Who would imagine finding a stable in the heart of Paris ? The Heritage Days 2026, returning on September 19 and 20, 2026, inviting the curious and the passionate to pull back the doors of often little-known sites across the capital and the Île-de-France region. It’s an opportunity to explore the Montsouris Farm, a genuine witness to Paris’s rural past discreetly preserved at 26, rue de la Tombe-Issoire in the 14th arrondissement.
In the 19th century, the capital boasted hundreds of « fermes de nourrisseurs » designed to supply Parisians with fresh milk every day. The Montsouris farm, also known as the Tombe-Issoire farm, still houses its original barn-stable today. Before joining Paris during the 1860 annexation, the estate also housed a very popular guinguette just beyond the octroi barrier, where drink was untaxed. Saved from real estate schemes thanks to the mobilization of neighborhood associations and purchased by the City of Paris, the restored barn now hosts a space dedicated to contemporary creation and circus arts.
The site isn’t limited to its agricultural surface: beneath the plot lies the famous Port-Mahon road quarry, a medieval underground network classified as a historic monument. It was from here that the limestone was quarried to build several Parisian landmarks. The galleries also lie next to the remains of the Gallo-Roman Arcueil aqueduct and the Médicis aqueduct.
The street’s very name hides its own mysteries: a stubborn legend says the area shelters the tomb of Isoré, a Saracen giant said to have been felled in the Middle Ages by Guillaume d’Orange, the hero of the chansons de geste. To get all the details of the tours, workshops, and activities planned on site during this large cultural weekend, see below for the full program.
Explore the history of Montsouris Farm and its new cultural life
A historic site turned into a creative hub
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Discover the story of Ferme Montsouris and its new cultural life through a program of circus and magic performances presented by SHAM Spectacles.
On the program:
Visitors will be invited to explore the tale of this former Parisian farmstead, now safeguarded, restored, and transformed into a cultural venue dedicated to artistic creation, circus, magic, and cultural mediation.
From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., short artistic showcases will be presented every 20 minutes, featuring aerial acts, balance artistry, and juggling.
A chance to glimpse the Ferme Montsouris’s renewed vocation and see how a heritage site can come alive again through live performance.
Participation terms: Free admission - No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
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Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
