EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS IN PARIS: MUST-SEE VISITS

Every September, Paris opens itself up in a whole new way to both locals and visitors. The European Heritage Days, taking place this year on September 20 and 21, 2025, invite you to step through the doors of the city’s most iconic landmarks as well as explore more confidential sites, often closed to the public.

For this 42nd edition, the chosen theme is “Architectural Heritage,” offering a unique opportunity to (re)discover the capital’s extraordinary architectural wealth—from Baroque to contemporary, from official palaces to artisan workshops. Legendary monuments, unusual addresses, secret gardens, and exceptional venues… here is our curated selection of unmissable highlights for this Heritage Weekend in Paris.

 

 

 

MOST ICONIC
monuments in Paris

The European Heritage Days are the perfect opportunity to visit—or revisit—Paris’s greatest institutions. This year again, several major landmarks are opening their doors, some with exclusive tours and behind-the-scenes access.

OPERA GARNIER

A masterpiece of the Second Empire and Charles Garnier’s architectural triumph, inaugurated in 1875, the Palais Garnier dazzles with its polychrome marble, mosaics, monumental staircases, and Chagall’s painted ceiling. Exceptionally, some backstage areas and rarely accessible spaces will be open to visitors.

But the experience goes further: at the Opéra Bastille, the set workshops reveal the secrets behind magnificent stage panels and machinery; at the Berthier Workshops, visitors can admire the impressive costume collection—silks, brocades, and thousands of tutus; and at the Opera Ballet School in Nanterre, discover the training grounds of future étoiles.

Gourmet tip: after your visit, cross Avenue de l’Opéra to enjoy lunch or a coffee at Hôtel Édouard 7, with breathtaking views of the Palais Garnier façade. A serene way to prolong the magic while admiring one of Paris’s most beautiful monuments.

Where: Palais Garnier – 9th arrondissement, advance booking required
 

PETIT PALAIS

Built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the Petit Palais is a jewel of Beaux-Arts architecture. Its inner garden, mosaics, and glass ceilings make it both elegant and welcoming. For this year’s Heritage Days, guided tours and free concerts will take place, allowing visitors to rediscover both the permanent collections and the architecture of the building.

Not to miss: the flash architecture tours, led by a museum lecturer, unveiling the painted décor, stained glass, and mosaics of this exceptional site. Children can also join a giant mosaic workshop, helping create a massive paper mosaic covering the floor of the south gallery.

Where: Petit Palais – 8th arrondissement, free entry

HÔTEL DE TOULOUSE - BANQUE DE FRANCE

Rarely open to the public, the Hôtel de Toulouse welcomes visitors for this special occasion. Once an aristocratic residence, it later became the headquarters of the Banque de France, and is famed for its Galerie Dorée, a baroque masterpiece rivaling Versailles.

Highlights also include the legendary Souterraine, the underground vault housing France’s gold reserves, an immersive timeline retracing the institution’s history since 1800, as well as the salons d’apparat, the Governor’s office, and of course the Galerie Dorée itself.

Where: Hôtel de Toulouse – 1st arrondissement, booking required

PALAIS DE L'ÉLYSÉE

The seat of power and official residence of the President of the Republic, the Palais de l’Élysée remains one of the most coveted visits every year. Ornate salons, official offices, and gardens draw thousands of visitors willing to wait in line for hours to enter this emblematic symbol of the French Republic.

This year also features an exhibition dedicated to photography: nine photographers from leading press agencies, all accustomed to following the President, present their work under the theme “Perspectives on the Élysée.” Visitors can vote for their favorite image; the winning photograph will be awarded the Public Prize.

Where: Palais de l’Élysée – 8th arrondissement, booking required

MORE ICONIC INSTITUTIONS...

Other legendary sites open for the occasion include the Comédie-Française, Hôtel de la Marine, the Louvre Museum, and the Quai d’Orsay. Countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the architectural and political history of Paris.

UNUSUAL SITES
and hidden treasures

Behind Haussmannian façades and grand institutions, Paris hides countless little-known treasures. The European Heritage Days are the perfect chance to push open the doors of unusual places where history, art, and craftsmanship intersect.
 

THE GLASS ROOF OF RESTAURANT LE V

Among these hidden gems is Hôtel Vernet, just steps from the Arc de Triomphe, home to an extraordinary work of art: the glass roof above its restaurant, Le V. More than a decorative feature, it is the result of a collaboration between Gustave Eiffel and master glassmaker Charles Champigneulle. Visiting this skylight during the Heritage Days is to experience French craftsmanship at the crossroads of engineering and glass artistry.

After your visit, treat yourself to lunch beneath this magnificent glass roof for the ultimate taste of Parisian art de vivre.

Where: Hôtel Vernet – 8th arrondissement, advance registration required

EMBASSIES AND DIPLOMATIC RESIDENCES

For this special weekend, several embassies open their doors to the public, offering rare access to venues usually reserved for diplomatic circles. Among them: Hôtel d’Avaray, an exquisite 18th-century mansion and official residence of the Dutch ambassador. Visitors can explore its grand salons adorned with wood paneling and priceless tapestries, as well as its French-style garden.

An opportunity to glimpse the discreet world of diplomacy and discover a confidential side of Paris that only a few ever see.

Where: Hôtel d’Avaray – 7th arrondissement, advance registration required

LYCÉE HENRI-IV AND HISTORIC SCHOOLS

Housed in the former Sainte-Geneviève Abbey, the prestigious Lycée Henri-IV opens its doors exceptionally for the Heritage Days. This Parisian institution reveals its Gothic cloisters, Baroque chapel, and sumptuous libraries, including the neighboring Sainte-Geneviève Library, a 19th-century architectural gem.

Here, visitors can explore centuries of intellectual heritage and witness the traditions of French education. The atmosphere recalls the footsteps of great writers, philosophers, and political figures—a cultural escape combining architectural beauty and the memory of France’s elites.

Where: Lycée Henri-IV – 5th arrondissement, free entry

 

ALAIN DUCASSE CHOCOLATE MANUFACTURE

Heritage is not only about stone and gilded ceilings—it is also about artisanal savoir-faire. In a former factory in the 11th arrondissement, the Alain Ducasse Chocolate Manufacture exceptionally opens its doors. Here, everything is crafted by hand, from cocoa bean grinding to the creation of chocolate bars, pralines, and ganaches.

Visitors will discover the secrets of chocolate-making, where tradition meets innovation, guided by passionate artisans. A sensory journey that ends with delicious tastings.

Where: Alain Ducasse Chocolate Manufacture – 11th arrondissement, booking required

ARCHITECTURAL STORIES
and heritage transport

Beyond palaces and institutions, the European Heritage Days also invite you to travel through Paris’s architectural and technical imagination.
 

THE ORIENT-EXPRESS

Who hasn’t dreamed of stepping aboard this legendary train, a symbol of luxury and Art Deco? For the Heritage Days, several cars of the Orient-Express will be exceptionally open at Gare d’Austerlitz.

Created in 1883 by Georges Nagelmackers of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, the Orient-Express was the first European transcontinental train, linking Paris to Constantinople in unprecedented comfort. The train on display at Gare d’Austerlitz includes seven cars, four of which are classified as historic monuments, including the famous cream-and-blue Pullman cars—true icons of luxury travel. An immersion into the elegance of the 1920s.

Where: Gare d’Austerlitz – 13th arrondissement, booking required

 

THE GARE DE LYON CLOCK TOWER

Just steps from the heart of Belleville, the Gare de Lyon Clock Tower offers a rare chance to climb its 370 steps to 61 meters high. This immersive guided tour unveils the story of the monumental clock, the world’s second-largest at the time of its construction. A striking symbol of Belle Époque architecture not to be missed.

Where: Gare de Lyon – 12th arrondissement, booking required

This September weekend is an open invitation to curiosity, wonder, and shared discovery. Paris never ceases to reveal its secrets.