited to explore the project’s behind-the-scenes workings through a series of discussions and demonstrations with museum staff.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Continuous exchange space “Behind the Scenes of Conservation”
Throughout the afternoon, museum teams will welcome visitors to outline the main principles of conserving the collection. Drawing on concrete examples from the museum, discover:
* How light gradually alters the colors of documents
* Why and how the facsimiles displayed in the cases are created
* The scientific, technical, and ethical choices guiding their production
* The reconditioning operations that restore originals to optimal conservation conditions
This space helps illuminate the decisions that enable this heritage to be transmitted without putting it at risk.
Participation requirements: Free | Booking required - reservation@musee-resistance.com
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Resisting the Test of Time: go behind the scenes of preserving Resistance archives — Guided tour
RESISTERING TIME: BEHIND THE SCENES OF PRESERVING RESISTANCE ARCHIVES
On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, whose national themes are “Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine” and “Heritage of Photography,” the National Resistance Museum is opening, for one weekend only, the behind-the-scenes side of a project rarely seen by the public.
Day after day, the museum faces a fundamental question: how can it continue to display works without damaging them?
Underground leaflets calling for resistance, forged papers that saved lives, photographs, letters, or drawings made in captivity—these items are irreplaceable witnesses to our history. But they are also extremely fragile. Light, shifting climate, or simply the passage of time cause irreversible changes.
Throughout the weekend, visitors are invited to explore the project’s backstage via a guided tour of the permanent collections, viewed through the lens of scenography.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
3:00–4:00 p.m.: Guided tour “Resistance and Scenography”
How does a museum tell a story while safeguarding the collections that carry it? This guided tour reveals the scenographic choices that bring the collections to life. Light, architecture, sound installations, facsimiles, and presentation formats all interact to help visitors understand and feel the history of the Resistance, while shedding light on the conservation challenges behind each display decision.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
5:00–6:00 p.m.: Guided tour “Resistance and Scenography”
How does a museum tell a story while preserving the collections that convey it? This guided tour reveals the scenographic choices that bring the collections to life. Light, architecture, sound devices, facsimiles, and presentation modes work together to help visitors understand and experience the history of the Resistance, while exposing the conservation considerations that accompany every exhibition choice.
Participation conditions: Free | Booking required - reservation@musee-resistance.com
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Withstanding the test of time: a behind-the-scenes look at preserving the Resistance archives — Conference
Defying Time: Behind the Scenes in Preserving the Resistance Archives
On the occasion of European Heritage Days, whose national themes are “Heritage at Risk: Rekindle, Resist, Reimagine” and “Heritage of Photography,” the Musée National de la Résistance is exceptionally opening the doors to a backstage project rarely visible to the public.
Every day, the museum faces a crucial question: how can it continue to display works without damaging them?
The clandestine leaflets that called for resistance, the fake papers that saved lives, the photographs, letters, or drawings made in captivity are irreplaceable witnesses to our history. But these documents are also incredibly fragile. Light, temperature fluctuations, or simply the passage of time cause irreversible alterations.
To preserve these collections while continuing to share them, the museum is currently conducting, in collaboration with Atelier du Lys, a broad preventive conservation campaign. Some original works are gradually being replaced in the permanent exhibition by highly faithful facsimiles, while the originals are reconditioned and stored in suitably adapted environments.
Throughout the weekend, visitors are invited to discover the project’s backstory through an unprecedented conference with Atelier du Lys and museum professionals who will present the practices, reflections, and decisions typically reserved for collection specialists.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
3:00 PM - 4:45 PM: Two-part conference “Preserve Together” (in partnership with Atelier du Lys)
How does a conservation project come to life? What trades are involved? How are priorities set? And how are such operations financed?
Atelier du Lys and the museum’s collections team will present the first jointly conducted conservation campaign, from the initial diagnosis to the production of facsimiles and the reconditioning of the works. The meeting will also highlight the role of patronage from the Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière Foundation and remind us that preserving heritage is a collective responsibility.
Participation terms: Free of charge | Booking required - reservation@musee-resistance.com
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 4:45 PM
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Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
National Resistance Museum
40 Quai Victor Hugo
94500 Champigny sur Marne
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