Heritage Days 2026: tours and programs in Paris's high schools and higher education institutions

Published by Cécile de Sortiraparis, Margot de Sortiraparis · Photos by Cécile de Sortiraparis · Updated on July 2, 2026 at 07:44 p.m.
Mark your calendar: the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, the European Heritage Days celebrate French history and heritage through a wide array of tours, walks, and activities. Among the visits offered exclusively on these two special days, the tours of Paris’s grand lycées and of higher education campuses immerse you in the history of the capital’s most prestigious schools.

As September arrives, the European Heritage Days are the must-attend event in Paris and the Île-de-France region: this year the event takes place on Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of September 2026 and offers hundreds of tours, animations, or activities to discover heritage from a different perspective.

For the occasion, a large number of venues that are normally closed to the public all year round will throw open their doors and offer exclusive guided tours, sometimes unprecedented: this is the case for certain major Parisian high schools and higher education institutions, which, while they are accessible only to students, teachers and staff year-round, invite visitors on this weekend of September 19–20 to discover their architecture, history, and patrimony through an exceptional visit.

With their vast buildings, their richly decorated rooms, and the distinctive atmosphere you find in these prestigious higher education institutions, the largest high schools in Paris and other university campuses open their doors to you during these Heritage Days 2026, to give you, for the duration of a guided tour, the chance to admire the classrooms, lobbies, staircases… usually reserved for those fortunate enough to study there.

Heritage Days at educational institutions:

Institut national du service public ex-ENAInstitut national du service public ex-ENAInstitut national du service public ex-ENAInstitut national du service public ex-ENA Journées du Patrimoine 2026: tour the National Institute of Public Service (formerly ENA), one of Paris's premier grandes écoles
Visit the National Institute of Public Service (formerly ENA), one of Paris's prestigious grandes écoles, for Heritage Days, held on September 19–20, 2026. Check out the weekend program. [Read more]

DanseDanseDanseDanse Heritage Days 2026 at the Paris Opera Ballet School in Nanterre
Visit the Paris National Opera Ballet School, located in Nanterre, this Saturday, September 19, 2026, for Heritage Days. Booking opens on September 10. [Read more]

collège Condorcetcollège Condorcetcollège Condorcetcollège Condorcet Heritage Days 2026: Exceptional free tours at Paris's Condorcet College
Le collège Condorcet opens its doors to visitors for Heritage Days, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Here’s what this historic site has in store for the occasion. [Read more]

Cet ancien orphelinat devenu campus se visite pour les Journées du Patrimoine 2026Cet ancien orphelinat devenu campus se visite pour les Journées du Patrimoine 2026Cet ancien orphelinat devenu campus se visite pour les Journées du Patrimoine 2026Cet ancien orphelinat devenu campus se visite pour les Journées du Patrimoine 2026 Val-de-Marne: this former orphanage opens its doors for the 2026 Heritage Days.
Constructed starting in the 1920s, the Adolphe-Chérioux estate in Vitry-sur-Seine is today devoted to teaching and training. Its history will be showcased during Heritage Days 2026. [Read more]

Journées du Patrimoine 2023 au Lycée ChaptalJournées du Patrimoine 2023 au Lycée ChaptalJournées du Patrimoine 2023 au Lycée ChaptalJournées du Patrimoine 2023 au Lycée Chaptal Heritage Days 2026: Paris's Chaptal High School opens its doors to the public, exceptionally.
A new, 43rd edition of Heritage Days arrives on September 19 and 20, 2026! How about taking the opportunity to explore Lycée Chaptal during an open-house tour? See you this Saturday in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. [Read more]

Journées du Patrimoine 2025 à Gif-sur-Yvette (91) : découvrez les nombreuses pépites de la villeJournées du Patrimoine 2025 à Gif-sur-Yvette (91) : découvrez les nombreuses pépites de la villeJournées du Patrimoine 2025 à Gif-sur-Yvette (91) : découvrez les nombreuses pépites de la villeJournées du Patrimoine 2025 à Gif-sur-Yvette (91) : découvrez les nombreuses pépites de la ville A discovery-filled stroll through Gif-sur-Yvette (91) for Heritage Days
The new edition of the European Heritage Days will be held the weekend of September 19–20, 2026: a chance to discover local heritage treasures, whether close to home or further afield in the region—like here in Gif-sur-Yvette, in Essonne. [Read more]

Visuel Paris SorbonneVisuel Paris SorbonneVisuel Paris SorbonneVisuel Paris Sorbonne European Heritage Days 2026: discover the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris
For Heritage Days, the Sorbonne will host a range of events around this historic and cultural monument over the weekend of September 19–20, 2026. [Read more]

Journées du Patrimoine 2023 à l'École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture Paris MalaquaisJournées du Patrimoine 2023 à l'École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture Paris MalaquaisJournées du Patrimoine 2023 à l'École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture Paris MalaquaisJournées du Patrimoine 2023 à l'École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture Paris Malaquais Heritage Days 2026 at the Paris Malaquais National School of Architecture, the program
Heritage Days invite you to join us for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, and the Paris-Malaquais National School of Architecture, housed on the Beaux-Arts campus, reveals its program. [Read more]

Journées du Patrimoine à l'école AlsacienneJournées du Patrimoine à l'école AlsacienneJournées du Patrimoine à l'école AlsacienneJournées du Patrimoine à l'école Alsacienne Heritage Days 2026 at the Alsacienne School in Paris: architectural heritage in the spotlight
European Heritage Days are back in Paris, and for the occasion the École Alsacienne, located in the 6th arrondissement, opens its doors to you this weekend of September 19–20, 2026. On the agenda for this special open day: guided tours exploring architectural heritage. [Read more]

Institut national du Patrimoine (93)Institut national du Patrimoine (93)Institut national du Patrimoine (93)Institut national du Patrimoine (93) Heritage Days 2026: Explore the National Institute of Heritage in Aubervilliers this Saturday
Discover a premier French grande école at the heart of culture, and a strikingly unconventional building, by visiting the Institut national du Patrimoine in Aubervilliers. Visitors are invited to attend the open house on Saturday, September 19, 2026, during the Journées du Patrimoine. [Read more]

Lycée Janson-de-SaillyLycée Janson-de-SaillyLycée Janson-de-SaillyLycée Janson-de-Sailly Heritage Days 2026: exceptional opening of Janson-de-Sailly High School (16th arrondissement)
With the return of Heritage Days, the weekend of September 19-20, 2026, many venues will open their doors to the public for this very special occasion. Among them is Janson-de-Sailly High School, in the 16th arrondissement, renowned for its preparatory classes for the grandes écoles. Book now. [Read more]

Visuel Journées du Patrimoine/Matrimoine - Collège de FranceVisuel Journées du Patrimoine/Matrimoine - Collège de FranceVisuel Journées du Patrimoine/Matrimoine - Collège de FranceVisuel Journées du Patrimoine/Matrimoine - Collège de France Journées du Patrimoine 2026 à Paris : embark on a journey to explore the Collège de France
For Heritage Days 2026 in Paris, the Collège de France invites you to explore two millennia of history through guided tours offered on the weekend of September 19–20, 2026. [Read more]

Journées du Patrimoine 2020 au Lycée VoltaireJournées du Patrimoine 2020 au Lycée VoltaireJournées du Patrimoine 2020 au Lycée VoltaireJournées du Patrimoine 2020 au Lycée Voltaire Journées du Patrimoine 2026 : Voltaire High School in Paris opens its doors for a special event
As part of Heritage Days, Voltaire High School opens its doors to the public free of charge and offers guided tours on Saturday, September 19, 2026. [Read more]

Lycée Jacques DecourLycée Jacques DecourLycée Jacques DecourLycée Jacques Decour Heritage Days 2026 at Lycée Jacques Decour: explore the heritage of this higher-education institution.
The European Heritage Days are back for the weekend of September 19-20: a chance to visit numerous sites that open to the public for this single weekend of the year, such as Jacques Decour High School, in the 9th arrondissement. [Read more]

Journées du Patrimoine 2019 au lycée Henri IVJournées du Patrimoine 2019 au lycée Henri IVJournées du Patrimoine 2019 au lycée Henri IVJournées du Patrimoine 2019 au lycée Henri IV Heritage Days 2026 in Paris: Henri IV High School to open its doors for a special occasion
Le lycée Henri IV unveils its medieval treasures for Heritage Days this weekend, September 19–20, 2026, in Paris. Here’s the program! [Read more]

Fête de la Science 2019 au Village des Sciences Sorbonne UniversitéFête de la Science 2019 au Village des Sciences Sorbonne UniversitéFête de la Science 2019 au Village des Sciences Sorbonne UniversitéFête de la Science 2019 au Village des Sciences Sorbonne Université European Heritage Days 2026 in Paris, the program at Sorbonne University — Pierre and Marie Curie Campus
For Heritage Days 2026, on September 19 and 20, 2026, we head to Sorbonne University, at the Pierre and Marie Curie Campus, to uncover the behind-the-scenes of this Parisian institution. [Read more]

Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
From September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.

    Prices
    Free

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