For the Journées du Patrimoine 2026, the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine has put together a fabulous program for the whole family. So head to the 16e arrondissement, on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September coming up! And the good news is that it's free!
Since 2007, the Cité de l' Architecture has been showcasing a fine collection of models, plans of fortified towns, pieces of forgotten buildings and stained glass windows; and the monument itself, a vestige of the museum of comparative sculpture opened in 1882, is a sight to behold.
Heritage Days 2026: Paris museums and art foundations across Île-de-France
During the 2026 Heritage Days, numerous museums and art foundations open their doors for free in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Mark your calendars for Saturday, 19 September and Sunday, 20 September 2026 to enjoy a program rich with exciting discoveries. [Read more]
Heritage Days offer a chance to explore the cultural heritage of Paris and Île-de-France with the whole family. From free tours to activities for children and all kinds of events: plenty of outings await you on September 19 and 20, 2026. [Read more]
Among the highlights of the collection are the painted ceiling of the 14th-century dome of Cahors Cathedral, a model of Notre-Dame de Paris, a full-scale reconstruction of one of the housing units in the Cité radieuse built by Le Corbusier in Marseilles in 1952, and a model of the Gare du Nord railway station.
The program for the Heritage Days 2026 in Paris' 75th district, hosted at the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, is enough to send architecture lovers and the curious into a flutter. Want us to spill the details?
Nohant-Vic video mapping
A new digital experience (video mapping) to illuminate the frescoes of the Romanesque church at Nohant-Vic!
The Cité is enriching its permanent route with new digital mediation tools. The first setup is now in place, and you can explore it in the gallery of wall paintings.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Temporary Exhibition "Heritage in Resistance - From Timbuktu to Odessa"
From Timbuktu to Odessa, from Bamiyan to Gaza, armed conflicts are turning cultural heritage into a prime target. In the face of such destruction, the exhibition Patrimoines en résistance asks not only about acts of erasure but also about the forms of resistance and repair that let us imagine the future from the ruins.
Guided tours led by our lecturer-guides will help you gain a clearer understanding of this crucial topic for humanity's cultural heritage.
https://www.citedelarchitecture.fr/fr/agenda/exposition/patrimoines-en-resistance
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 to 19:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 to 19:00
DIY / Home Improvement
Come practice assembling a small paper architectural piece that’s emblematic of our collections. Practice it to your heart’s content!
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday 19 September 2026 — 11:00 to 18:30 | Sunday 20 September 2026 — 11:00 to 18:30
Rooftop terrace discovery: a breathtaking vantage point!
From the terraces of the City of Architecture and Heritage, normally off-limits, come and admire some of the capital’s iconic monuments in a brand-new way!
Our guides will accompany you on this discovery.
https://www.citedelarchitecture.fr/fr
Participation conditions: Register on site, on the day of the visit, 15 minutes before the tour — Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00–12:00, 12:00–13:00, 13:00–14:00, 14:00–15:00, 15:00–16:00, 16:00–17:00, 17:00–18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00–12:00, 12:00–13:00, 13:00–14:00, 14:00–15:00, 15:00–16:00, 16:00–17:00, 17:00–18:00
The Arches – family workshop for toddlers (18–36 months)
The Arches – A Family Workshop (18-36 months)
Little steps, quick sprints, a tiny explorer of architecture with their body!
Author-illustrator Bastien Contraire invites young children and their grown-ups to share a playful, architecture-centered experience.
Designed with and for young children, this setup invites exploring space through the body, movement, and play. Through courses, songs, stories and gentle discoveries, everyone is invited to experiment with shapes, volumes and paths at their own pace.
A joyful family adventure where architecture becomes a playground of wonder.
Conditions de participation : On-site registration / Limited to 8 children / Children aged 18–36 months — free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:15–12:00, 15:00–15:45, 16:00–16:45 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:15–12:00, 15:00–15:45, 16:00–16:45
Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, the Romanesque Sistine
Experience, like never before, the mural paintings on the vault of what is dubbed the Romanesque Sistine Chapel. Now on display in the Jean-Louis Cohen Library at La Cité, the three-dimensional replica of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe’s vault lets visitors get up close to these dynamic, fluid figures, with ochre hues and pastel tones that are so characteristic of central France’s Romanesque wall painting.
Participation terms: On-site registration, limited to 24 people per tour - Free | No reservation required
Timings: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:30–12:30, 17:00–18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:30–12:30, 17:00–18:00
Quick tour: discovering iconic works from the collections
### Guides are on hand at the museum to lead you through the discovery of the works, offering short presentations for all ages.
On the program:
The Gallery of Mural Paintings
High up and sometimes tucked away, a quick tour to discover stunning medieval mural paintings, reproduced life-size at the Cité.
14:30, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:30
The Gallery of Medieval and Classical Architecture: 11:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 and 17:30
The Gallery of Contemporary Architecture: 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 and 17:30
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedules: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:30–12:00, 14:30–15:00, 15:00–15:30, 15:30–16:00, 16:00–16:30, 16:30–17:00, 17:30–18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:30–12:00, 14:30–15:00, 15:00–15:30, 15:30–16:00, 16:00–16:30, 16:30–17:00, 17:30–18:00
Family-friendly guided tour “Archi-Forme” (ages six and up)
Decode the shapes and volumes architects use to craft extraordinary buildings. Step by step, as you tour, squares, circles or trapezoids come together and form… and buildings emerge!
Families end up assembling their own little repertoire, where each discovery finds its place to ultimately become a diary of whimsical and fantastical architectures!
The Archi-Forme notebook was designed by Sylvain Lamy, a graphic designer, illustrator and typographer.
Participation conditions: On-site registration / Limited to 16 participants / For ages 6 and up — Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 14:30–16:00, 16:30–18:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 14:30–16:00, 16:30–18:00
Storytelling Tour: The Secret of the Labyrinth
Head out with the family to meet a cast of surprising characters who guard a very big secret!
To crack it, you’ll have to navigate an imaginary labyrinth teeming with dragons, centaurs, and other fantastical beasts—some of them not exactly friendly. Fortunately, a lucky star will guide your steps and be your ally on this quest.
Family-friendly, ages 3-6, adult supervision required
Participation terms: Register on-site on the day of the visit, 15 minutes before the tour. Family-friendly for children aged 3–6, adult supervision required. Free | No reservation required
Times: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:30 PM–4:15 PM, 4:30 PM–5:15 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:30 PM–4:15 PM, 4:30 PM–5:15 PM
Concert
In keeping with the exhibition Patrimoines en résistance - De Tombouctou à Odessa, the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine presents a concert-conference by the ensemble Jaw’a, Chœur du Liban, in Paris.
This program of traditional Lebanese and Eastern music will be punctuated by brief talks. Architect-musician Malek Nacousi will share his reflections on architecture under threat.
Participation terms: Limited to 50 people — Free | No reservations
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 4:00 PM ⤏ 4:35 PM, 5:00 PM ⤏ 5:35 PM
Would you like to rediscover our architectural heritage with your family?
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine
1 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre
75116 Paris 16
Route planner
Accessibility info
Access
Metro Trocadéro or Iena
Prices
Free
Official website
www.citedelarchitecture.fr
Heritage Days 2026: Paris museums and art foundations across Île-de-France
Heritage Days 2026 with kids: the best family-friendly outings to enjoy in Paris
