As regulars of the first Sunday of the month, we’re heading out to enjoy the free museums and monuments of Yvelines this Sunday, September 6, 2026. In the 78, several cultural sites open their doors free of charge, but not all operate on the same schedule year-round. A handy note before you go: major national monuments like the château de Versailles or Rambouillet’s castle only switch back to free entry on the first Sunday starting in November. In September, it’s mainly the departmental and municipal museums that are welcoming visitors with free admission.
While Paris prepares to welcome openings at the Orsay, the Quai Branly, or the Arc de Triomphe, the Yvelines aren’t standing still. Here are free places to discover this Sunday.
We head to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, inside its historic château, to discover the National Archaeology Museum. The museum houses some of the world’s richest archaeological collections, tracing the story of humanity and its “inventions” from the origin of man up to the Merovingian era. A series of temporary exhibitions allows visitors to learn more about our ancestors in a playful and educational way.
The domain, the ruins of the Port-Royal-des-Champs Abbey, and the national estate of the Granges of Port-Royal together form the Port-Royal-des-Champs National Domain. Set off to discover the abbey ruins razed by order of Louis XIV and the museum housed in the former "Petites Écoles" building. On the first Sunday of every month, park admission is free.
The Toy Museum, opened in September 1976, sits at the heart of the gatehouse of the Royal Saint-Louis Priory. This museum houses a vast collection of nearly 14,000 objects, including 600 games and toys that whisk visitors on a fascinating journey through the world of play, from Antiquity to the present day. Dolls, plush toys, miniature vehicles and racing tracks, board games and construction sets, science kits, jump ropes, or figurines… Styles come and go, technologies evolve, but children's passions remain timeless. To discover games of yesterday and today, take advantage of free admission on the first Sunday of every month.
The Hôtel-Dieu Museum houses a collection spanning centuries of artistic creation across three levels. Located in Mantes-la-Jolie, just steps from the Notre-Dame Collegiate, the Hôtel-Dieu Museum offers a look at the city’s medieval past as well as the works of artist Maximilien Luce. Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month.
On the first Sunday of every month, from October to December, the Maison de Fer offers a free, 30-minute guided tour with no reservation required. The Maison de Fer in Poissy, a landmark dating from 1896, is an unconventional museum dedicated to the city of Poissy, nestled in the heart of Meissonnier Park. Explore its distinctive industrial architecture, its history, and the broader story of Poissy’s evolution.
You may not know it, but the Arboretum de Chevreloup is also free to visit on the first Sunday of the month. A vast natural and landscaped expanse spanning 200 hectares, home to an exceptional collection of 2,500 plant species, the Arboretum of Versailles-Chèvreloup is an integral part of the royal domain of Versailles. For nearly a hundred years, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle has been developing a true living museum of trees here. The park welcomes visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last entry around 4:00 p.m.
The Carriage Gallery, tucked inside the Grand Stables at the Palace of Versailles, is free to visit on weekends, including Sundays that aren’t the first of the month. When you’re in Versailles, it’s a stop that would be a pity to miss, so we take the opportunity to discover these treasures.
So, what if we treated ourselves to a nice free visit this Sunday, September 6, 2026?
And to go further:
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Dates and Opening Time
On September 6, 2026
Location
National Archaeology Museum
Domaine National de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
78100 Saint Germain en Laye
Route planner
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
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