The Journées du Patrimoine are back on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, with a program featuring numerous free and guided tours of historic monuments, to hidden places and must-sees, or to grand institutions. An exceptional weekend awaits you in Paris and in Île-de-France!
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]
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]
This year once again, the Musée des Plans-reliefs participates in these Journées du Patrimoine. The venue, housed inside the Hôtel des Invalides in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, thus invites you on 19 and 20 September 2026 to explore France through historical scale models, with the display of 28 plans-reliefs, created from the reign of Louis XIV to that of Napoleon III, at a 1/600 scale and used to plan military strategy during battles.
Mark your calendars for September 19 and 20 in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, to dive into a program of tours and workshops that will delight both kids and adults. A wonderful family outing to plan!
The toddlers' corner
An open space, designed for ages 0 to 5, where kids can settle comfortably on mats and cushions to read, play, or take a break...
> Continuously accessible in the museum's reception area.
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10:00–17:45 | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 10:00–17:45
Chrono-Challenge Game
The thread of time has been scrambled, and the centuries have mingled together! Come play at the museum, solo or with others, and try to put the major dates of French history and the relief plans back in order.
> All audiences. Free and open access.
> Duration: about 10-15 minutes
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, 19 September 2026 – 10:00–17:45 | Sunday, 20 September 2026 – 10:00–17:45
Talking Points: Let’s Talk Reliefs!
Museum guides will be on hand all day to answer any questions about the world’s only collection of plans-reliefs — from its history to the techniques and how they’re made. Meet them directly in the museum’s galleries!
Participation conditions: Open continuously, no reservation required. - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 10:15–17:45 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 10:15–17:45
Workshop "In the Age of Citadels"
What are citadels for? What shapes do they take? Where are they located? The answers will be revealed during a museum tour, followed by a workshop to build a small citadel model with its bastions, buildings, moats… to take home!
> From age 7. Duration: 1h30
> Reservation required via reservation form (limited spaces)
Participation conditions: Free. Limited seats - Free | Reservation required - https://museedesplansreliefs.fr/atelier-famille-au-temps-des-citadelles
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:15–11:45, 14:00–15:30 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:15–11:45, 14:00–15:30
Workshop: Build your Kapla citadel
After a quick look at the impressive relief map of Antibes, families will use KAPLA and TomTect building sets to recreate the fortifications and buildings featured on the models, letting their imagination roam free!
> From 5 years old. Duration: 45 minutes
> Reservation required via the booking form (limited spaces)
Participation conditions: Free of charge. Limited seats - Free | Registration required - https://museedesplansreliefs.fr/atelier-famille-construis-ta-citadelle-en-kapla
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30–11:15, 11:30–12:15, 14:00–14:45, 15:00–15:45, 16:30–17:15 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:30–11:15, 11:30–12:15, 14:00–14:45, 15:00–15:45, 16:30–17:15
Guided discovery tour in French Sign Language
Discover the collection of relief plans through this guided tour in French Sign Language (LSF). History, manufacturing techniques, military strategy... you’ll discover everything about these remarkable scale models of fortified sites created between the reigns of Louis XIV and Napoleon III.
> Saturday, September 19 at 10:30 AM (duration: about 1h30)
> Free
> RESERVATION REQUIRED by email: pedagogie.plans-reliefs@culture.gouv.fr or by SMS: 06 61 17 11 69
Participation conditions: Free | Booking required - pedagogie.plans-reliefs@culture.gouv.fr, 06 61 71 11 69
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Hands-on discovery tour
Through a curated selection of scale models, embark on a journey through the history and crafting techniques behind these remarkable relief plans of fortified sites. Bayonne in the 19th century, Mont Saint-Michel in the reign of Louis XIV, Toulon at the end of the 18th century—these early “relief” depictions await you in this country-wide tour in relief. Tactile plaques shaped like bastioned fortifications, along with other tactile elements, will be available for blind and partially sighted visitors.
Date and time: Sunday, September 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Free of charge.
Reservation required:
- by email: pedagogie.plans-reliefs@culture.gouv.fr
- or by phone at 06 61 17 11 69
Participation requirements: Free | Booking required - pedagogie.plans-reliefs@culture.gouv.fr, 06 61 71 11 69
Schedule: Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:30 to 11:30
Built and natural heritage are brought together in models and relief maps that you can walk along the aisles of Les Invalides. Shall we go, friends?
Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Location
Museum of Relief Plans
Hôtel national des Invalides (côté Esplanade des Invalides)
75007 Paris 7
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Heritage Days 2026 in Paris (75): a district-by-district lineup of visits
Heritage Days 2026: Paris museums and art foundations across Île-de-France
