A family-friendly weekend at the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Garden for Architecture Days 2026.

On the occasion of the National Architecture Days 2026, rediscover the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Garden in Paris, tracing eight centuries of metamorphosis—from a medieval fortress to bold, modern vistas. Join us on the weekend of October 17–18, 2026 to enjoy a program specially designed for families.

It's probably one of the most famous museums in the world, and its architecture still guards numerous secrets unknown to visitors. For this new edition of the National Architecture Days, which returns to the Île-de-France region on October 17 and 18, 2026, the event invites the curious and the passionate to look up at the buildings that shape our daily lives. In Paris, the ensemble formed by the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Garden makes for a remarkable open book on the history of construction, where every era has left a distinctive imprint on the dressed stone.

From the medieval keep to the classical palace of France’s kings

Before welcoming masterpieces from around the world and bringing them to a wide audience, the site served a purely military purpose. Built at the end of the 12th century under Philip II Augustus to defend the city against Norman attacks, the original fortress gradually yielded to a majestic royal residence.

Over the centuries, French classicism has asserted itself here with striking authority, most notably through the colonnade designed by Claude Perrault. This school is defined by a persistent pursuit of harmony, rigorous symmetry, and proportions drawn from Antiquity, marking a break from the flamboyant curves of Baroque art. Local lore even has it that a red-clad specter, nicknamed the “little red man of the Tuileries,” haunts these halls since the old palace was destroyed in 1871.

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Musée du Louvre: discover the artistic and tourist heart of the capital
The Musée du Louvre, one of the capital's must-see museums, promotes French and European culture through its many masterpieces on display, as evidenced by the 8 million visitors a year who come to contemplate the smile of the Mona Lisa or the fervor of Liberty Guiding the People. A place steeped in history, where art has been flourishing for two centuries already, to discover if you're staying in Paris! [Read more]

Pei's Pyramid and André Le Nôtre's Green Geometry

Crossing the enclosure to the west, the view opens onto the Tuileries Garden. A true model of the regular garden known as the “French” style, its geometric order owes everything to André Le Nôtre, who laid out a grand, straight perspective punctuated by basins and rows of trees.

This dialogue between controlled nature and limestone took a decisive turn in the late 1980s with the construction of the Pyramid by architect Ieoh Ming Pei. A hallmark of modernism, this contemporary masterpiece rests on the bold use of steel and reflective glass, creating a striking contrast that never overwhelms the surrounding century-old façades.

The Tuileries Gardens, the ideal place in Paris to go green
The Tuileries Gardens are a must-see in Paris! This 23-hectare green space runs alongside the Rue de Rivoli and the Seine, linking the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. Classified as a historic monument in 1914, it has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. It features magnificent historical statues, accompanied by works of art. [Read more]

The 2026 Architecture Days program at the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Garden in Paris

Family Weekend – The Festival of Shapes with Bérénice Milon
The Louvre Museum invites young and old to an exceptional workshop during the first weekend of the All Saints’ Day holidays. In the Studio, a family-friendly mediation space, meet artist Bérénice Milon and her graphic, playful, and poetic universe inspired by the museum’s architecture.

A column, a sheet of paper, a pyramid, a bird… it’s a vocabulary of shapes and images drawn from the Louvre and its garden, created by Bérénice Milon. A big construction game and a visual-arts workshop—two activities designed to explore balance, space, and composition, inviting you to build your own image and stories around the Louvre.

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October – From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Free admission while spaces last
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, October 17, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Sunday, October 18, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

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