On the occasion of the European Heritage Days 2025, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, better known by its acronym CESE, is opening the doors of its prestigious Parisian offices, housed in the sumptuous Palais d'Iéna, on Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21, 2025.
Every year, during the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), a large number of sites open their doors to the general public, enabling them to discover a sometimes little-known heritage through visits to some of the world's great institutions, museums and historic monuments.
Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in Paris (75): full schedule of visits by arrondissement
For the Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in Paris, the capital's historic and artistic monuments and landmarks are opening their doors (often free of charge) to let us in on their secrets. Don't miss this not-to-be-missed event, scheduled for the weekend of September 20 and 21, 2025, on the theme of "Architectural Heritage". [Read more]
The Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in Paris is also an opportunity to discover places that are usually closed to the public. We've put together a list of places that will be opening their doors to the public on the weekend of September 20 and 21, 2025. [Read more]
For this 42nd edition of the Journées du Patrimoine, come and discover the fascinating Palais d'Iéna in Paris, home to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE).
Built from 1937 to 1946 by Auguste Perret, the Palais d'Iéna opened its doors in 1939 as the Public Works Museum. Then, from 1956 to 1958, it became the headquarters of the Assembly of the French Union. Since 1959, it has housed the Conseil économique, social et environnemental, the Republic's third constitutional assembly. This work by Auguste Perret is remarkable for the vastness of its spaces and the quality of the materials used, particularly concrete.
On September 20 and 21, come and discover the Palais d'Iéna, as well as the workings and challenges of this republican institution.
Discover the architectural splendor of Auguste Perret's masterpiece: the Palais d'Iéna
Auguste Perret conceived the Palais d'Iéna as "a shelter for all practical purposes". Built by Auguste Perret from 1937 to 1946, the Palais d'Iéna opened its doors in 1939 as the Public Works Museum. Then, from 1956 to 1958, it became the headquarters of the Assembly of the French Union.
Since 1959, it has been home to the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the Republic's third constitutional assembly.
Come and discover the splendid hypostyle hall with its 18 truncated cone-shaped columns, the magnificent hemicycle and the monumental staircase.
This work by Auguste Perret is remarkable for the scale of its spaces and the quality of its materials, particularly concrete. Although only part of Perret's plans were realized (the rotunda on Place d'Iéna and the wing along Avenue d'Iéna, both of which feature fluted columns on the exterior), the section along Avenue du Président Wilson was built by Paul Vimond, a pupil of Auguste Perret, who tried to be faithful to his teacher's approach. The Palais d'Iéna was completed with a third wing, different from the Perret style, designed by architect Gilles Bouchez. The building houses murals by Souverbie and many original furnishings.
"Horizontal windows for seated men, vertical when standing". These words by Auguste Perret, architect of the Palais d'Iéna, awakened in Bertrand Delais a twofold questioning that forms the basis of this exhibition.
Isn't the building that today houses the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) deeply in tune with the institution's mission: to tell the story of French society and seek a "common ground" that would unite us? And then, how can photography capture both the spirit of an architect's place and the breath of a society in motion?
The result is ENSEMBLE, a photographic exhibition conceived as a double visual promenade: one dedicated to the site - the Palais d'Iéna, Perret's masterpiece - the other to snapshots of French society today. Two journeys that come together around a common photograph, which gives the exhibition its name.
True to his aesthetic approach, in which photography flirts with engraving and painting, Bertrand Delais displays his work in the Hypostyle Hall, a monumental and emblematic space in the Palais d'Iéna, which he embraces through the very staging of the exhibition.
The exhibition will be on show as part of the European Heritage Days on September 20 and 21, 2025, but will also be open to the public from September 19, 2025, inside the Palais d'Iéna.
Through this exhibition, the EESC affirms its vocation as a space for civic dialogue, contemporary memory and the promotion of committed artistic expression.
Palais d'Iéna - Economic, Social and Environmental Council
9, place d'Iéna - 75016 Paris
Free admission - upon presentation of proof of identity (details to be confirmed).
The exhibition will be on view until Thursday, September 26, 2025.
### Come and meet and exchange with EESC members and citizens on the recent work of the 3rd assembly.
Assembly of active society
Representing tens of millions of French men and women (craftsmen, company directors, shopkeepers, farmers, employee unions, youth and environmental associations, cooperatives, mutual societies, etc.), the members of the EESC, who come from intermediary bodies, enlighten public authorities by studying a societal issue, taking stock of the situation and expressing the feelings of the citizens they represent through shared recommendations.
The assembly has issued numerous opinions on issues such as housing, healthcare, extreme poverty, dependency, training and culture, etc. These citizens' issues are debated in this way, enabling parliamentarians to engage in calm legislative work in the general interest.
The chamber of citizen participation
The EESC is increasingly involving citizens in its work: through its citizen consultations on guidance, health, etc., its petitions monitoring system, and the working groups integrated into its working groups.
Thanks to the reform of the institution, the EESC is now the crossroads for public consultations and the benchmark institution for citizen participation.
Discover the architectural splendor of Auguste Perret's masterpiece: the Palais d'Iéna
Auguste Perret conceived the Palais d'Iéna as "a shelter for all practical purposes". Built by Auguste Perret from 1937 to 1946, the Palais d'Iéna opened its doors in 1939 as the Public Works Museum. Then, from 1956 to 1958, it became the headquarters of the Assembly of the French Union.
Since 1959, it has been home to the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the Republic's third constitutional assembly.
Come and discover the splendid hypostyle hall with its 18 truncated cone-shaped columns, the magnificent hemicycle and the monumental staircase.
This work by Auguste Perret is remarkable for the scale of its spaces and the quality of its materials, particularly concrete. While only part of Perret's plans were realized (the rotunda on Place d'Iéna and the wing along Avenue d'Iéna, both embellished on the outside with fluted columns), the section along Avenue du Président Wilson was built by Paul Vimond, a pupil of Auguste Perret, who tried to be faithful to his teacher's approach. The Palais d'Iéna was completed with a third wing, different from the Perret style, designed by architect Gilles Bouchez. The building houses murals by Souverbie and many original furnishings.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Palais d'Iéna
9 Place d'Iéna
75116 Paris 16
Access
Subway: Iéna, Boissière
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.lecese.fr
Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in Paris (75): full schedule of visits by arrondissement
Journées du Patrimoine 2025 in Paris: must-see openings and exceptional tours
