A short train ride from Paris, enthusiasts keep alive a centuries-old art at the pace of a ceremony that’s hardly changed. For this new edition of the Journées du Patrimoine, organized on 19 and 20 September 2026, the Île-de-France region unveils its hidden treasures. If Paris lures crowds with its grand ministries, Île-de-France is home to living patrimonial curiosities. Case in point: the Val-d'Oise and the Compagnie d'Arc d'Ermont, a distinctive venue devoted to safeguarding the noble art of archery.
Based in the Raoul Dautry sports complex, the facility traces its roots to the interwar period. The site came to life under the impulse of the Groupe Amical Sportif des Cheminots d'Ermont (GASCE) in the 1920s, with the official introduction of archery in 1926. Since then, the organization has devoted itself to passing on the art of archery—not merely as a pastime outdoors, but as an honorable discipline governed by fraternal codes.
Ermont’s distinctive feature is its « arc game », a sports layout typical of Île-de-France and Picardy. Designed for the Beursault shooting — a traditional discipline listed in the Inventory of intangible cultural heritage in France — the space is organized around a long 50-meter corridor flanked by wooden screens known as « gardes ».
Two shooting butts face each other: the assault butt and the master butt. An archer fires one arrow in one direction, walks down the central lane, then fires the next in the opposite direction. This continuous back-and-forth requires focus, adherence to the rules, and disciplined posture. In Ermont, the ground marks and the archers’ quarters still testify to decades of practice. Here, traditional salutations are used (“Ladies and gentlemen, I greet you”), and Saint Sebastian, patron saint of archers, is honored. Read below for the details and the schedule of activities planned for this weekend’s discovery event.
Visit to the dwelling and the Arc Garden (Beursault), intangible cultural heritage
On the occasion of Europe’s Heritage Days, the Company will exceptionally open its home and its archery garden to the public, inviting visitors to discover a unique ensemble that blends built heritage, sporting tradition and living culture.
The Company fully embodies intangible cultural heritage, transmitting its rites, practices, know-how and the traditional practice of French archery.
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
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Dates and Opening Time
On September 19, 2026
Location
Ermont Archery Club
105 Rue de Saint-Gratien
95120 Ermont
Route planner
Prices
Free
