Journées européennes du patrimoine (European Heritage Open Days) in France are on the weekend of 21 – 22 September 2024. Throughout the weekend and across France, many galleries, museums and other buildings open their doors for free to celebrate local history and heritage.
highlights have previously included ancient churches, castles and museums: The themes for 2023 are to be “Living Heritage” and “Sports Heritage“,
The two themes selected for the 2023 European Heritage Days are relevant in two ways: the twentieth anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the Cultural Olympiad that accompanies the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
https://journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr/
The 12 million visitors during the 2011 weekend confirmed that for almost thirty years these very special two days have testified the love of the French for the history of places and art. Such success lies in the great diversity of the heritage offered to visitors: in parallel to the masterpieces of civil or religious architecture, examples of industrial or agricultural activities, parks and gardens, archaeological sites, furnishings, literary, river or military heritage are also recognized. You will often be able to access buildings, workshops etc which are not usually open to the public. European Heritage Days thus provide the marvellous opportunity for a large number of visitors to discover public buildings (the Élysée Palace, the Senate, ministries, embassies, prefectures, town halls, as well as theatres, hospitals, schools, gymnasiums) and private buildings (villas, castles, factories) which are opening their doors for the first time or on an exceptional basis, revealing behind the scenes, their unique history or their secret collections.
a few of the highlights of previous years:
- The crypt of the Basilica of St Clothilde, Reims (51 Marne, Grand Est) (picture above)
- The collection of Astronomical Clocks at the Cathedral in Besancon (25 Doubs. BFC)
- The art nouveau Villa Majorelle in Nancy (54 Meurthe-et-Moselle, Grand Est)
- The medieval house in Mirepoix (09, Ariège. Occitanie)
- The bastide (fortified village) of Aiguillon (47 Lot et Garonne, Nouvelle Aquitaine)
- TGV workshops in Lyon
- Fondation Van Gogh in Arles (Provence)
- The Chateau d’ Oigny in Valois – 16th Century castle with a pleasure garden: pond, gardens and kitchen garden.(Aisne, Hauts de France)
- L’Abri Sadi Carnot in Brest – a World War II underground shelter (Brittany)
- Roquecor – rural villlage with viewpoint , wash houses, churches, mill tortuous alleys, caves (Occitanie)
- Valleraugue National Weather Observatory (Observatoire Météo France)(Occitanie)
(69 Rhone,ARA)
In every département there will be something going on – check with the local tourist office. For more info and to find local events in France see www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr/
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