The Cité Universitaire internationale opens its doors to curious minds from all walks of life for the new edition of the Journées du Patrimoine, on the weekend of 19 and 20 September 2026. On this occasion, it unveils a programme as rich as it is varied, welcoming visitors young and old!
Founded in 1925, the International Student City is a one-of-a-kind hub that has welcomed more than 12,000 international students for nearly nine decades, housed in its 40 houses with very distinctive styles. Spain, the United States, Argentina, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, and even Korea and Norway: each country has its own house! It’s a true around-the-world tour you can take without ever leaving the 14th arrondissement of Paris!
Heritage Days 2026 in Paris (75): a district-by-district lineup of visits
For the 2026 Heritage Days in Paris, the capital’s monuments and historic sites throw open their doors (often for free) to reveal their secrets to us. Don’t miss this essential event, scheduled for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, under the themes: "Heritage in Peril" and "Heritage of Photography". [Read more]
On the occasion of Paris’s 2026 Journées du Patrimoine, the city’s major institutions are exceptionally opening their doors this weekend of September 19–20, 2026. From the Bank of France to the Court of Auditors and the ministries, they’ll reveal all their inner workings. Don’t wait to book your tickets. [Read more]
Throughout the year, this unique heritage site, which attracts artists and filmmakers from all over the world, offers themed guided tours. But to mark the Journées du Patrimoine, the Cité Universitaire Internationale is pulling out all the stops, unveiling a huge program for the whole family. Shall we tell you about it?
Theatre of the International City
Behind-the-scenes tour of the Théâtre de la Cité Internationale
Behind the scenes at the Théâtre de la Cité internationale.
Participation conditions: Limited to 25 people per visit slot. Free of charge | Reservation required - 0185535385
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 2:00 PM ⤏ 5:00 PM
Guided city tours
Guided Tours: Embark on an Unexpected Stroll Through Nature, Art, and World Architecture
An open-air showcase of architecture, the Cité internationale brings together in a 34-hectare eco-friendly park 47 houses with distinctive architectures, conceived by renowned 20th-century architects, artists and designers. It’s an exceptional complex where heritage, creativity and nature converge in the heart of Paris.
Throughout the weekend, our heritage center will offer guided tours on three themes: architecture, art and the environment. A chance to explore the works of iconic creators such as Le Corbusier, Foujita and Charlotte Perriand, as well as the campus’s landscape and ecological treasures. The Cité internationale’s houses will also host self-guided or guided visits along with a bespoke cultural program. The detailed schedule will be announced over the summer. Here.
A must-see gathering for lovers of architecture, art, heritage and discovery.
### Theme: architecture
* Guided tour “100 Years of Architecture Around the World” (1h30) | Saturday at 3:00 PM | Sunday at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM
* Guided tour “The Latest Houses Built on the Campus” (1h30) | Sunday at 4:00 PM
### Theme: art
* Guided tour “An Artist’s City” (1h30) | Saturday at 4:00 PM | Sunday at 3:30 PM
### Theme: sustainable development
* Guided tour “An Ecological Park” (1h30) | Saturday at 4:30 PM
* Guided tour “The Benefits of Trees” (1h30) | Sunday at 4:30 PM
Participation conditions: Free | On-site registration from 2 p.m. - Free | Reservation required - https://www.citescope.fr/evenement/journees-europeennes-du-patrimoine-2026/
Schedule: Saturday, 19 September 2026 — 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Sunday, 20 September 2026 — 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The 14th arrondissement's bomb shelters
For European Heritage Days, the central library of the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris will host Gilles Thomas, a specialist in Paris’s underground spaces, for a lecture on The Passive Defense Shelters of the 14th arrondissement.
Gilles Thomas shines a light on a little-known facet of the city’s underbelly: shelters built to protect civilians, buried beneath the 14th arrondissement and largely forgotten today.
Participation requirements: Free | Meet at the Central Library of the International House - Free | Booking required - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeP17lB9IbsnttfIaLEEH5aBrdMjIji8SPoIvRkTOH7YQjVLQ/viewform?usp=send_form
Times: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 7:30 PM–8:30 PM
Spanish College
The Colegio de España: a history told in photographs
An exhibition of photographs from the Colegio de España's collection and its historical archives.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Guided tour of the Library at the Colegio de España
Guided tours of the library run hourly from 2:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.). Lasting about 10 minutes, they are led by the library manager, who will outline the venue’s history, its heritage collections, and the library’s mission.
Conditions of participation : Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Swiss Foundation
Endangered heritage: between myths and traditions
The Swiss Foundation drew inspiration from the theme "Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine," and is presenting two documentary screenings that explore disappearing traditions or living myths, approached with a dash of humor.
Saturday, September 19 | 4:00 PM
Screening of American Yodel, directed by Tristan Miquel (2024/25 – 60 minutes).
This documentary traces the journey of Swiss Anabaptists who emigrated to the United States beginning in the late 17th century. These communities gave rise to towns with evocative names like Berne and Geneva in Indiana, or Zurich. The film examines how they preserved their Swiss heritage. American Yodel offers an informative, funny, and moving portrait of these Swiss-descended communities, their history, their traditions, and their adaptation to life in America.
Sunday, September 20 | 4:00 PM
Screening of Switzerland in the Iron Age: the Helvetii, a Myth Under the Lens, directed by Philippe Nicolet (2025 – 52 minutes).
The Helvetii helped shape Swiss identity. Yet recent discoveries suggest they only arrived on the Swiss plateau in the 1st century BCE and even contemplated emigrating to the southwest of Gaul. The film reexamines the role of the Helvetii and the origins of the Confederation.
Info + : https://www.citescope.fr/evenement/patrimoine-en-peril-entre-mythes-et-traditions/
Participation conditions: Free | Subject to availability - Free | No booking required
Timings: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 4:00 PM–5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Don't miss this chance to discover a quirky, vibrant place in Paris!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris
17 Boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris 14
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Official website
www.ciup.fr
Heritage Days 2026 in Paris (75): a district-by-district lineup of visits
Heritage Days 2026: Must-visit institutions in Paris and Île-de-France — book your tickets!
