Once again this year, for the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), the Archives Nationales, located in Saint-Denis (formerly part of the former commune of Pierrefitte-sur-Seine), are opening their doors to us on Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21, 2025, to let us discover their workings, their history, and the secrets kept behind these walls.
Under the authority of the French Ministry of Culture, the National Archives are responsible for collecting, preserving, restoring and promoting the documents of public bodies, in order to keep a documented record of thehistory of France since the 7th century. There are several conservation sites in France, but the head office is located in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, a commune now absorbed by the town of Saint-Denis, in the Seine-Saint-Denis region. On its website, the institution states that " the Pierrefitte-sur-Seine site preserves archives dating from after the French Revolution and archives of private origin. "
To find out more about this institution, which dates back to 1790, come to Pierrefitte for the Journées du Patrimoine. What better way to discover France's past than at this major cultural event, which showcases the country's historical treasures?
Activities for young audiences
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### Les petits architectes des Archives nationales" tote-bag stencil workshop
Children are invited to discover the architecture of the National Archives building through a fun and creative workshop.
Using stencils specially designed to represent the site's lines and motifs, each child can personalize his or her own tote-bag... and leave with his or her own creation!
Ages 5 and up
Saturday, 2 pm to 6 pm
### Badge-making workshop "Les figures de l'Histoire
Dive into the illustrated world of textbooks in the exhibition Illustrating History, the epic story of textbooks from the 18th century to the present day. Choose your favorite character and turn this illustration into a badge to take away with you, for a unique souvenir of this journey into the heart of memory for young and old alike.
Ages 5 and up
Sunday, 2 pm to 6 pm
### For the little ones
Animals at the National Archives" Memory game
Ages 4 and up
Saturday and Sunday, 2 pm to 6 pm
### Guided tour of the exhibition
### The archives explore time! The permanent exhibition
Unwinding the thread of time around 80 documents and objects, from the Middle Ages to the present day, this new exhibition takes a different approach to history, using the written word, maps, photography and digital technology. You'll explore "the path of republican law" and "the archives of intimacy", discover the cartography and photography of the territories around Paris, enter the story of a life "from birth to death", and more.
Guided tour Saturday at 2.15pm
### Building tours - Archives nationales, site de Pierrefitte-sur-Seine
Take a behind-the-scenes look at this contemporary building, home to fifteen centuries of French history. What precious documents are stored in these kilometers of shelving? Can we access all the documents produced by the State?
Guided tours on Saturday at 2:30, 3, 4 and 5 pm
Guided tours on Sunday at 2:30, 3, 4 and 5 pm
Visits to the restoration, binding and gilding workshop
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This guided tour will take you inside the restoration, binding and gilding workshops at the Archives nationales, where you'll discover exceptional skills and know-how. The restorers of documents conserved at the Archives nationales will welcome you and explain their work.
Guided tours on Saturday at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 pm.
Guided tours on Sunday at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 pm.
### Guided tour of the exhibition
### Illustrating history. The epic of textbooks from the 18th century to the present day
What images and memories of French history have we kept from school? The "Illustrating French History" exhibition explores the evolution of illustrations in school textbooks since the 18th century. Through some forty documents, it shows how representations of French history have evolved, from portraits of kings to modern books and the digital era.
Guided tour Saturday and Sunday at 4.45pm
### Guided tour of the exhibition
### Antisemitism in action, 1940-1944
From 1940 onwards, the Vichy regime introduced a series of measures legalizing anti-Semitic persecution. Gradually, the noose tightened around the so-called "Jewish" population. The "suppliques", letters formulating requests for exceptions to these racial laws, were an attempt - often desperate - to escape these measures.
This exhibition shows the implacable logic of the legislative apparatus, the consequences of these measures for the populations concerned, and the contrasting individual reactions to this state anti-Semitism.
Guided tour on Sunday at 2:15 pm
It promises to be an exciting program. Happy Heritage Days in Seine-Saint-Denis!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Archives nationales - Pierrefitte site
59 Rue Guynemer
93200 Saint Denis
Access
Line 13, Saint Denis-Université metro station
Prices
Free
Official website
www.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr
