Heritage Days 2026 at the Paris Centre Police Station: An Unusual Tour This Weekend

The Journées du Patrimoine return to Paris and the Île-de-France region this weekend, September 19–20, 2026. This major annual event opens the doors to castles, museums, concert venues, gardens and grand townhouses—perfect settings for a day out with friends or family. But the program of these Heritage Days doesn’t stop there...

During Heritage Days, even more original and unexpected places open their doors to the public. Venues you wouldn’t normally consider visiting. And what if, precisely, we stepped off the beaten path and let ourselves be surprised by this parallel program?

• To be read
• This week's best bets for September 7–13, 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France

This week-end des 19 et 20 septembre 2026, head to central Paris, in the 3e arrondissement, to discover the local police station. Yes, it’s an active police station taking part in this major cultural festival! Explore this architecturally fascinating building, this unusual historic site that might well surprise you.

Here are the activities to experience at the police station and the access conditions for the tour. Paris still has more in store to surprise and delight you!

The Heritage Days lineup for the Paris Centre police station:

• Tour of the Hôtel de la Garantie, now the Paris Centre Police Station

  Discover the story of the building that now houses the Paris Centre police headquarters, its remarkable architecture, and the decorations typical of the Third Republic.

  Until 2017, the Hôtel de la Garantie belonged to Customs and housed state services, including the official oversight of precious metals.

  Fully renovated and acquired by the Ministry of the Interior in 2019, the site retains its authentic beauty.

  You will be able to admire the mosaics and sculptures on its red-brick exterior façades, the large skylight in the former teller’s hall, and the wall decorations in the former precious metals deposit room.

  The visit is led by civil servants working at the Paris Centre police station. Explanations about the building’s contemporary use and the missions of a police service will also be provided.

  This marks the very first public opening for European Heritage Days.

  Participation details: Saturday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Visit slots of 30 minutes, limited to 15 visitors per slot. An ID will be required on-site. - Free | Reservations required - https://my.weezevent.com/journees-europeennes-du-patrimoine-64

  Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

For more offbeat outings, check out our special guide. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Heritage Days 2026, an offbeat edition: the most original outings to try in Paris
You think you know Paris inside out? Think again. On Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, you’ll be blown away during Heritage Days! We’re sharing our offbeat favorites to discover in this new edition of Heritage Days, across Paris and Île-de-France. [Read more]