Paris Heritage Days 2025: The Best Open Doors for Travlers (Sept 20-21)

Heritage Days in Paris mean two days of free access to hundreds of places usually closed to the public. From palaces and ministries to embassies, backstage workshops, and cemeteries, the city turns itself inside out for curious visitors.

The event runs on Saturday and Sunday, September 20–21, 2025. Most entries are free, but some require advance booking.

Bring ID for government sites and embassies, travel light because bag checks are common, and expect airport-style security at the top spots.

If you want to see the biggest names, arrive early or reserve, and always keep a backup option in the same neighborhood.

Headliners (expect queues)

Élysée Palace – Tour the French President’s residence, including the grand salons and gardens.
Hôtel Matignon – Explore the Prime Minister’s private residence and landscaped gardens.
Assemblée nationale (Palais Bourbon) – Step inside Parliament and admire its historic chambers.
Sénat (Palais du Luxembourg) – Visit the Senate halls and enjoy the Luxembourg Gardens.
Hôtel de Ville – Walk through Paris’s City Hall and try your hand at stone-carving workshops.
Hôtel de la Marine – Wander the restored 18th-century apartments and the Al Thani collection.
Grand Palais – Preview the monument before its full reopening with special guided tours.

Love French and France

Ministries & institutions

Palais Cambon (Cour des comptes) – Discover France’s financial watchdog in its lavish headquarters.
Hôtel de Bourvallais (Justice Ministry) – Visit one of the most beautiful ministry residences in Paris.
Bercy – Economy and Finance – Enter the vast riverside complex where France’s finances are run.
Hôtel Beauvau (Interior Ministry) – Walk through the nerve center of French internal affairs.
Hôtel de Roquelaure (Ecology Ministry) – Explore the ornate salons used for environmental policy.
Hôtel de Villeroy (Agriculture Ministry) – Learn how agriculture and food sovereignty are managed.

Embassies & residences

Argentina, Italy, Bulgaria, Qatar, Peru – Each opens their Paris headquarters with staff on hand.
Czech Republic – Includes a design talk linking Škoda history with modern innovation.
Indonesia, Lithuania – Guided visits showcase culture and heritage.
Netherlands (Hôtel d’Avaray) – Visit the Dutch ambassador’s official residence.
Romania (Hôtel de Béhague) – Explore the richly decorated palace of the Romanian embassy.
United Kingdom Ambassador’s Residence – Rare opening of the elegant British residence in Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité

Notre-Dame restoration village – Meet stonemasons and artisans working on the cathedral.
Sainte-Chapelle – Free access to its stained glass, with literary readings throughout the weekend.
Conciergerie – Highlights include the upcoming reopening of the medieval towers.
Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation – Guided visits explain the architecture and stories behind the memorial.

Museums with extras

Louvre (Pavillon Mollien) – Peek behind the scenes at rarely seen rooms and collections.
Musée Picasso – Access the study center with curators on hand.
Musée Carnavalet – Focused tours reveal the history of the Marais through key objects.
Musée Cluny – Learn about medieval Paris and view special botanical displays.
Musée Guimet – Explore the architecture of one of Paris’s great Asian art collections.
Musée de la Marine – Join family activities and meet curators explaining naval heritage.
Musée de l’Orangerie – Take a guided tour on the site’s Second Empire past.

Fashion & decorative arts

Galerie Dior + Palais Galliera – Joint tours link couture heritage with Paris fashion history.
Hôtel de Nocé (Boucheron) – Visit the jeweler’s historic home on Place Vendôme.
Maison Carita – Explore a legendary beauty house in its restored Art Deco setting.
Lafayette Anticipations – See architecture adapted for contemporary art installations.
Printemps Haussmann – Discover 160 years of innovation in department store architecture.

Backstage & craftsmanship

Opéra Bastille workshops – Watch how stage sets and costumes are created for the Opera.
Ateliers Berthier – See the Opera’s stock of costumes up close.
Mobilier national – Visit workshops preserving France’s furniture heritage.
Monnaie de Paris – Meet coin engravers and enjoy family treasure hunts.
Maison du Vitrail – Step inside a stained-glass restoration studio.
Maison Poursin – Tour a 19th-century workshop specializing in metal fittings.

Science & universities

Sorbonne – Guided tours of the historic chapel and academic halls.
ESPCI – Retrace the experiments of Marie Curie in the historic labs.
Institut Pasteur – Explore the research campus and its architectural treasures.
Observatoire de Paris – Learn about astronomy in France’s oldest observatory.
Mines Paris PSL – Visit a school with a long tradition in engineering and science.
Maison Poincaré – See how mathematics is brought to life through interactive exhibits.

Unusual visits

Catacombs of Paris – Special themed tours on the Premier Empire and literary Paris.
Tour Saint-Jacques – Climb the Gothic tower for panoramic city views.
Tour Jean sans Peur – Explore the last intact medieval civil tower in Paris.
Molitor – Visit the iconic Art Deco swimming pool and artist cabins.
Grand Rex – Go backstage at Europe’s largest cinema.
Maison Gainsbourg – Join a night tour including access to Gainsbarre, the bar-café.

Cemeteries & memorials

Père-Lachaise – Themed walks explore LGBT history and famous burials.
Montmartre Cemetery – Guided tours explain its artistic and historical significance.
Mémorial de la Shoah – Talks, conferences, and guided tours on Jewish heritage.
Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation – Tours focus on memory and architecture.

Family picks

Arc de Triomphe – Hands-on workshops and discovery tours for kids.
Archives nationales – Architecture games and tactile tours for families.
Musée des Arts et Métiers – Activities with Kapla blocks and cathedral models.
Musée de la Marine – Creative workshops introducing naval architecture.
Musée des Arts Forains – Tours through whimsical fairground attractions.

Rail & infrastructure

Gare Saint-Lazare – Unusual visits inside this landmark train station.
Gare de Lyon – Guided climbs up the famous clock tower (book early).
Gare d’Austerlitz – Tour the SNCF signal box in action.
Montparnasse operations center – Step inside the control hub of a major Paris station.
RATP heritage buses – Ride vintage buses and see behind the scenes.

Religious highlights

Saint-Germain-des-Prés – Guided tours of Paris’s oldest church.
Saint-Sulpice – Learn about its astronomical gnomon and restored chapels.
Sainte-Odile – Discover a rare Art Deco church with a unique organ.
Saint-Séverin – Visit its recently restored Gothic chapels.
Orthodox and Eastern-rite churches – Tours include Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky and Saint-Serge.

Cité Internationale Universitaire

Maison de l’Italie, Suède, Grèce, Argentine, Suisse, Hellénique – Concerts, exhibitions, and architecture tours across multiple pavilions.
A relaxed way to see world cultures in one leafy campus on the edge of Paris.

Suggested itinerary pairs

Élysée or Matignon → Musée d’Orsay/Orangerie site history → Sainte-Chapelle free visit.
Hôtel de Ville → Archives nationales workshops → Picasso study center.
Assemblée nationale → Musée de la Marine hands-on → Eiffel machinery visit (timed).
Notre-Dame restoration village → Conciergerie program → Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation.
Cité U houses (2–3) → Institut Giacometti → Maison Gainsbourg night slot.

Final word

With over 200 events on offer, the key is to focus on what opens only once a year. Plan one or two headline visits, add a nearby museum or workshop, and leave space for a quieter stop like a memorial or church. That way, you’ll experience the big names without spending your whole day in line.

Note: for an extremely comprehensive list of heritage activities across France, you can also check this website