Heritage Days 2026 at the National Navy Museum: dive into Paris’s maritime world

All hands on deck: the National Maritime Museum, located at the Trocadéro in Paris, will open its doors to the public free of charge on 19 and 20 September 2026 for Heritage Days. Discover the weekend’s program.

The Musée National de la Marine takes us on a voyage to the seven seas of the world, with its exceptional collections of statues, paintings, models, photographs, outfits and navigation equipment. The museum recounts the history and importance of the navy to France, in a thematic tour.

This museum, right next to the Musée de l’Homme, sits on Place du Trocadéro in Paris. It will open its doors for free on September 19 and 20, 2026, to mark the 43rd edition of the Heritage Days. Throughout the weekend, visitors of all ages can join in activities and special tours.

Every year, the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) give us the opportunity to explore new cultural and historical sites in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Museums, castles, places of worship, gardens, department stores, backstage public transport systems, ministries and parliaments, historic monuments and artisan workshops all play their part, to the delight of the curious and the passionate.

The 2026 Heritage Days program at the National Navy Museum in Paris:

In Focus: The FNRS III
A key emblem of underwater exploration, the FNRS III bathyscaphe, built in the 1950s, is on display today in Toulon’s harbor, where it bears the brunt of the Mistral and salt spray.

Throughout the day, tune in to the podcast “Toulon: maritime tales” and watch the archival film Profondeur 4050 (30 min), commemorating this flagship of French maritime heritage.

© Jacques Ertaud/ECPAD/1955/Défense
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Flash Tour: Photography in the Museum's Collections
As part of the photography bicentennial, join a 30-minute guided tour to explore the photographs on display along the route, valuable witnesses to the history and evolution of the maritime world.
Participation conditions: Limited to 25 people – Free | No reservations required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:30–12:00, 12:15–12:45, 14:00–14:30, 15:00–15:30, 16:00–16:30, 17:00–17:30 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:30–12:00, 12:15–12:45, 14:00–14:30, 15:00–15:30, 16:00–16:30, 17:00–17:30
Flash Tours (30 minutes)
A 30-minute tour that immerses you in the museum's collections, linking endangered heritage with photography.

Departures at 11:30, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00
Participation conditions: Subject to availability (25 places per session) - no advance booking required - Free | No booking required
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 – 11:30–17:30 | Sunday, 20 September 2026 – 11:30–17:30
Interview - Behind the scenes of the restaurant industry
Discover the craft of a heritage conservator as they restore an object pulled from the museum’s stores—a diver’s telephone.
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Meeting - Preserving and restoring, a spotlight on FNRS III
A key landmark of underwater exploration, the FNRS III bathyscaphe, built in the 1950s, is on display today in the Toulon harbor area, where it is suffering significant deterioration from the mistral winds and sea spray.

Marianne Tricoire, heritage curator and manager of scientific and technical collections, outlines the ambitious restoration project now underway.
Conditions for participation: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM–2:30 PM, 2:30 PM–3:00 PM, 3:00 PM–3:30 PM, 3:30 PM–4:00 PM
Toy Library — The Young Sailors' Deck
Take a family break: maritime-themed games are available for free (while spaces last).
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Interview - Conserving and restoring, a focus on the diving suit
Join us for the presentation by a heritage restorer and a trainee heritage conservator about an exceptional object currently undergoing restoration in preparation for the exhibition The Call of the Depths.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Family workshop
Families spot the silhouette of a submarine worn by time. After a quick assessment, parents and children repair it, restore its colors, and weave it into the landscape where it will be exhibited.
Participation requirements: From age 3 - Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Many other museums take part in this festive annual event: choose your next outing from our special selection!

Heritage Days 2026 in the museums and art foundations of Paris and Île-de-France
During the 43rd European Heritage Days, numerous museums and art foundations open their doors free of charge in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, to enjoy a programme packed with memorable discoveries. [Read more]