Journées du Patrimoine 2026 : strolls and activities at Domaine de Saint-Cloud (92)

For the 2026 Heritage Days, why not opt for a delightful discovery of the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud? Water features, historical strolls and guided tours await you on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026.

The Journées du Patrimoine make their comeback on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026. Each year, this flagship event of the season offers a chance to discover the history of must-see sites, to swing open the doors of unusual or hidden places, and to gain access to great institutions... Yes, the Journées du Patrimoine offer an incredible dive into French heritage!

Heritage Days 2026 in the parks and gardens of Paris and Île-de-France
For this new edition of Heritage Days, we invite you to discover the parks and gardens of Paris and Île-de-France. Guided tours and a generous breath of fresh air — a pleasant stroll awaits you this weekend, September 19–20, 2026. [Read more]

Heritage Days 2026: explore the hidden treasures of Hauts-de-Seine - 92
Heritage Days 2026 in Hauts-de-Seine (92) offer a unique opportunity to uncover the department’s historical and cultural treasures. From September 19 to 20, 2026, visitors will be able to explore sites that are usually off-limits to the public, from Montrouge to Saint-Cloud. [Read more]

This year again, the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud is taking part in the Heritage Days, on September 19 and 20, 2026. Nestled in the Hauts-de-Seine département, this remarkable green space hides a remarkable history. Today run by the Centre des monuments nationaux, France’s leading cultural and tourist network, the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud spans a generous 460 hectares. While the Domain long served as a resort for many princely, royal, and imperial families, the history of the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud begins in 1577, when Catherine de Médicis purchased a small estate in Saint-Cloud, the Hôtel d’Aulnay, to present it to her equerry, Jérôme de Gondi.

What happened next? The château was purchased in 1658 by Louis XIV for his brother, Philippe, Duke of Orléans, while the park's layout was drawn up by the famed André Le Nôtre, who decided to enlarge it. At that time, the estate covered nearly 400 hectares. As the Palace became the summer residence of the rulers and a seat of executive power until the fall of Napoleon III, it was set ablaze on October 13, 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War.

Today, the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud attracts many Île-de-France residents seeking a little greenery not far from Paris. Classified as a historic monument, the park is in fact the largest green space in the department. The site also hosts annually concerts and water features.

Heritage Days 2026 at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud — the program:

Theatrical and musical promenade: The historic walks of Saint-Cloud National Domain
Presented by the Trois Clouds troupe, this 13th edition of the Historical Walks offers an emotionally engaging and educational theatrical immersion, a tribute to human ingenuity and perseverance. Get ready to take off on an unforgettable adventure! Step into a gripping narrative that will carry you—from the dawn of aviation with the audacious Brazilian pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont to the revolutionary technical innovations championed by Marcel Dassault.

Meet on the green carpet, in front of the Trois Bouillons basin at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Participation requirements: Free
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM–4:00 PM, 5:00 PM–6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 3:00 PM–4:00 PM, 5:00 PM–6:00 PM

Historic Estate Museum

Mini-tour: A general overview of the estate's history
In just 15 minutes, take a concise tour through the history of the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud with a brief overview of the museum’s collections.
Participation terms: Limited to 15 participants — Free
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 2:20 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 2:20 PM
Welcome to the Historical Museum
Self-guided tour guides available on site (or downloadable online):

• « Musée historique du domaine de Saint-Cloud »

• « Parcours dans l’histoire des jardins de Saint-Cloud »

• « Le Nôtre et le domaine de Saint-Cloud »

• « Saint-Cloud, résidence impériale »

• « L’impératrice Eugénie »

Family and youth-friendly activity trails available on site (or downloadable online):

• Discovery trail for young visitors « Le domaine national de Saint-Cloud »

• Family scavenger hunt based on the exhibition « Un temps infini » by Christian Lapie

• Tutorial and kit for creating a jointed puppet « L’impératrice Eugénie »

3D historical reconstruction: The history of the Château de Saint-Cloud

Discover a free, unpublished film of about six minutes that plunges you into the heart of the vanished château. The 360° views with virtual reality headsets let you enjoy this immersive experience offered by Timescope.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 - 2:30 PM ⤏ 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 - 2:30 PM ⤏ 6:00 PM
The Grand Cascade: a revival of a fountain-art masterwork
Created between 1660 and 1665 by architect Antoine Le Pautre for Philippe d’Orléans, Louis XIV’s brother, the Grand Cascade ranks among the 17th-century’s most spectacular feats of hydraulic architecture. As a major restoration campaign, underway for two years, has restored the upper reaches of the structure, join us to explore the history of this “wonderful theatre of crystal spurting” and to see the early results of the work.

Due to works on the hydraulic network feeding the estate’s basins, we will not be able to present the water games this year.

Meet at 2:30 p.m. at the Historical Museum.
Participation terms: Limited to 25 participants - Free | Registration required - ateliers.saint-cloud@monuments-nationaux.fr, 0141120295
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
The historical museum's collections
Portraits, furniture, artworks, interior decor, photographs or scale models: as you wander the museum’s collections, rediscover the history of the Château de Saint-Cloud, its gardens, its famous residents and the historic events that unfolded there.

Meet at the Historical Museum at 4:30 p.m.
Participation conditions: Limited to 25 people - Free | Booking required - ateliers.saint-cloud@monuments-nationaux.fr, 0141120295
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM